2000 Timber Competition – Wednesday (Day One) (Days Two, Three and 4 to observe)
Upcote Farm, Cheltenham
fifth – eighth June 2023

Taking a break from the bigger, extra established different festivals on the calendar, we head south to 2000 Timber to see the way it compares. Louder Than Conflict’s Dave Beech & Sally Hirshman had been there for the weekend.

With our curiosity and efforts centered on the likes of Obtain and Slam Dunk lately, it feels excessive time to develop our horizons a bit and see what different festivals have to supply compared to these different, considerably mainstream occasions. 2000 Timber appeared the plain choice. Modestly sized and utterly impartial, it’s a household pleasant pageant staged on a farm and nestled on the fridges of the Cotswold countryside. But whereas that description my conjure photographs of center class bucolicism, for one weekend a 12 months it performs host to a plethora of bands from throughout the choice spectrum.

In fact, there are different festivals which provide this as effectively, but the distinction between them and 2000 Timber is obvious from the second we pull into the automotive park as considered one of solely perhaps 40 vehicles. Certainly, the small scale of the pageant continues, as after barely half-hour from leaving the automotive, wristbands have been collected, tent put up, and we’re cracking the primary beers of the weekend and understanding who to see first.

With solely two phases open on the primary night time, The Phrase and The Forest Stage, each of that are exterior of the principle area, it’s a simple alternative, and we head to The Phrase to catch Bristol-based trio MASCA.

Maybe, unsurprisingly, attendance is a bit on the modest facet, however that doesn’t cease the band’s wealthy musicality from shining. This mentioned one can’t assist however really feel that, as proficient because the band are, they’ve not but fairly discovered their very own sound, and once they do we will count on one thing severely particular. Harbouring wealthy vocals, sturdy basslines, and a fair stronger moustache, MASCA are a band a shiny future forward of them and are the right solution to ease ourselves into the weekend.

Our first foray over to the fittingly named Forest Stage now; tucked away in some woodland simply off the principle campsite, and cut up over two tiers with festoon lighting above, it’s a cute and quaint setting as we look ahead to Press To Meco. One thing of a bittersweet efficiency, it marks the South London/Sussex three-piece’s extremely anticipated last ever present, the band having introduced in December 2022 that they’d be disbanding to pursue different tasks.

It’s a set of sonic perfection, with the trio bringing personal their model of progressive alt-rock to the desk, mixed with note-perfect harmonies that enable every member of the band to take lead vocals as they plough by means of such established tracks as Child Steps, A Check Of Our Resolve, and last providing Gold, an everyday fixture of their reveals because it’s 2021 launch. It’s a brief, visceral, and emotionally charged set that ends with the band leaving all the things on stage as they exit for one last time.

Certainly, for its setting, one could be forgiven for assuming it will host a lot of the pageant’s extra laid again choices, and that’s definitely the case because the weekend progresses, but tonight, as we sit by means of a beguiling set from East London four-piece Saint Agnes, and the primary of two units of the weekend from Welsh rockers Holding Absence, it’s clear that’s very a lot not the case tonight, particularly so far as the ultimate act of the night are involved.

After making their 2000 Timber debut final 12 months, Bobby and Bobbie, AKA Bob Vylan, are a band who want little introduction. Tonight they ship their first of two units this weekend. Starting with some solar salutations, frontman Bobby proceeds to bounce across the stage like Tigger on a sugar excessive. Forgoing a pre-planned setlist for a extra ‘Let’s have a little bit of enjoyable, we could?’ strategy, the duo has the group consuming out of the palms of their arms as they energy by means of a 10-song set of their savage, politically charged grime flavoured punk.

Although just one tune shorter than the Foremost Stage set the next day, tonight is a way more relaxed strategy from the duo, thanks each to the dearth of a setlist, and to frontman Bobby’s casual chat between songs, at one level explaining how he satisfied Thursday night time headliners Smooth Play to vary their identify, mentioning that a large portion of their fanbase seemingly wouldn’t need to purchase or put on their merch with ‘Slaves’ written throughout the entrance.

By this level, it’s clear that we’re heading in direction of the set’s conclusion, and certainly, a killer trifecta of tracks recommend Bob Vylan are right here to make an enduring impression. Breakthrough single and fan-favourite We Dwell Right here kicks off proceedings, adopted by CSGB and eventually a livid and sudden cowl of Nirvana’s Territorial Pissings that brings the set, and the day’s reside music, to a riotous conclusion.

It’s at this level that lots of these in attendance start to don the wi-fi headphones of the silent disco that takes over the whole pageant website after the bands every night. It’s fairly a spectacle, particularly as soon as the pageant is in full swing. Tonight nevertheless, we choose to go again to the tent for a last beer and an early night time, secure within the information that although we’re up early, not less than we received’t have a headache.

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Dave Beech is a music author based mostly out of Manchester. Hyperlinks to his work may be discovered over at his weblog, Life’s A Beech, in addition to his Louder Than Conflict Creator Archive. He additionally tweets as @Dave__Beech.

Further phrases by Sally Hirshman.

Photographs by Jaz Pennington and Joe Singh.