FESTIVAL REVIEW: 2000trees Festival 2023
2000trees comes with a reputation of of good vibes, line-up range and a site that pleases all. 2023 celebrates the festival’s 15th year running, and despite its growing success and long career, the weekend lives up to its expectations in delivering an easy-going, positive mid-sized festival in the heart the Cotswolds, with a jam-packed roster of entertainment.
Thursday – July 6th
Kicking off the main stretch of the festival, Thursday starts with a huge choice of bands to open the weekend up. Salisbury offers up CARSICK (9), for the early hours of the NEU Stage, a punk four-piece joining the Alcopop! Records family. The band walk on as though the packed out tent is full of mates they’ve been waiting to see; from the first note they’re full of smiles and energy. Bassist Jack Hardiman leaps about the stage in a performance more commonly seen at a hardcore show, while vocalist Joe Richardson catapults himself into the crowd, delivering his tongue-in-cheek attitude to wake up the early risers. The band’s catchy riffs and sing-along choruses energise the tent and leave an impression on all in attendance, making it hard to not bounce off their genuine excitement to play.
Straight after, ITHACA (8) bring their enthralling metal to the Main Stage. Their tenacious sound is made for a stage of their size, with the rumbles of their cataclysmic instrumentation thundering through the whole site. Vocalist Djamila Biden Azzouz conducts the scene with beautiful force, almost as though she is ruler of the ITHACA kingdom. The chaotic noise is met with a gratitude and sincerity, as guitarist Sam Chetan-Walsh declares to the crowd: “Your trauma does not define you” right before the band swirl into Florescent, one of the most encompassing tracks from their 2022 album They Fear Us.
Back on the NEU Stage, the tent can barely contain the chaos of LAMBRINI GIRLS (9). The band play the set as though it’s the last show you’ll ever see- they’re not here to muck about. Phone Lunny spends a lot of the set off the stage, piggy-backing on a fan for Help Me I’m Gay. You’re involved in the band’s slot if you want to be or not. The band are unapologetic, in your face, and masters at engaging a crowd of any size with sheer lawlessness, sure to make attendees tell the story of their live show with anecdotes of tempting pandemonium.
Kent’s GRAPHIC NATURE (7) pack out the Cave Stage with their brutal electronic-infused heaviness. Frontman Harvey Freeman demands the crowd with mosh-calls and belting growls as the band course through most of a mind waiting to die, released on Rude Records in February of this year. The band steal the breath of the tent early on, with the crowd down the front living up to the Cave Stage’s reputation as the ‘heavy’ arena for the festival as they swing themselves around to a flexing soundtrack.
BOB VYLAN (7) swan onto the main stage with no hesitation of making it theirs. Vocalist Bobby Vylan practically fights the air around him, unable to contain his energy, even swinging a cricket bat around for CSGB. The band do sound more produced live than on record, mostly due to drummer Bobbie Vylan being the only organic instrumentation for the live sets of this two-piece. But the grit of the band is made up for in the crowd-interaction with banter and call-outs, while also highlighting real life in important moments of discussion about police brutality as Bobby states “This isn’t just music for us, it’s our lives”.
THE WONDER YEARS (7) hit the Main Stage of 2000trees with he same mix of in-your-feels choruses and jovial chats we’ve come to expect from the Philly band. The charming juxtaposition is slightly dampened however, by some shoddy sound for the set that makes the mix somewhat jarring. Regardless of the issues, Dan Campbell delivers with what the band state on their (soupy) tin: vulnerable, real performance and cordial jesting as he debates if he thinks the horses in the nearby fields are enjoying the band’s set.
While Skindred (8) cause havoc on the main stage, those wanting a bit more of an ethereal atmosphere can be found at the Cave to watch Belfast’s instrumental mainstays AND SO I WATCH YOU FROM AFAR (9). The set is rapturous from the get-go with the band sounding inspiriting as ever. The band swim through a mix of harsh post-rock with intricate gaze- showing why they have a ride or die fanbase, who really show up when it comes time to chant Big Thinks Do Remarkable, much to the band’s delight, creating a real festival highlight.
