FESTIVAL REVIEW: 2000trees Festival 2026

There’s something truly special about 2000trees Festival that keeps drawing people back to the Cotswolds every July. Maybe it’s the carefully curated lineup, bringing together future favourites, underground gems and established icons. Maybe it’s the unmatched sense of community that runs through every corner of the site. Or maybe it’s simply because nowhere else feels quite like Trees.

Set against the beautiful backdrop of Upcote Farm, the festival has built a reputation for being one of the most welcoming and inclusive events on the alternative music calendar. Across the site, high-energy performances and passionate crowds sit alongside a relaxed, friendly atmosphere that makes everyone feel at home. It’s a festival that manages to feel vibrant without ever becoming overwhelming, and unlike many larger events, 2000trees has held onto the intimate charm that makes it so unique.

This year’s edition will undoubtedly be remembered for the relentless heat. With sweltering temperatures testing everyone in attendance, there was every chance the weather could have overshadowed the weekend. Instead, the festival’s greatest strength shone through: its people. The heat may have dominated conversations, but it never dampened the atmosphere. From established heavyweights to the next generation of breakthrough artists, Upcote Farm once again played host to four days of unforgettable performances, exciting discoveries, and a community whose spirit seems to grow stronger with every passing year.

Wednesday – July 8th

HYPHEN – The Forest

HYPHEN proved to be the perfect opener, delivering a set that immediately captured the spirit of the weekend. Nestled amongst the trees, the performance felt instantly immersive, with the punk-rap artist’s magnetic presence pulling the crowd in from the very first moment. Their energy was relentless, but it was the combination of political conviction and genuine human connection that truly set the performance apart.
The audience certainly didn’t need warming up – the temperatures had already taken care of that – but HYPHEN somehow raised the intensity even further. It was sweaty, confrontational, joyful, and profoundly human all at once – a vital reminder of what music can do when it stops trying to be polite. More than just an entertaining festival set, it felt like a statement of intent. A bar was definitely set for the rest of the festival with this performance, and if this is the direction the next wave of alternative artists is heading, then there is every reason to feel hopeful about the future of the scene.

Rating: 10/10

SOAPBOX – The Word

Another perfect dose of political catharsis arrived shortly afterwards as Scottish four-piece SOAPBOX took over The Word stage. One of the best things about 2000trees’ Wednesday programming is its simplicity; with only The Word and The Forest stages open for early bird arrivals, there are no impossible clashes to navigate, allowing every band to play to a fully engaged crowd. The Glasgow punks wasted no time making an impression. Built on thunderous basslines, crushing guitars and relentless drumming, their sound was as gritty as it was infectious. Their lyrics balanced frustration with humour, transforming everyday grievances – like the misery of public transport – into raucous, shout-along anthems that had the audience grinning as much as they were yelling. It was another set fuelled by anger, but never without purpose. Raw, relatable and unapologetically loud, the four-piece delivered exactly the kind of high-energy, socially conscious punk that feels perfectly at home at 2000trees. Their set was the musical equivalent of a bar fight, messy, loud, and impossible to look away from.

Rating: 8/10

BLACKGOLD – The Forest

Next up in The Forest were BLACKGOLD, who are doing their part to prove that nu-metal’s resurgence is more than just nostalgia. Musically, they blend nu-metal with rap and hip-hop influences, drawing clear inspiration from the likes of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, CYPRESS HILL and BEASTIE BOYS, while bringing a fresh, modern edge that feels entirely their own.  Hidden behind their trademark masks, the band’s mysterious image only adds to their commanding stage presence, allowing their music and performance to take centre stage. They wasted no time getting the crowd moving, delivering crushing riffs, infectious grooves and huge hooks with unwavering confidence. Frontman Spookz was a captivating presence throughout, effortlessly switching between rap-driven verses and melodic vocals, while constantly engaging with the audience. Dance Like That proved an early highlight, while a brilliantly executed mash-up later in the set sent the energy soaring even higher. There’s an undeniable confidence about BLACKGOLD that makes them feel destined for bigger stages. With a headline tour already on the horizon later this year, their upward trajectory shows no signs of slowing. It feels less like a question of if they’ll blow up and more when.

