For one weekend yearly, the luxurious grounds of Upcote Farm are reworked into an alternate haven. Marking its fifteenth yr (in addition to its rainiest day in historical past) this 2000trees was a complete knock out.

With prime notch headliners and a spectacular undercard, this yr’s competition was a surprising celebration of all issues rock, metallic and punk.

We thought we’d allow you to all relive the weekend – so listed here are the highest 10 highlights of this yr’s 2000trees.

SOFT PLAY

Following a sweaty warm-up present in Tunbridge Wells’ Discussion board, it solely made sense for SOFT PLAY to ease again into motion with a set at 2000trees. Having headlined earlier than, the pair took to the stage with whole confidence, the lovable rogues swaggering out and shortly settling into their ordinary tongue-in-cheek banter.

The punk duo, beforehand often called Slaves pull off a suitably chaotic set, brimming with punchy fan favourites like ‘The place’s Your Automotive Debbie?’, ‘Woman Struggle’, and even a Bobby Vylan characteristic for ‘One Extra Day Wont Harm’. “Thought you have been rowdy, thought you have been punks… comfortable play extra like comfortable cunts,” vocalist Isaac Holman jokes at one level, however the set is something however comfortable; it’s a return that units the bar excessive, reminding everybody of the 2 man powerhouse they’ve at all times been.

Bob Vylan

After (allegedly) collapsing the NEU stage in 2022 on account of a mass stage invasion, this yr noticed the ‘Fred Perry Mafia’ return for spherical two. With a raging headline set on the Wednesday, in addition to a second Thursday Primary Stage slot, Bob Vylan really left their mark on this yr’s competition.

“The set final yr – allegedly – was a well being and security nightmare…” vocalist Bobby begins, earlier than drummer Bobbie cheekily notes that “nicely, they needed us again, so the present was clearly THAT good.”

Waging the battle in opposition to ‘pacifist punk’, Bob Vylan’s Primary Stage improve serves as an important step ahead for the unbiased duo. “Whereas everyone is simply now feeling financial hardship, we spoke about that on ‘The Value Of Life’,” Bobbie explains. “We’re at all times forward of the curve, at all times forward of what’s taking place.”

“The music that we write isn’t reactionary,” Bobby provides. “We wrote ‘We Dwell Right here’ in 2019, after which when all of the protests occurred in 2021. Individuals refused to work with us… however then when that stuff grew to become in style, when it was within the mainstream media, instantly those self same folks rotated and went ‘oh, we perceive now.’ However what about what you have been saying simply yesterday?”

Enter: Rou Reynolds

Saturday could have introduced the rain, but it surely additionally introduced Rou Reynolds. The Enter Shikari singer made a shock look at not one however two units, performing a messy, euphoric model of ‘Bull’ with Cody Frost within the Forest, in addition to leaping onstage with emo legends Hundred Causes for an iconic efficiency of ‘Silver.’

Whereas Enter Shikari haven’t returned to the competition since 2018, we are able to solely hope Reynold’s love for 2000trees is a touch on the eclectic rockers returning in future years.

Dream State

Following a bought out UK tour, Dream State well-and-truly cemented their return on the Cave stage on Saturday. A real baptism of fireside, Powell repeatedly claimed that the competition was the “greatest crowd” she’d ever sung for – however her gruelling vocal efficiency was faultless.

Labelling her perfect sound as “Arch Enemy meets Katy Perry”, it’s no shock that Powell delivers basic Dream State tracks with a rawer, sharper edge. “I really like the steadiness of singing and screaming, as a result of it’s stunning once I drop these, like, horrifying growls,” Powell explains. “There are some components of the outdated tracks that don’t have screaming, however I like so as to add my very own flare.”

February’s Untethered EP is just the beginning of Dream State’s new incarnation. “I feel Aled [Evans] and me have been presupposed to work collectively. We’re the calm and the chaos. And he writes like a genius,” Powell notes.

Press To MECO

Wednesday proved to be fairly a bittersweet affair for Press To MECO followers, the alt-rockers churning out their closing farewell to the undertaking. The 2000Trees staff invited the gang again as ‘2000Trees legends’, enabling them to knock out one final efficiency on the Forest Stage.

From start-to-finish, followers have been determined to point out their appreciation, howling alongside to basic tracks like ‘If All Your Elements Don’t Make A Complete’ and ‘Gold’. It served as the proper send-off – and in addition allowed followers to listen to about Luke Caley and Jake Crawford’s new prog-rock undertaking Unpeople, who carried out on the Neu on Thursday.