SOFT PLAY (7) headline the Main Stage with an expected brutish attitude. This is the one of the band’s first appearances since their reinvention but their brash attitude and laddish charm stays true. They are unapologetically ridiculous, inviting any aquatic creatures to the stage for Feed The Mantaray, which sees them greeted by two fans dressed as a shark and a manta ray before they dive back into the crowd, surfing like heroes. While the front of the crowd is living it up, it may be a different experience for those less-versed in the SOFT PLAY universe. They storm through their set whipping out favourites Where’s Your Car Debbie and Cheer Up London alongside introductions and chats that do feel a little like excuses to fill time. Their set does come across a bit like a rehearsed comedy sketch; but if you’ve seen these lads before you already know the punchlines, and the charm wears off. This is a headliner for existing fans who will get exactly what they signed up for: fun riffs and janky drums with a splash of Friday (or rather Thursday) night pub-chats. For those who aren’t yet familiar or just know the singles- the charade results in an at times grating fence-sitter.
Friday – July 7th
HERIOT (9) need no introduction at this point – and have proved their worth in the UK’s extreme metal scene. Fitting then, they we’re lucky enough to see them on the Main Stage at 2000trees. Their set is the most devastating way to have a good time- with howling growls and bludgeoning instrumentation. The sun is beating down on the band’s onlookers, but nothing is discouraged as their fans get out their energy with inflatable swords in the pit; resulting in one of the funniest mosh-calls of the weekend as Debbie Gough screeches “I wanna see everyone with a sword in the pit, nowwww”.
MILITARIE GUN (8) grace the Axiom with a string of unfortunate events weighing them down. The band are playing a reduced set time, with the line-up one man down of their original line-up. Vocalist Shelton’s tenacious performance doesn’t waver however. He jumps about the stage, knees to chest, on attack. The tent is disappointingly sparse in turn-out, but the band manage to fill the tent with their frenzied sound nonetheless.
The hardcore presence has soared in recent 2000trees lineups. This year, ZULU (8) are a clear favourite for those more inclined to a heavier set. They sweep the crowd up in the Cave tent in their brutal slot, pleasing existing fans and new ones alike. The majority of the tent are won over, swayed into mayhem of movement as the band punch through a viscous performance.
The Cave doesn’t pause for breath when KUBLAI KHAN TX (7) take the stage. It’s complete disarray from the get-go, with literal kids, Spider-Man and anorak hardcore bros alike combining forces for a completely bonkers sea of movement. It’s more of the tongue-in-cheek approach to all things heavy, and even though the crowd are asked to “get anabolic”– they still seem charmed.
Bringing things back down to a more wide-spread palette is 2000trees veterans THE XCERTS (8) over on the Axiom Stage. The joy is practically radiating off Murray Macleod who has made no secret of his affection for this festival. It seeps into their set, and the crowd alike, for standout moments of sing-song chanting for old favourite Slackerpop and new classic GIMME.
The pleasantries dissipate by the time EMPLOYED TO SERVE (8) surge onto the Cave however, with the band fulfilling their duty to cause a stir. Justine Jones wastes no time in growling out to her onlookers as guitarist Sammy Urwin shreds through churning riffs and licks, head banging with whiplash-worthy enthusiasm. This year’s festival has made it clear that the 2000trees gang have a thirst for all things heavy.
For a slacker-vibe band like DINOSAUR PILE-UP (9), there is really no mucking about. The crowd are just as vital to this set as the band are – almost micromanaging themselves into mayhem with a good couple dozen in inflatable dinosaur costumes (a now endearing 2000trees x DPU tradition). Perhaps a new tradition made today, too, as the audience sing happy birthday to frontman Matt Bigland in a moment that solidifies how appreciated the three-piece are for their fuzzy riff-rock and all-round good vibe mentality.