Rating: 9/10

SPLIT CHAIN – The Word

With the heat finally beginning to drop, you could feel more and more people finally braving a venture out from camp to see some bands – a welcome sight for 2000trees returnees SPLIT CHAIN. Their mid-evening set could have seen revellers headed to the food vendors or finally enjoying a cooling-off from the sun, yet SPLIT CHAIN filled The Word stage with the largest crowd we’ve seen so far this weekend to enjoy their nu-metal/shoegaze sound. No inklings of exhaustion here: the set ripped through with palpable energy, we found ourselves drenched with humid sweat just half-way through. Nice. Having taken a step back, there was a moment as the sun came streaming through the open side of the tent and highlighted just how much dust had been thrown up by the crowd. Moments like these almost dissociate away from the music and you’re left to breathe in the festival goodness. You’re at trees. You’re home.

Rating: 8/10

SPRINTS – The Forest

Staying put in The Forest, Dublin-based SPRINTS brought a completely different kind of intensity. It’s difficult to pin the foursome to one genre, effortlessly weaving together post-punk, punchy pop hooks, electronic flourishes, and garage-punk grit, it’s all in there, somehow stitched into something that feels chaotic and joyous in equal measure. The crowd definitely enjoyed it, heads nodding, a few pits opening here and there, but it wasn’t carnage, just a steady, buzzing energy. Still, they managed to fill the forest with a massive sound and kept everyone locked in. They’re an impressive listen on record, but live they hit harder, sharper and more direct. Songs like How Does The Story Go? and Little Fix were clear favourites, with the crowd eagerly throwing the lyrics back towards the stage. Frontwoman Karla Chubb was an undeniable force throughout, commanding attention one moment before throwing herself into the crowd the next, crowd surfing without missing a beat.

Rating: 7/10

PUP – The Forest

Closing out the day were Canadian punk favourites PUP, who manage to be one of the funniest bands around without ever feeling like a novelty act. Their trademark self-deprecating humour and effortless stage banter kept the crowd laughing between songs, but they also knew exactly when to shift gears. Taking a moment to speak out in support of trans rights was met with huge applause, a reminder that beneath the jokes is a band unafraid to stand up for what they believe in. The rest of the set was gloriously chaotic in all the best ways, with massive singalongs, relentless energy and countless smiles from both band and crowd. With another set still to come later in the weekend, it was the perfect reminder of why PUP remain such a special band: gloriously chaotic, endlessly entertaining, but always with something real at their core.

Rating: 8/10

Thursday – July 9th

Thursday marked the first full day of 2000trees, and while the relentless heat continued to test everyone’s commitment, it couldn’t put a dent in the atmosphere across Upcote Farm. With more festival-goers arriving, tents still being pitched and the site gradually coming to life, it seemed the week was properly beginning. Despite the soaring temperatures, there was a sense of excitement in the air – a feeling that, despite the conditions, everyone was exactly where they wanted to be.

BUDS. – Main Stage

The first Main Stage performance of the day came courtesy of BUDS.. Travelling from Hampshire, the group brought their signature blend of punk, emo and grunge influences to the stage, delivering a set that felt both nostalgic and completely at home amongst the trees. There’s a reason they’ve become such a familiar name at this festival the past few years, their music carries that perfect balance of raw emotion and infectious energy that feels tailor-made for a crowd gathered in the Cotswolds sun. Their name couldn’t be more fitting, either. A BUDS. set feels less like watching a band perform and more like singing along with a group of pals. Despite the brutal heat and the fact it was only 11am on the second day of the festival, the four-piece pulled quite the crowd. By the time they closed out the set with fan favourite Building Blocks, the crowd were fully immersed, bringing the performance to a fitting end with one of the band’s most beloved tracks.

