Thursday
2000 Trees, 2000 Degrees, 2000 Wasps; there are many names given to one of the UK’s best festivals over the weekend. In the midst of another heatwave thousands of punters flock to the fields of Cheltenham in the blistering heat for four days of great company and even better music. Given the circumstances of the weekend it’s likely that it was going to take a few prisoners and from the off one of them was me; defeating my car part way down the M4 and delaying my arrival until the Thursday afternoon. That meant missing out on enticing sets from the likes of Meryl Streek, unpeople and Dream Nails early on. However once it got rolling, it didn’t stop the whole weekend.
The Hunna fit the Trees setting perfectly in the afternoon sun bringing their pop punk to the farm. New song “Hide And Seek” gets it’s live debut but it’s “Bonfire” which brings the biggest singalong of the set. Even in the heat the crowd surfers flood their way over the barriers and this is a precedent, that continues during every set. It’s a bittersweet moment in The Axiom as Kid Kapichi perform their final ever show with their current lineup and they go out on an absolute high, with a greatest hits set across their back catalogue. Each song contains that signature bite they bring and that grove that is present in the likes of “Let’s Get To Work” and “Rob The Supermarket” can’t stop you from bopping along. It all finishes with an emotional “Smash The Gaff” which sees them leaving the stage to rapturous applause and definitely a few tears on stage. Whilst it’s the end of one chapter, it’ll be interesting to see what the next one along brings.
The first headliner of Thursday night Pvris have almost gone under the radar a little bit compared to the rest of the acts topping the bill. However what they end up delivering is one of the sets of the weekend. Lynn Gunn is flawless throughout providing both the wailing screams during the opening “Burn The Witch” to her luscious vocals on the likes of “No Mercy” and “Smoke”. Everybody in the field is captivated as the sun goes down in front of the stage as each new song that comes along seems to top the previous. At one point it almost feels like a meditation and then the next it feels like a party. It’s the tenth anniversary of their debut “White Noise” and a good portion of the set is filled up with that. It still feels incredibly fresh now and they mix in almost seamlessly with their newer material which has become all the more “pop” and “dancier” over the years. “GODDESS” feels like a perfect way to close the set with its crunching bass and maniacal laugh towards the end of the song. They’ve really set the precedent for how headline slots over the weekend need to be delivered.
Following the highs of the first headliners, it’s unfortunate that Glaswegian rock outfit Twin Atlantic feel somewhat flat in comparison. The songs are there, however it just seems to be lacking that edge that is required. On the flipside heading over to the Forest Stage, Bambie Thug brings a sense of gothic punk with a heck of a lot of camp at the same time which is an awful lot of fun. You’d expect nothing less from one of two Eurovision alumni on the bill over the weekend. Finishing the set off with a bunch of super soakers drenching the appreciative crowd, it’s fair to say that they have been quenched in a number of different ways.
Irish rap trio Kneecap are undoubtably the most anticipated act of the whole weekend. Not only are they one of the most talked about groups in the world right now, every song and every word they say is tinged with a sense of excitement. Despite it being a primarily rock/metal festival, the crowd are on board from the off and don’t stop throughout. What’s great to see, is that the guys on stage understand the ethos of Trees and what it is about. The 90 minutes are filled with banging tunes, references to court and cocaine along with that political edge that you would expect. All throughout it’s performed with a wry smile and a tongue firmly in cheek with the likes of “Your Sniffer Dogs Are Shite” and “Get Your Brits Out”. DJ Provai sees himself balaclavaed up and right in the thick of it towards the end. You’re not going to get much of a better 1-2 hit that “H.O.O.D” followed by the chaotic “The Recap” which creates probably the biggest movement of the weekend. What it confirms is that Kneecap are not all just all talk and controversy, they can certainly deliver it on the big stage and no doubt bigger stages to come.
Friday
Friday morning gives those that have survived the night before a chance to dust off the cobwebs. The early sets from EVER, Eville and OVERSIZE bring that early energy and allow those the change to be able to sweat out the toxins from the night before. However the real place to retreat is the Forest Stage, where a trio of acts help detox the soul and give everybody a chance to catch their breath and shield from the sun. First off are “Imogen and the Knife” whose dulcet tones and gorgeous piano notes feel like a breeze washing over you. This is followed by Julia Wolf, who has already garnered a huge following through the likes of Spotify and it’s easy to see why. Rocking a Trees football shirt, her set seems almost too brief but what we do hear is just the tonic. The likes of “Jennifer’s Body” is already being sung back and her voice just resonates through the forest.