CANCER BATS (8) have been busy this weekend. Liam Cormier makes a scene everywhere he goes at Upcote Farm – whether it’s shrouded in a robe for BLACK SABBATH covers during the BAT SABBATH Forest Sessions set – or up on the main stage for an AXEWOUND reunion with Matt Tuck. CANCER BATS themselves, show no signs of slowing down, shaking the ground from the first note. Banger to banger across the board makes them cement their reputation as a solid, tight infrastructure in hardcore punk.
BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE (8) may be a band you associate more with teen years spent on Bebo, or turning ScuzzTV on once you got home from school; but their set tonight proves their staying power as one of the pillars of fundamental UK metal. They cram insane light production and more nostalgic bangers than you could have remembered into their headline slot, all while sounding both clean and rugged in a tight formation.
Saturday – July 8th
GOING OFF (9) shake the camps awake on this fine Saturday morning. They’ve been making waves within the UK hardcore scene for a while now, and their set makes it clear why. The rain city band downpour their vicious sound in an unapologetically disruptive set. Vocalist Jake Huxley revels in the two-steppers’ enthusiasm while he delivers his guttural growls int he faces of the barrier-sitters, giving a license to their band’s name.
HIGH VIS (9) highlight any line-up they find themselves on with their eclectically-influenced sound. There’s moments of post-hardcore in Chose To Lose, Madchester indie melodies in Walking Wires, and post-punk in Trauma Bonds. It’s a dazzling set, showing why they’re receiving so much adoration and a cult-following in an array of scenes throughout the country.
Once again hardcore makes its mark today with FRESHWATER (7). Their laid-back approach to such a daring sound radiates with their onlookers. They certainly don’t embellish anything, with the set over in around ten minutes less than their allotted time- but they didn’t need it all to make their impact, sounding powerful as ever.
ENOLA GAY (7) bring the energy for their discordant feral sound. The mix in the NEU Stage does them no favours unfortunately today, with the reverb and samples just being a little too messy. Despite this though, they show off their noisy post-punk with the same magnetism their live shows are now known for.
ONE STEP CLOSER (8) stood up to the plate. By this point the festival-goers are tired, a little damp and feeling worse for wear. This doesn’t stop the band from from bouncing through a captivating set however, with highlights I Feel So; and Pringle Street sounding crisp and nuclear in a tent that is only at half capacity.
HOLDING ABSENCE (9) are long overdue this Main Stage set, which Lucas Woodland acknowledges when telling his crowd this was the last stage of 2000trees they were yet to conquer. And conquer they did. The setlist celebrates their second full length The Greatest Mistake Of My Life mainly, as they are due to say goodbye soon with he release of ‘The Noble Art of Self Destruction imminently gracing our ears. As usual, Woodland stuns with his vocal capability while the rest of the band shine individually in their own rights. HOLDING ABSENCE is a well oiled machine that will get you to your destination time and time again.
DEAF HAVANA (7) drew the short straw when the heavens opened halfway through their set. One minute, the crowd are basking up James Veck-Gilodi’s dazzling vocals and the next, they’re running for cover because canvas shoes and muddy fields don’t mix well. The band remain unfazed however, and the weather for those who stayed only heightened their atmospheric folk-indie sound. A true music video main character moment.
HUNDRED REASONS (8) are a no-frills band. And that’s what they’re good at. For a sub-headliner, they just rocket through a pretty basic – but tight- set. They play as though not a day has passed since their inception, with a real crowd-pleasing setlist, only elevated from a surprise cameo from ENTER SHIKARI’s Rou Reynolds for Silver.
Wrapping up the soggy day is Midwest emo legends AMERICAN FOOTBALL (8). They play through a masterclass of subtly, gentleness and true musicianship. This is a set for all the kids who reposted the iconic white-panelled house on Tumblr, with the setlist of course finishing with cult classic Never Meant, ensuring the night finishes in a bang for the many of those who hold this band dear to them.
2000trees set the bar year after year, ticking every box as they go. They can do varied lineups, sensical site layouts, easy admission, quality vendors and to top it all off, a bloody good pool of performances. There’s a reason this festival is a firm favourite to return to for fans and band alike.
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