Rating: 7/10

TOOTH – The Axiom 

The momentum continued with TOOTH, whose blend of indie and emo influences proved an instant hit on The Axiom stage. Frontman Tom Pollock led the set with an effortless charisma, his emotive vocals weaving seamlessly through soaring guitars and driving rhythms. What began as a lively crowd quickly transformed into a sea of bodies moving in unison, with hands aloft and every lyric being thrown straight back at the stage. Tracks such as Wallflower and Restless in Bloom showcased the band’s knack for balancing vulnerability with huge, memorable hooks. For a band with just one EP to their name, the level of audience investment was remarkable.

Rating: 7/10

LONESOME – The Axiom

Slowing the pace without sacrificing intensity, LONESOME delivered one of the day’s most atmospheric sets. Their emotionally charged songwriting filled The Word tent, with shimmering melodies creating moments of calm amidst the festival chaos. The debut performance of new, unreleased track There’s A Piece of Me felt like a particularly special moment, offering a glimpse into the band’s next chapter, sitting perfectly alongside You Say It’s Love and Save Your Words. It was a beautifully understated set that quietly captivated everyone willing to stop and listen.

Rating: 7/10

HAPPYDAZE – The Axiom

HAPPYDAZE are a welcome discovery for us on our recce around the arena on Friday morning. As newcomers to 2000trees, the Edinburgh four-piece were the third band on The Axiom stage this year – but you wouldn’t have thought it. The tent isn’t completely packed, again many people felt it was simply too hot to migrate away from the shade and toward masses of sweaty bodies. Explaining the set to our friends back at camp, we found it impossible to not compare them to other bands, but only in a positive way. ‘Accessible Pop-Punk’ doesn’t seem to do group justice, as we enjoyed spin-kicks, punches into the air and sad-boi clean guitar riffs that made us stop and really pay attention. We enjoyed HAPPYDAZE thoroughly, and encourage anyone that enjoys THE STORY SO FAR, NECK DEEP and MOVEMENTS to check out their EPs Free Full Radical and A Brand New Day.

Rating: 8/10

TRUCK VIOLENCE – The Cave

To the uninitiated, TRUCK VIOLENCE are a difficult band to follow in a live setting. Landing festival dates in the midst of an EU/UK tour is no mean feat – and the Canadian hardcore/folk-noise group undoubtedly drew a sizeable crowd for their first 2000trees appearance. Running high off the recent release of their sophomore record the weathervane is my body, TRUCK VIOLENCE brought despondent lamentations directly to the crowd, and whilst you can’t deny there’s movement up on the stage from frontman Karsyn Henderson, theirs isn’t the kind of music that encourages crowd participation. On record, there’s undoubtedly an artistic quality, though it didn’t feel as though it translated well enough on this occasion. On the face of it, TRUCK VIOLENCE writhed around on stage in various states of undress, seemingly unperturbed by the crowd stood before them; interaction was kept to a minimum. And then the banjo came out. We’ve covered TRUCK VIOLENCE before to glowing praise, but live, we’re not convinced it works yet.

Rating: 5/10

PUP – Main Stage

Returning for their second appearance of the festival, PUP somehow managed to raise the bar even higher. The Canadian four-piece seemed even more relaxed this time around. While their Forest Stage set had already showcased their chaotic charm and incredible connection with the audience, their Main Stage performance proved that their energy could translate to a much larger crowd without losing any of the intimacy that makes them so special. With a longer set and a much bigger stage to fill, punk rock quartet leaned fully into the opportunity. With a longer set and a much bigger stage to fill, punk rock quartet leaned fully into the opportunity. From the opening notes of Totally Fine, the field erupted, with fans throwing themselves into the set through huge singalongs, relentless movement and a wonderfully rowdy atmosphere. Somehow louder, faster and even more exhilarating than their first appearance of the weekend, this was a reminder that PUP are a band capable of turning any stage into their own chaotic playground. The result was one of the most energetic sets of the weekend so far, leaving a sea of smiling faces, tired voices and absolutely no complaints.

