If like me, you've never been to 2000trees before... Let me give you a bit of a run down!
2000trees is the winner of best medium sized festival in the UK and has quite the reputation to live up to! It's a festival, that I've always wanted to go to and I've had recommended to me on countless occasions but for one reason or another I've never managed to make the journey down to Gloucestershire!
Set in the middle of a farm, and with a stage aptly named the "Forest stage" as it's quite literally, in the forest. You'd be hard pushed to find anyone with anything bad to say about this place!
Trees as it is lovingly known, runs from the Wednesday to the Saturday, giving all of us a chance to drive home and recover Sunday without the need for a day off work on Monday! Result!
The festival officially opens on the Wednesday with the smaller stages (Forest stage and Word stage) open and then Main, Neu, The Cave and Axiom stages opening on the Thursday.
The line up for Trees is consistently stacked every year and brings in such a mixed crowd from across the alternative music genre. I don't think you can really pinpoint the "genre" of this festival. When you have Gaslight Anthem and Manchester Orchestra playing the main stage, whilst at the same time having Better Lovers (Ex Every time I die and Dillinger Escape Plan members) playing on a smaller stage, it goes to show the cross genre nature of this place.
Trees is regularly quoted by musicians in interviews as being their favourite festival, and having spent a weekend here, it's easy to see why! The crowd is friendly, the food and drink prices are reasonable and the site is very well laid out, and manageable for those of us who may not be as able bodied for whatever reason!
Wednesday and Thursday.
If you've got an early entry ticket to site, Wednesday is your first official day on site! The main stages aren't open but both the forest, and the word stage are on the go with bands! Plus the food by the axiom/cave stages!
Wednesday night saw a very special set from Boston Manor down on the Forest stage. As I've mentioned earlier, the Forest stage is exactly that. In the middle of a Forest with a beautiful wooden carved stage! I've wanted to see Boston Manor for a while, I actually have tickets to see them later this year on their headline tour with Trophy eyes! But it is to be argued, there is something magical and just incredibly special, about seeing a band in the middle of a forest. These guys smashed it for both their sets over the weekend, but if I had to pick ... I'd be picking the forest set. A beautiful mix of older songs and newer, set in the middle of the forest with the tease of the new album. A spectacular start to the festival weekend! 9/10.
Thursday is the official start to the festival, with all 6 stages open and all other areas open to exploration!
It's obvious to see how very family friendly this place is from the number of kids you see freely running around the site. But they have also actively considered families with their set up. There is a "kids area" near the main stage including a mini golf set up and play area as well as the Word stage having family friendly events during the day such as Forest School and parents picnic club! The inclusivity of the site is a refreshing site to see and they've thought of most things, including scooter rental and battery charging!
I can't decide one favourite band/artist for Thursday, so I'm gonna give you two! First up, Spanish Love Songs! If you don't know these guys, you need to check them out. Hailing from Los Angeles California, these guys are growing more and more in popularity and if the crowd in Axiom on Thursday is anything to go by, it won't be long before they're high up the bill on that main stage! I cannot remember the last time I heard such a loud crowd for a band who weren't even on the main stage! The crowd was absolutely huge for these guys and their set was stunning, having also caught Dylan acoustic down on the Forest stage... I hope the next time we see them here it's on the main stage and they're working their way up that bill! Hearing their music on the main stage with the sun setting would be absolute bliss! 10/10.
Aaaand for the second. Better Lovers. Holy hell. If you've not heard these guys yet... You're in for a treat! Formed with the members of Every Time I Die and then Greg from Dillinger Escape Plan fronting the band. The best way I can begin to describe them, is a mash up of both their former projects, and utter organised chaos.
These guys headlined the Cave Thursday night, to a huge crowd. It was spilling far, far out of the tent and into the field! If you enjoyed ETID and or Dillinger. You will adore these guys. There's not much more that I can say, other than if you've ever seen a Dillinger show... You know not to stand down front unless you feel like catching a flying Greg! Last night was no exception to this rule! 9/10.
Friday.
In a complete 180 to my previous days favourite band! Something a little more indie rock in the form of South Londons favourites Bears in Trees!
Last time I saw these guys was a few years ago now at the wonderful Golden Touch Festival in Pompey! These guys have a growing and loyal fan base, and it's starting to pick up pace outside of the UK too!
Their riffs are catchy, their songs are beautifully put together melodically and quite honestly, I'm always super happy to see them on a line up when I'm at a festival! One of my go to bands who always give a great performance and are impossible not to like! Good luck to them on their upcoming first ever USA headline tour! 8/10
Saturday.
I mean. As if you couldn't guess who my favourite from today would be...!
The infamous, the ever so lovely and friendly. Mr Frank Turner! He has been quoted multiple times in interviews as saying this is his favourite festival, and I absolutely see why!
Not only did he do a beautiful set on the main stage, he also did a live Q&A with the Mark and Me Podcast and an accompanying acoustic set on the Forest stage!
I will always recommend him to people. His live shows are absolutely fantastic, and he has one of the best voices live as around. I'll be seeing him again on Thursday at the 1865 in Southampton! 10/10.
Special mention for today also goes out to Don Broco! This was (I believe!) their only festival slot this Summer and they absolutely earnt that headline slot. Blowing everyone away as per, with a tight performance and some fireworks for good measure to end the weekend!
This was my first time at 2000trees after a good few years of friends pestering me to come along and promise of it becoming my favourite festival.... They weren't wrong. It has definitely taken a place in my top 3 festivals of all time! From the easy to navigate site, to the decent food options and the phenomenal line up every year. Trees is not one to be missed!
If you've not been before take my word for it, get yourself down to Gloucester and spend a weekend in the Forest. You won't regret it!
You can get your ticket for next year right here
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