The real treat comes from what was originally supposed to be a secret set, but once announced was sure to draw the biggest Forest crowd of the weekend. Frank Turner performs his wonderful “Love Ire & Song” in full all by himself and every single song is an absolute delight. Frank is a Trees veteran and everyone is in full song throughout so for the 45 minutes he runs through the 12 tunes it feels like you don’t want to be anywhere else. “Long Live The Queen” has many an eye in the crowd weeping away. It’s a joyful moment and a calming palette cleanser before his much rowdier version of himself later on in the evening.
Trash Boat, despite missing a member and drafting in a last minute replacement absolutely rip up the main stage. Their latest album was a bit of a heavy hitter and so thankfully the set showcases a lot of it. When it comes to wonderful chaos, you can’t get much finer than Wales’ finest, Mclusky. When you’re opening with a song whose title is “Lightsaber Cocksucking Blues”, you know that you’re in for a good time. The whole set just feels a little bit crazy in the best possible way; take “Unpopular Parts of a Pig” or “Way of the Exploding Dickhead” along with Falcus’ screaming vocals, you’re left with one pretty great show.
The main stage is already packed minutes before the first of the Friday headliners, Coheed & Cambria take to it. It feels the busiest it’s been so far as the thousands pack the main fields. What follows is 80 minutes of prog rock, riffs, rowing pits and a show worthy of headlining. Their most recent output sees them channelling a more conventional hard rock approach, but it is no less thrilling that what came before. In fact “Blind Side Sonny” and “Searching For Tomorrow” both already feel like fully fledged staples in their catalogue. Speaking of which we get fleeting glimpses throughout their discovery over the years and each song is loudly roared back to those brave enough to bear it at the front. It all finishes in spectacular prog fashion with the big hair and double guitar blaring out that iconic riff from “Welcome Home”. As soon as those drums kick in, you feel the ground beneath you shake and what follows is six minutes of pure joy and the perfect way to end things off this evening.
If there were going to be points going to the loudest set of the weekend, I think that Million Dead would take it by a landslide. From the intro of “The Rise And Fall” straight into “Breaking The Back” everything feels as though it’s vibrating in the best possible way. This is a comeback which has kicked things back off right where they left it 20 years ago. However this is the first time as a five piece and even with the addition of another guitar, things feel as though they’ve jumped up a notch. Turner states it’s their “first show back” despite playing a well needed warmup gig the night before, but there are no signs of rustiness at all. Joking at the pay check they were offered to come back to play again, it’s clear that this wasn’t just for the money but for the love of their music. They may have all gotten a bit older now and outgrown their own capabilities; the crowd take over on screaming duties during “Pornography For Cowards” due to age holding them back. But they never lose any of their energy throughout the 16 song set. Frank states that their upcoming UK shows might be their last ones they do and you’d be a fool to miss out on them.
Second headliner Taking Back Sunday come with a bunch of alt-emo anthems to perform on what has already been a packed Friday night. However the set falls somewhat short of the mark of what has come before. The songs are there, but they are lacking the passion and the heart of all of the other performers beforehand. Frontman Adam Lazzara is a charismatic lead with his limbs flailing around like garage forecourt air man as he swings the mic around his head about 5 times during each song. If only more care could be given to the vocals; as they are extremely patchy throughout the course of the set. No one can deny the quality of the great songs like “Error Operator” and even their newer material with the likes of “S’Old”, but it’s disappointing that the backing vocals are much more prominent in the overall mix. That doesn’t stop the adoring crowd from having a great time though with “Cute Without The E” and “MakeDamnSure” providing huge singalongs towards the end of the set. But the awkward pauses in between songs and the lack of polish throughout, ultimately leaves the set somewhat underwhelming.
Saturday
Saturday morning and Eyes bring their brand of Danish hardcore to The Cave and to the UK for the first time. In what they state is the “hottest” show they’ve ever played, the eager fans are still going for it towards the front even after three days of hard partying. Vower prove in their fairly short time of being a band that they have definitely got what it takes. Their crunching riffs and soaring vocals are already clearly resonating with fans, with a large contingent present having seen them before. Having only released the one EP so far and it already gathering this much attention and admiration, they’re soon to be making their way up the bill in years to come. If you want your share of dad-rock on a Saturday afternoon, then Riding The Low will be sure to fill that void. Fronted by Paddy Constantine, he swaggers on stage and even at one point dons a mask and starts beating the floor with a baseball bat. It might not quite be for everyone and you’re likely to see something similar down your local pub on the weekend, but despite some technical issues, they are inoffensive for half an hour and entertaining enough to watch.
