2000Trees Festival proved why it is one of the best and chilled festivals in the UK as festival goers really got value for money in the Cheltenham grounds of Upcote Farm.
Liverpool pop punks took to the main stage and kicked off proceeding just after midway as they provided as they started with Promiscuous and Tell Me More along with their classic hit Eastbound & Down. Lead singer Sammy Clifford and the band finished on Crisis as 2000Trees Festival got well and truly underway!
The highlight for me on the day was at the Forest Sessions as Press To Meco provided a magical acoustic set which a perfect version of their sweet song If All Your Parts Don’t Make a Whole. Phoxjaw and Blood Youth also bossed the Neu Stage throughout the day as Holding Absence finished that stage in style.
Of course While She Sleeps certainly provided a bit more heaviness to The Cave as they headlined the stage perfectly. Camp Reuben, where we camped opposite) provided music from Luke Rainsford, Chloe Glover and Cold Years throughout the weekend.
Puppy, Turnstile and Flogging Molly all performed on the main stage throughout the day also before Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls well truly finished Thursday in style. The Hampshire based singer sang the likes of Get Better, The Road and Blackout which got the set off to a great start. With singles such as Be More Kind and Little Changes, there was no doubt that the set was going to be good’un! Frank finished on Four Simple Words as fans gathered round to finish the evening with the silent disco.
Weather wise, it was lovely all weekend, and on Friday the class of the line up kept on getting better as the likes of Brutus and Dream State providing electrifying sets on the main stage. Hands Like Houses and The Wildhearts both put on solid sets throughout the day on that stage as the likes of itoldyouiwouldeatyou and Modern Error ruled the Neu Stage. Southampton Sean McGowan also wowed The Axiom stage as it did Skinny Lister who provided their upbeat Ska like performance.
Friday of course however saw the wonderful As It Is before headliners You Me At Six took to the stage. They began with Fast Forward before they played the likes of Underdog and Night People which was well received. Lead singer Josh Franceschi was very vocal throughout the set as also provided a political insight and his view on Boris Johnson. You Me At Six also performed Take on the World which was really sweet as they finished on Reckless. However there was of course encore something Josh wondered why bands do this anymore. They actually finished on Room to Breathe which was a perfect way to finish the Friday night with.
Saturday saw Vukovi, Soeur and the brilliant A take to the main stage and you can hear the interview with A below!
False Heads and Cold Years both bossed the Neu Stage as The Bottom Line has the time of their life later that night.
Märtha and Therapy? Were the pick of the bunch at The Axiom as Lotus Eater, Single Mothers and Can’t Swim all put in solid performances at The Cave. The Xcerts’ Murray Macleod also done a very special acoustic set over at the Forest Sessions on Saturday evening. Saturday finished with The Skints, Every Time I Die and of course headliners Deaf Havana. Lead singer James Veck-Gilodi was superb all set and was fresh from his earlier Forest Sessions performance. The Norfolk based band started with Boston Square and Fever before they sang the likes of Sing and Happiness. They finished with Sinner on the encore as 2000Trees Festival was heading for an end for this year. There was of course a silent disco once again and plenty of stages still playing throughout the early hours. Overall it was once again without doubt the best festival I’ve been to this year so far!