Rating: 9/10

DELILAH BON – The Cave

We’re barely able to get into the tent for DELILAH BON, it’s so busy. Summer hours aside, it’s quite easy to forget that it’s nearly 8PM, and yet the sun’s still shining over the festival site. DELILAH BON featured on our preview piece and for good reason. DELILAH BON made an immediate impression. From the get-go, this fiery performance was a rollercoaster ride of empowerment and raw energy, seamlessly weaving together the aggressive tones of angry punk and riot grrrl ethos with a versatile mix of genres, including nu-metal, hip hop, melodic rap, and 90s pop influences, AKA ‘Brat Punk’. Tracks such as Dead Men Don’t Rape and Brat landed with incredible force. Every note seemed to carry a message of rebellion, resilience and self-love. The Barnsley singer’s performance felt like a rallying cry, a reminder that we can and should channel our anger into positive change. In a world where the fight for equality continues, this performance was another reminder that music can be a catalyst for change.  Fierce, outspoken and completely unapologetic, her performance radiated female empowerment from start to finish. Closing with BUSH, DELILAH BON brought The Cave to a deafening finale. It was a performance that felt equally like a celebration and a protest, leaving the packed tent inspired, energised and ready to join the uprising.

Rating: 8/10

DON BROCO – Main Stage

Closing Thursday were DON BROCO, stepping into the headline slot following ALKALINE TRIO‘s unfortunate withdrawal. Filling a last-minute headline position is never an easy task, but the Bedford quartet looked completely at home on the Main Stage. Having headlined the Saturday here in 2024, it’s almost as though they never left at all. Opening with the lead single from their latest album Nightmare Tripping, Cellophane gets the crowd moving early-doors and truly sets the tone for what turns out to be a set to remember. Whilst promising some “oldies”, DON BROCO limit their headline set to the last 10 years – which, when said out loud, sounds insane. The old-guard surely plead for Priorities and anything from Automatic, though DON BROCO have certainly moved on. Despite that 10 year stat – there’s an entire set of banger after banger from the band’s last three albums, this year’s Nightmare Tripping, 2021’s Amazing Things and 2018’s Technology. Frontman Rob Damiani is full of reverence for the crowd in attendance as well as the festival itself for pulling things together so quickly; the band deserve some praise themselves, having only had 6 days notice. Madness.

Lighting and pyro all add to the BROCO experience we’ve come to enjoy of late, and pits open on both stage-left and right. Damiani even pits the two sides together in a sing-off: reminding us again of the quality of a frontman that he is. A “hydration break” gag in True Believers was met with both laughter and satirical-boos, before an encore of Everybody, T-Shirt Song (cue articles of clothing flying around the audience) and Hype Man. In a word: Unstoppable.

Rating: 9/10

Friday – July 10th

TWAT UNION – Main Stage

Friday began with one of the most entertaining sets of the weekend as TWAT UNION brought an unforgettable combination of humour, attitude and brilliantly catchy punk to the Main Stage. From the moment the six piece all-female punk pop band stepped on stage, it was clear this was going to be anything but ordinary. Tracks like Singer of the Band, Tiny Shorts and Period Sex showcased exactly what makes the band so much fun: sharp lyrics, catchy hooks and a complete refusal to take themselves too seriously. The latter came complete with a memorable visual moment as the performance involved a blood-covered towel costume that perfectly matched the chaos unfolding on stage. At one point, keyboardist Alice Rivers stepped away from behind their instrument and took centre stage, leading the crowd through an unexpected interpretative dance routine – complete with high knees and a whole lot of commitment from everyone involved. Yet beneath the comedy and absurdity is a genuinely brilliant punk band. Their songs are clever, confrontational and ridiculously infectious, with the crowd quickly singing along to every word. Completely unpredictable but impossible to look away from, TWAT UNION delivered a set that was fun and silly but genuinely one of the most memorable performances of the weekend.

