Gloustershire-based alternative festival 2000 Trees returns in 2024 for its 15th iteration for a line-up stacked with big-hitters, rising stars and a handful of our own personal favourites.
Far from being veterans of 2000 Trees, last year’s iteration was our first experience of the DIY festival nestled on the edges of the Cotswolds. Far from being the boujee, boutique offering that its location suggests however, what we found soon became our new favourite festival.
A celebration of all things across the punk, emo and alternative spectrums, it’s a combination of Slam Dunk and Download festivals, without any of corporate bullshittery that goes hand in hand with larger events. As such, it’s arguably the festival we’re looking forward to most across the 2024 calendar, both for its line-up, and for the general atmosphere of the entire weekend. We use that term loosely however, as the main festival atypically runs Thursday to Saturday, with Wednesday hosting a reduced, but no less impressive programme.
Reduced in that the entertainment is reduced to the artsy Word stage and the stunning Forest stage, which between the two will host sets from the likes of Pet Needs, Dream State and Boston Manor, all before the festival open it’s doors to the majority of punters and wider line-up.
Indeed, line-up wise, the headliners alone are impressive given the festival’s modest size. Gaslight Anthem, The Chats and Don Broco will headline respective days this year, at least on the main stage, however elsewhere hardcore supergroup Better Lovers headline The Cave, whilst pop-punk royalty-in-waiting Hot Mulligan take to the Axiom stage. Of course, it’s not all about headliners. Elsewhere on the bill the likes of Manchester Orchestra, Boston Manor, Spanish Love Songs and Los Campesinos! all make an appearance. And this is just the Thursday.
Elsewhere across the weekend, you might catch such rapidly rising stars as Bob Vylan or Nova Twins, or even the final show of band’s such as Palm Reader. Choose between the sun-kissed country of artists such as Katie Malco, or opt to be sonically eviscerated in The Cave by bands such as Cauldron. Regardless of where you sit on the alternative spectrum, there really is something for everyone.
And that’s just the bands. In the evening, the entire festival becomes a silent disco with the simple rental of headphones; each tent hosting two different DJs making for an eclectic but wholesome end to the evening.
If that’s not you’re thing though The Word stage plays host to the festival’s stand-up comedians, as well as the occasional oddity. Transforming from a place to keep young kids entertained throughout the day, into something completely different. Occasionally subversive but always hilarious, it’s a good option for wrapping up the night if you don’t want to party ‘til the early hours.
And that really is the beauty of the festival, if you want to kickstart your day with a yoga session before the bands, you can do. If you want to stay up all night, that’s cool too. It’s for these reasons, amongst many others (the inclusivity, the food, the independent bars scattered across the site) that 2000 Trees is an underated gem in the UK’s festival calendar, and why we’re looking forward to it this year, more than any other festival.
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Tickets and further information can be found on their official website, Facebook and Twitter.
Dave Beech is a music writer based out of Manchester. He writes and edits for a number of different websites and links to his work can be found over at his blog, Life’s A Beech, as well as his Louder Than War author’s archive. He also tweets as @Dave__Beech.
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