Holding Absence

Having ticked off each different stage on the competition, this yr noticed Holding Absence lastly taking their rightful place on the Primary Stage. With their new album on the way in which this August, it served as the proper technique to wave out the ‘The Biggest Mistake of My Life’ period.

Talking on the ‘The Noble Artwork Of Self Destruction’, vocalist Lucas Woodland explains how the album would be the third instalment in a trilogy of releases. “For these first three albums, in the easiest way, it looks like we’ve been in cruise management. It’s all been very pure,” he tells us. “For album 4, we need to reinvent ourselves. We put the little ‘three of three’ on the art work to make clear that it’s closing off a trilogy, and for followers to be excited for the long run.”

The Xcerts

The Xcerts’ carried out a free, carefee set within the Axiom on Friday. A gathering level of outdated heart-wrenchers and new technicolour anthems, it served as proof of Xcerts’ plain versatility. From the sickly candy autotune of ‘GIMME!’ to the basic acoustic of ‘Aberdeen 1987’, the set is a roaring success.

Closing on the gloriously snappy ‘Ache’ – twice – it’s clear that The Xcerts are embracing chaos this time round. Talking on their new period, bassist Jordan Smith notes that each one the enjoyable they’re having is a product of sheer aid; “I feel like we’re truthfully we’re very grateful to nonetheless be a band releasing music,” he says.

Talking on the brand new report, vocalist Murray Macleod expands; “This report is a really experimental report for us. We haven’t taken a FULL left flip, there’s nonetheless The Xcerts thread, however we actually needed to let our freak flag fly on this one. Even when a music is just minute lengthy, if it feels proper, that’s okay.”

 “I really feel like we beforehand boxed ourselves in, making an attempt to suit right into a mould that was boring and beige. However this time spherical… we have been we have been within the studio like goddamn panthers on the prowl to create,” Macleod grins. And it’s set to really be as chaotic because the band themselves, Smith telling us that there’s even a “bluesy, New York 50s jazz” monitor to look out for within the combine.

Riot Grrrls

The riot grrrl have been wreaking plain havoc at this yr’s Timber. The gutsy, sharp-tongued Lambrini Ladies served up a gruelling set of all-killed-no-filler ragers, scornfully mocking terfs, sexism and wolf-whistling perverts. Self-proclaimed ‘brat’ Delilah Bon performs an equally as livid set over on the Forest stage. Undeterred by the rain, the Arms Off Gretel singer churns via a condemning set of war-cry anthems, with the likes of ‘I Don’t Hear To You’ and ‘Useless Males Don’t Rape’ each making an enraged look.

Casey

Shoegazey rockers Casey pulled off a stunningly emotional set on Friday. Hazey lighting and woozy hooks had followers gripped, Tom Weaver’s heart-on-sleeve honesty on full show.

Talking on their 4 yr hiatus and eventual return final December, Weaver notes how the group have been “very pleasantly stunned and extremely grateful” by followers eagerly welcoming them again.

“We’d gotten to the tip of our run, however the pandemic actually nurtured a brand new want to create,” Weaver tells us. “In the future Liam despatched me a random demo and needed me to inform him what I assumed and, after about, like, 30 seconds, I used to be like, ‘…so that is Casey stuff, proper?’ And it was fairly coincidental since I’d damaged up with my accomplice simply two days earlier than. It felt like precisely what I wanted.”

Bullet X Most cancers Bats

Heavy metallers Bullet For My Valentine handled followers to a really mega headline set on Friday night. Whereas Matthew Tuck jokes concerning the band being maybe the “heaviest band 2000trees have ever had”, their efficiency is undeniably hard-hitting. With a satisfying combine of latest tracks and sensible deep cuts, the set has Bullets followers in movement all through, mosh pits aplenty.

Actually pulling out all of the stops, Tuck even drags Most cancers Bats vocalist Liam Cormier out for an AxeWound reunion. ‘Chilly’ has followers up in arms, AxeWound lovers determined to crowdsurf and present their appreciation. All earlier than closing on the killer combo of ‘Tears Don’t Fall’ and ‘Waking The Demon’ – they’re legends for a purpose, folks.

2000trees Competition will return in 2024, going down July 11-14 with early chicken tickets on sale now.

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