2000Trees: Ones To Watch
We are right in the middle of festival season and that means only one thing, its time for 2000Trees, the best weekend of the year. There is a reason why this festival gets voted the best medium festival in the UK, the love from everyone involved from staff/crew right up to the bands and fans give it that community feel its always had and its one of the many praises the festival gets. The Music Box will be heading along to soak up every inch of the action - here are some of my must see bands heading to the stunning Upcote Farm in Cheltenham this weekend.
First up we need to talk about the very late addition of Bedford icons Don Broco, stepping up to take the place of Alkaline Trio who we sadly lost due to illness, we send out best wishes to Matt and all the best on your recovery. Broco are known for their active live shows and only 2 years ago headlined this very festival turning the main stage into one big mosh heaven - this year will be no different and with new record Nightmare Tripping entering the setlist, things are about to get even more heavy. Weather you want a Hype Man, a ‘mini roll’ or simply just want to swing your t-shirt when there’s one song left, these guys have got you covered.
Now, as a Scotsman, I would never ignore the bands flying the flag for Scotland over the weekend starting off with Glasgow royalty, Gallus - the 5 piece have wrote their very own story from the days of The Priory back in the day to taking on big stages like Trees and even gathering a following in Europe. Their debut record We Don’t Like The People We’ve Become landed in 2023 and since then have rammed out rooms near and far bringing their highly energetic indie-punk and turning their live shows into a powerhouse of fun. Not only will this be a special slot for the band playing the Marshall Stage, but also for their drummer for this show - lead singer of Glasgow’s BRSR David ‘Div’ Roberts will be behind the kit for this one doing what he has done for years and that is put on a show, like Gallus, his love and commitment to the Glasgow music scene is well known and this set will be something to witness. Sticking with Scotland but the short trip over to the capital for Happydaze - expect a pop-punk enthused set along with plenty power chords and fast paced drumming, they have already hit the road with Trash Boat across the UK as well as a killer show with Braodside in Manchester, their show on the Axium stage is set to be special. Else where we also have an absolute treat with another Glasgow band in Soapbox, fuelled on Buckfast and Tenents’s, this band will tell you exactly what they think with their raw and gritty punk sound.
Two bands that were instant standouts on the bill for me are names that have shot their way up through the music pyramid in the last year through nothing but sheer grit and determination to carve their own stamp in the music scene starting off with High Regard - the Hertfordshire trio are a serious powerhouse lead by Georgia Casey on vocals who’s explosive range can tear through any room or in this case field. Singles like Buried Alive and Dead To Me only just scratch the surface of what this band are capable of and their Tree’s show will be pointing out exactly why they are not only a must see over the weekend, but a band to watch for the future especially as they gear up to hit the road with The Hara later on the year. Another band is a bunch that I can’t say enough about - Bristol’s Knives are doing damage all over Europe in the best way and this is a band that know how to bring energy to a stage - they have hardcore, they have punk and they have a sax, yes a sax. Fresh off the stage at Outbreak and a lengthy tour across the EU, they set their sights on bringing their chaotic energy to Upcote farm and I don’t think the place is ready. They set the standards for bands at that level and even above, the way they control stages emphasises just how powerful they actually are.
Two ends of the musical release scale now firstly with As Everything Unfolds who have just unleashed record number 3 Did You Ask To Be Set Free?, an explosive record that will be certain to get the place moving - that being said, an AEU set is always lively and this show will be no different, expect to hear some crushing screams that will ripple through all 2000 trees. From album regulars to a band who have just announced their debut record, Lake Malice are another female fronted powerhouse who know how to work a crowd on any scale, famous for having guitarist Blake head in the middle of the crowd to get a circle pit going, they have plenty space to work with for this one as they take place on opening day of the festival on the Wednesday.
Else where on the line-up there are plenty of names to discuss I could sit and list every one of them, but I won’t - I will however shout out the hardcore elements of the weekend starting with Bristol’s Split Chain who will take to the Word stage on Wednesday bringing their nu-gaze post hardcore vibes to the fields. If you want an explosive and simply fierce set them look no further than God Complex, this band are a serious powerhouse of insane fast paced drumming and crushing breakdowns that simply cannot be missed. High-Vis will certainly want to leave their own stamp on the weekend after pulling off a mammoth set at Outbreak in Manchester a few weeks ago and finally a big shout out to Truck Violence, a band who are making all sorts of waves right now and their insane mix of post hardcore and sludge metal will send Trees into a frenzy for sure.
Other notable names across the weekend, Karen Dio will bring a fierce and raw energy that will be sure to leave a mark on the weekend in every positive way, their sound has all you could possibly want on a Wednesday afternoon when the sun is setting. Delilah Bon needs no introduction, this is just a case of if you know you know, I can’t stress enough how important seeing this set is for you weekend, just trust me. The long awaited return of Marmozets to the stage came at the start of the year and now well and truly marking their return with some big festival appearances, I think I’ll be joined by many in saying welcome back.
This year years line-up is stacked to the extent that even narrowing down ones to watch is hard work but lets not forget our headliners - on Wednesday we have the treat of Pup closing out the Forrest stage, Thursday of course we have Bedford’s finest Don Broco, Friday the incredible Funeral For a Friend will be sure to produce a special end to what is a rammed day and rounding us off in what I’d say already will be one of the all time headline sets at Trees with Neck Deep - a band who have built their entire empire from the ground up and sit deservingly at the top of a festival like Trees. Their live shows are nothing short of special and to witness them end this weekend will go down in the history books.
All bands and all the stages are available to view via the festival official app on IOS and Android to plan ahead for the big weekend and also favourite all the above because trust me on this, you do not want to sleep on these bands. 2000 Trees is a yearly highlight for a reason and we are all about to see why. See you in the fields.