Rating: 10/10

SANS FROID – Forest Stage

Taking refuge from the evil-heat-murder-ball in the sky, we found ourselves watching Bristol-based SANS FROID in the shadiness of the Forest. For fans of SNARKY PUPPY, VUKOVI or even BJÖRK, the math-core-y art-rock are an interesting listen. Like, actually make you pay attention to the music interesting: varied time signatures, vocal acrobatics and enough syncopation to get heads moving – we were pleasantly impressed. We’re going away to find out more…

Rating: 7/10

NERVUS – The Axiom

NERVUS continued the day’s theme of vulnerability and connection, delivering a set that felt deeply personal from beginning to end. The Watford outfit have built a reputation on unflinching honesty, and that was evident for every moment of their time on stage. Rather than shying away from difficult conversations, their songs lean into them, transforming experiences of self-doubt, identity and personal growth into something that resonates far beyond the band themselves. Tracks including Sick Sad World, Jellyfish and Where’d You Go showcased exactly what makes NERVUS such a compelling live act. Their songwriting is brutally honest without ever feeling hopeless, finding moments of humour, frustration and reflection amongst the heavier subject matter. Their ability to turn personal experiences into something communal was clear throughout, with the audience responding to every moment with warmth and appreciation.

Rating: 7/10

SATURDAYS AT YOUR PLACE – The Cave

The Midwest emo influence continued with SATURDAYS AT YOUR PLACE, a Michigan-based (making them, yes, true Midwest emo) emo pop-punk band that sits comfortably alongside the likes of MOM JEANS, HOT MULLIGAN and MODERN BASEBALL. The trio is composed of Esden Stafne on bass, Gabe Wood on drums, and Mitch Gulish on guitar, with Stafne and Wood sharing vocal duties. Bringing a combination of intricate guitars, heartfelt lyricism and huge emotional payoffs to the stage, they delivered a set that perfectly captured the highs and lows that make the genre so beloved. With only 35 minutes to make an impression, the band wasted no time packing their set with as many hits as possible. The latter half proved particularly explosive, with it’s always cloudy in kalamazoo and what am i supposed to do? setting the stage for an unforgettable closing run. As soon as the opening notes of tarot cards rang out, the tent erupted once again, with huge smiles visible not only across the crowd but also from the band themselves.

Rating: 7/10

FREE THROW – The Axiom

Few bands capture the emotional release of Midwest emo quite like FREE THROW. If SATURDAYS AT YOUR PLACE were a punch to the heart, FREE THROW were a punch to the gut. Hailing all the way from Nashville, Tennessee, the five-piece brought their brand of emotionally-charged, shout-it-back-to-the-stage emo to 2000trees. The thing about FREE THROW is they have a remarkable ability to take songs about some truly miserable stuff – heartbreak, anxiety, self-doubt and all the wonderfully messy parts of being human – sound like the happiest place you could possibly be. It’s the classic Midwest emo contradiction: the lyrics might be devastating, but the live experience is anything but. Their music may be rooted in difficult experiences, but live, those moments become celebrations: a tent full of people screaming along, finding comfort in the fact that they are not alone.

Vocalist Cory Castro leads the charge with a rawness that feels completely unfiltered, switching between desperate cries and huge melodic hooks without losing any of the emotion behind the words. There’s no hiding behind the instrumentation; every lyric feels like it’s being pulled straight from the diary pages of someone having a very bad day, and somehow the entire tent is smiling. Tracks including Cloud Sick, The Corner’s Dilemma and Randy, I Am The Liquor turned the tent into one enormous singalong, but it was closer Two Beers In that really summed up the set. Castro spent the final song absolutely ripping his throat raw, leaving every last ounce of energy on stage while the crowd gave it straight back.

Rating: 9/10

The sun continued to burn through Friday afternoon, so we grabbed some lunch from the many vendors on site. Loaded vegan fries from Feed The Village with a Stowford from the bar, sat in the shade – to say it truly hit the spot would be an understatement. #HeroesBuyBeeros
It’s from our little patch of shade that we enjoyed GOD COMPLEX and FOOTBALLHEAD across The Cave and Axiom stages respectively. GOD COMPLEX were something of an outlier for the stage, slotted between the punk/altrock of BRATAKUS and RECLUS.É. The band’s heavier sound was a welcome wakeup call in the already siesta-inducing heat, as well as stink-face inducing. Filthy riffs get people moving and for what feels like the first time this weekend, we got an actual angry, hardcore pit. FOOTBALLHEAD were more lighthearted; whilst still incorporating some post-hardcore riffs they certainly felt less “kill everyone around you” and more “jump around and vibe with your friends”. Sing-song verses and huge mid-00s choruses complete with that chorus-y guitar tone we all know-and-love make FOOTBALLHEAD an enjoyable watch, and worthy of putting onto your weekly rotation.

