2000 Trees secured its reputation as one of the best UK festivals thanks to some jaw-dropping headliners, promising new bands, special Forest Sessions and bucketfuls of sunshine lighting up the Cotswolds this weekend (12th-15th July).
The humble site at Upcote Farm opened its gates for the 12th edition of 2000 Trees early on Thursday afternoon as the festival continued to organically stretch its duration to almost become a full 3-day event.
SHVPES and Palm Reader got the festival off to a flier but for those looking not looking to dive right in at the deep end, Arcane Roots reimagined tracks from their standout album ‘Melancholia Hymns’ with a stripped down performance in the forest before stepping up and crushing the Main Stage later in the evening.
Despite the earlier start, the whole site quickly adopted the festival spirit thanks to the energy brought from bands like Turbowolf and Turnstile, witnessing Black Foxxes and Vukovi continue their ascent towards greatness and enjoying both Boston Manor and Marmozets put forward performances that could see them both as potential future headliners. The blockbuster Thursday, on a day when political tensions were high ahead of a visit from the US President to the UK, was capped perfectly with an apt, fuelled, show from At The Drive In in which frontman Cedric Bixler-Zavala was in typically riotous form.
Clouds took the edge off on Friday morning but 10:30am was still a bit too early for a lot of people to catch Grumble Bee in the forest but the early afternoon served up Phoxjaw, Nervus and Groundculture who showed the broad spectrum of music on show around the festival.
As the clouds intensified, The Dirty Nil drew the short straw and brought the rain along with their Main Stages set which in turn drove a lot of people who haven’t see rain in about a month now into the arms (and shelter) of PINS and Holding Absence. Those dodging the raindrops in the forest were treated to the sorrow-soaked vocals of Fatherson’s Ross Leighton before Jamie Lenman took his love affair for 2000 Trees to another level with a new song dedication to the festival which holds his so dear.
As the day raged on, the technicolour array of genres was all on show with standout sets from the ferocious Ho99o9, the fun Dream State, the spirited Sløtface and all the feels from Touché Amore. With the new-look Mallory Knox and headliners Twin Atlantic ready to bring the curtain down on the day, Creeper stole the show over at The Cave with emo rock anthems galore and a cover of MeatLoaf’s ‘You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth’. With a glorious sunset framing their bouncing tent, Creeper executed a performance with enough assurance and style that its pretty much ready to headline the whole festival already.
Unbridled sunshine greeted the all-to-soon final day at 2000 Trees. But, the day wasn’t for reflection but celebration (and bee themed fancy dress). Kicking off the day, Haggard Cat were wild, Murray McCleod of The Xcerts charmed in the forest, Imperial Leisure brought the carnival atmosphere as Woes crushed it in The Cave. Romping through the day with sights, sounds and sunshine of the wistful and witty Beans On Toast, the feisty but short lived Queen Kwong and the new talents Dream Wife and Gender Roles, Saturday was shaping up rather nicely.
The Main Stage was the place to be as the evening rolled around with a swaggering display from The Xcerts was followed up by a bruising set from Basement. And, in the blink of an eye, it was time for the curtain to come down with Enter Shikari. In a festival that covers so many genres and so many approaches to music, Shikari were a fitting finale to the festival with tunes from their more pop orientated new album ‘The Spark’ and stretching back to their electronicore seminal debut. The all-encompassing set included a rare airing of their cover of Faithless’s ‘Insomnia’ which sat perfectly alongside the lasers and lights which completed the Enter Shikari spectacle.
And that was it. 2000 Trees once again pulled it out of the bag. While clearly conscious of trying not grow bigger than its means but slowly explore its potential, 2000 Trees remained intimate but offered more- more bands, more big names, more activities, more food and new almost perfect cashless system – while remaining true to its humble nature. As the couple who got engaged during Enter Shikari’s epitomised, this festival is the place to making special, long lasting, memories surrounded by fellow lovers of great music.
Here’s some photos of the weekend (full credit goes to Ben Morse)