We get one of the sets of the weekend from Vukovi, as the sun reaches its peak down on the main stage. “This floor is like fucking lava” screams Janine Shilstone, just one song in as she asks for spare shoes from the crowd, what she receives is something that she’d just like to keep secret amongst the Trees contingent! In a weekend of dramatic and emotional returns, probably one of the most iconic is that of Mr Fridge, who first graced himself with his presence at the festival during their set a number of years ago and has followed them like a talisman ever since. Vukovi are known for their energetic shows a glorious breakdowns and the main stage performance is no exception. “LASSO”, “I EXIST” and “CREEP HEAT” all generate enough energy to keep Blackpool illuminated for a good number of years to come. Next time they visit the farm, you can be sure that they are going to be the ones headlining that main stage.
The most incendiary act of the weekend comes from letlive on their reunion/farewell tour. Whenever you get Jason Butler on stage, you always know there are going to be fireworks. Initially they are a simple as him launching himself into the crowd during “Banshee (Ghost Fame)” or picking up a guy dressed as an amp on stage during one of the funniest moments of the whole weekend. I imagine health and safety talks were given to Butler before the set, but these are promptly thrown out like a television in a hotel window along with the bed the wardrobes and everything else in between. There are no balconies or immediate trees for him to climb, so he instead resorts to climbing the actual stage and dangling on top of the lighting rig, merely in his pants. It’s not surprise that the sound gets cut from the front until he eventually comes down, but it’s a moment that is equally thrilling and terrifying. Stage theatrics aside, the word to describe the band is “tight”. Every song hits like a train and it feels a shame that this might be one of the last times we will be witnessing them on these shores.
The weekend comes to a close with the wonderful Alexisonfire, a band who feel as though they’ve been destined to play 2000 Trees for years but for some reason never have done before. There’s something about them which feel perfectly suited for the festival and Saturday night is their chance to be able to prove it. We kick off with “Accidents” which initiates the swarms of crowd surfers and doesn’t stop throughout. It’s one of many visits we get from their album “Watch Out”, but it’s “Boiled Frogs” next which takes it up another gear. “Bring George That Coach”, Wade screams from the stage as an inflatable sofa finds its way bouncing in the pit. It’s not all just heaviness though, the joy of Alexisonfire is how they essentially have three frontmen who command the stage but never steal the limelight. As Dallas Green sings harmoniously on “Sans Soleil”, it feels beautifully contrasted in the wonderful “We Are The Sound”. One of their best distillation of everything comes during “Sweet Dreams Of Otherness” which feels like a band at the height of their powers. Midway through the set allows everyone to have a little bit of a breather, but when the red lights fill the stage before “Dogs Blood”, it feels like anything is about to happen and everyone gives ever last bit of energy that they have for the weekend. If there’s a song that could perfectly encapsulate 00’s alternative hard rock, you’d be hard pressed to find anything that was more universally loved than that of “This Could Be Anywhere In The World”. The crowd are so loud throughout that the band almost don’t even have to join in during the entire song. As the voices are wrecked and their legs are giving way, the audience still have enough energy to join in with the final song of the weekend, where we see George rip open his shirt in animalistic fashion, all left to the sound of rapturous applause.
This has been my third time at 2000 Trees festival and it never fails to disappoint. Going in, I felt tired, I felt drained, I was wondering what was going to happen to my car… But the second that I got in there and saw the people, everything just went away. The whole event always seems so seamless, the way you can wonder from one stage to the other so easily and hardly ever have the worry of an horrendous clash. The people you encounter from the entry gates, to the food stalls, to the punters, everybody is incredibly friendly and charming. It also feels like the safest festival out there and props has to go out to the security team who work tirelessly in the blistering heat across four days and you hear nothing but praise for them throughout. I probably saw a record amount of crowd surfers go over the barriers this weekend and they do a sterling job. The music is also great, you have the opportunity to just stumble across something you never may have before and they could become your favourite band and you have some of your old favourites giving headline sets for the first time (Just please don’t make any more jokes about counting the amount of actual trees there are at the festival next though!) And despite the heat and the exhaustion, everybody was getting involved and having fun; whether they were watching bands in the Neu tent or rocking it out to the silent disco at night. There’s a reason why this has been voted one of the best festivals in the UK. And long may it continue!