Away from the music, there was still plenty happening across the site, which is where 2000trees truly sets itself apart. The infamous Pop Quiz returned to The Word tent, putting festival-goers’ knowledge to the test without the temptation of Google. In a world where everyone instinctively reaches for their phones, it felt refreshingly old-school and wonderfully chaotic. Also at The Word tent, the comedy lineup offered another welcome escape from the heat, featuring both emerging performers and more established names, proving the festival offers far more than just incredible music.

MALLORY KNOX – The Axiom 

Returning to 2000trees after eight years away to serve up a hefty dose of nostalgia  – MALLORY KNOX pulled the largest crowd for The Axiom stage so far. Elder-emos united under the flag of their teenage years to sing back Mikey Chapman’s huge choruses from the best years of the early 2010s. Wake Up gets the greatest crowd sing-song, with Lighthouse reawakening a core memory for many. Notably, no tracks from the self-titled album before MALLORY KNOX’s 2019 hiatus appeared, instead we were treated to an amalgam of tracks from 2012’s Signals, 2014’s Asymmetry and 2017’s Wired – with the addition of standalone Sugar. It was actually really nice to see aforementioned “elder-emos”, who are now 15 years older than they were when these songs first released, enjoying them again with their new families; we spotted at least three young children atop their parent’s shoulders to see MALLORY KNOX at 2000trees. N’aww – there’s sweet. Speaking of children – Mikey Chapman troubles the crowd for a photo and some congratulations for absent guitarist James Gillet, who welcomed a baby with his wife during MALLORY KNOX’s set. From all at Distorted Sound too – congratulations! 🎉

Rating: 8/10

FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND – Main Stage

Having disbanded, come back, hiatus-ed again and once more returned, FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND are that band. Despite the highly anticipated Friday headline slot – the Main Stage was slow to fill ahead of FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND’s 21:45 kick-off. Eventually, the lights dimmed, the tape played, and a masterclass in festival appearances unfolded. With Lucas Woodland of HOLDING ABSENCE firmly in-post on lead vocals, he comfortably orchestrates the fans below: FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND have a HUGE back-catalogue, and most, if not every word was sung back from the fervent crowd. Opening with All The Rage and Streetcar, the set covers more than half of the band’s second album, Hours. It’s a set of songs that everybody wanted to hear; with only a single track from Welcome Home Armageddon.

Bullet Theory, Roses For The Dead, and She Drove Me To Daytime Television are fan-favourites, and the group are practically album-perfect. Who’d have thought these tracks came out 20 years ago? Lucas’ command over songs that were released whilst aged barely into double-digits remains impressive; and he’s always humble in that regard: yes he’s fronting one of the best post-hardcore bands to come out of Wales ever – but he’s also a fan of said band. Magic. There were standout moments throughout the set: History saw full-grown men moved to tears, Ben Barlow of NECK DEEP joined for Juneau whilst another special moment came at the close of Escape Artists Never Die. Having led the group for the hour-long set, Lucas leaves the stage to allow Roberts, Burrough, Smith, Boucher and Richards to end their band’s set with perhaps the most epic of FFAF outros. Absolute class.

Rating: 10/10 

Saturday – 11th July

BATTLESNAKE – Main Stage

Sometimes, the best festival sets are the ones that completely refuse to take themselves seriously. Aussie metal band BATTLESNAKE understand this better than most, making the jump from the Forest to the Main Stage within just a year and delivering one of the most bizarre, entertaining and downright fun sets of the weekend. The Monty Python-esque absurdity is obviously a huge part of the appeal, but writing BATTLESNAKE off as just a joke band would be a mistake. Beneath the costumes, ridiculous song titles and complete lack of restraint is a seriously tight group of musicians. Songs like I Killed Satan and I Am The Vomit are hilariously unhinged on paper, but the band back it all up with huge riffs, tight musicianship and enough aggression to keep the pits moving. Frontman/guitarist Sam Frank was giving absolutely everything – beginning the set in a white robe before the heat inevitably forced him down to performing in just his boxers. It’s ridiculous, yes, but it’s also really, really good. One of the most wholesome moments came when Frank spotted a young fan (big up Seth) in the crowd and invited him into the chaos. Encouraged to shout “2000” into the microphone, the entire crowd responded with a thunderous “trees!” – a very 2000trees moment if ever there was one.

Rating: 8/10

HEART ATTACK MAN – Main Stage

The final day may have come with tired legs, sunburnt faces and voices already pushed to their limits, but HEART ATTACK MAN proved that the 2000trees crowd was far from finished. Bringing their brand of scrappy, hook-heavy punk rock all the way from Cleveland, Ohio, they brought an immediate burst of personality and much needed energy boost to the Main Stage. Frontman Eric Egan was a natural entertainer, creating an instant connection between stage and audience. With the sun still doing its best to cook everyone alive, Egan took hydration into his own hands, launching bottles of water out into the crowd and earning an understandably enthusiastic response from the crowd. Opening with Pitch Black, the band wasted no time getting things moving, launching into a run of fan favourites including Leap Year, Lay Down and Die, Fake Blood. Egan’s perfectly whiny delivery fits the style brilliantly, giving the songs that rough edge that makes them so much fun live. The chaos wasn’t limited to the stage either – dust clouds rose from the dry ground as people threw themselves around in the pits, and naturally, an inflatable axolotl and an inflatable penguin appeared to be having a full-scale battle amongst the chaos. It was completely absurd, wonderfully stupid, and somehow the perfect snapshot of a 2000trees crowd. Closing out their set with Freak of Nature, HEART ATTACK MAN left no doubt that they understand the assignment when it comes to festival punk. Make it catchy, make it loud, and give people a reason to throw themselves around in a field.

Rating: 9/10

HIGH REGARD – The Forest

London-based alt-rock four piece HIGH REGARD returned to The Forest for their second 2000trees appearance in 2026. Once again The Forest stood as a welcome respite from the blazing sun, but it’s still hot amidst the trees. Faithful fans brought pushpits out early, and massive choruses from vocalist Georgia were met with great appreciation. Bassist Matt got up to his usual shenanigans by making his way into the centre of the pit – prompting “the largest circle pit The Forest has ever seen” and indeed, the circle pit rotated around him during Mirror Glass. Once again HIGH REGARD are deserving of the reception they receive, pumping energy into the otherwise-flagging crowd and undoubtedly collecting a few new fans along the way. Closing out their mid-afternoon set to their most popular track Dead To Me, the audience is finally treated to the live collaboration with Charlie Rolfe of AS EVERYTHING UNFOLDS. 2000trees is, and has always been a mates-fest. Scenes. We need a full-length, like, right now.

Rating: 8/10

MOUTH CULTURE – Main Stage

MOUTH CULTURE are fast graduating from “ones to watch” to “ones you can’t miss”. Despite still being without a full-length album release, the Main Stage filled up fast as their set rolled on, word clearly spreading that these lads are on the cusp of something huge. With instant anthems like Ratbag and Regret 101, the Leicester crew delivered a set full of swagger, supercharged riffs, and hooks that begged to be screamed back. Vocalist Jack Voss’ vocals were the knockout punch, screaming, growling, and soaring in all the right places. It was clear the band were also in their element, grateful, and loving every second of this show. Having toured alongside the likes of YOU ME AT SIX and KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES, it’s obvious MOUTH CULTURE are cut from the same big stage cloth, and they looked right at home.

Rating: 9/10

AS EVERYTHING UNFOLDS – The Axiom

After a quick shimmy over from The Forest stage – Charlie Rolfe returned to her own band for a set worthy of the Main Stage. The tent filled out slowly but surely, and it wasn’t just people sheltering from the sun. The Axiom stage isn’t small – yet AS EVERYTHING UNFOLDS seem to own it completely. From left to right, there’s always somebody moving around. We were treated to a high-energy set despite some self-professed lethargy from the group having headed to MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE before making the trip to Cheltenham; as many others probably did too. A seven-track set included favourites Gasoline, What You Wanted from the latest record Did You Ask To Be Set Free?,  as well as the lead single from the debut record Within Each Lies The Other, On The Inside. AS EVERYTHING UNFOLDS are deserving of a larger crowd than The Axiom, paired with the heat allows – so fingers crossed their next 2000trees appearance promotes them to the Main Stage.

Rating: 8/10

MARMOZETS – Main Stage

Another from our preview piece, MARMOZETS returned to Cheltenham for their third appearance, and their first in eight years. Plenty has happened in that time – last names, babies, pandemics and society as a whole has shifted a bunch. To see a band that formed in 2007 still knock it out of the park in 2026 feels some kind of wholesome. It’s been full-on for the quartet since announcing their return in 2024, returning to touring in December 2025. The new album CO.WAR.DICE and its accompanying live shows have proven popular, and here at 2000trees was no different, the crowd at Main Stage swelled as the group took to the stage. There’s few bands that we think are virtually album-perfect – MARMOZETS are one of them. Vocals: right where they need to be; instrumentals: on-the-money. The set was a mix of material both old and new, opening with lead single A Kiss From A Mother and including mid-10s anthems Captivate You and Major System Error. Vocalist Becca Bottomley truly needs her own round of applause for this trees appearance: performing whilst 30+ weeks pregnant in the middle of a heatwave. AND utterly nailing it? Props.

Rating: 9/10

NECK DEEP – Main Stage

NECK DEEP returned to 2000trees after a ten-year absence. Three full-length albums later, the Wrexham pop-punk heavyweights proved once again why they’re one of the best to ever do it. Teasing throughout about the ongoing England/Norway match, the band favour their latest, eponymous record with more than a few fan-favourites sprinkled in. Opening with Can’t Kick Up The Roots to wake up the crowd, the audience bounces and forgets that this is the final set of the whole weekend. There’s so much energy on stage – guitarist Matt West spins and almost flies around the stage – you take your eyes off for one second then you’ve lost him. Tracks including Dumbstruck Dumbfuck and She’s A God have the crowd waving, singing and pitting like all good pop-punk shows should. The vibes are impeccable; Ben’s monologue about the state of the world seemingly cues up Happy Judgement Day, yet we get Take Me With You – both tracks answering that same angst.

Kali Ma and Gold Steps take us back to 2015 in the best, nostalgic ways possible, and then even further back. Having heard them soundcheck Crushing Grief (No Remedy) earlier in the morning (and bringing it out of semi-retirement), we were looking forward to hear more material from the first two albums and EPs – lead vocalist Ben Barlow even quips that everyone just wants to hear A Part Of Me; and in fairness – the crowd erupts as soon as the first chords strum out. The bridge is virtually crowd-only, it _is_ the ultimate sing-along track. We’ve seen NECK DEEP bring out foam bricks for the aptly named We Need More Bricks yet none came out for 2000trees this year. There’s no encore shenanigans with NECK DEEP, just their most popular singles December and In Bloom before the second half of the football dominates the rest of the evening.

Rating: 9/10

So, the curtain fell on 2000trees 2026 to a World Cup quarter final win and a last night at the headphone disco. 2000trees 2026 was hot, exhausting yet every bit as fun as we expected. 2027 marks the festival’s 20th anniversary, and whispers are already circulating as to who may appear on the lineup for the special year. trees offered a 30% off discount for earlybird tickets purchased before July 19th 2026; in an insane show of interest, they’ve already sold half the number of tickets as they did for the whole 2026 festival. 2000trees 2027 is going to be huge.

Words: Rhys Haberfield, El Dawson

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