2000trees festival

Gigs

15 Jul

Last week, we had the opportunity the attend 2000trees festival, our first festival and gig under this new venture called The Scene. We were thrilled to be included as press - there couldn’t have been a better festival to get our momentum going.

If you haven’t been to “Trees”, 2000trees is an independent music festival held at Upcote Farm near Cheltenham. They’ve previously won the Grass Roots Festival Award at the UK Festival Awards multiple times, and it’s clearly apparent why. This festival is set in a beautiful location, and it’s obvious that great care and thought goes into every aspect of the weekend. From wonderfully helpful staff to overall setup and excellent food, the stages are quite literally set for a great time. So here’s a little look at what we got up to at 2000trees.

Day 1

I was beyond stoked to start the weekend off strong with our first band, and friends of The Scene, Lake Malice. The Brighton-based duo has had a huge year, with more exciting stuff in the works. It was great to finally see our friends play. The crowd was full, the pit was thrashing and we might have welled up just a bit seeing people sing along.

After Lake Malice we ran as possible to an already overflowing, sardine-packed tent for Lambrini Girls. Their debut EP You’re Welcome is so good and their live show is even better. How vocalist Phoebe Lunny sounds can crowdsurf and still sound exactly as she does on the record defies logic. Their show was loud and angry while still being welcoming, inclusive and personal as every moment between songs was opportunistically filled with call-outs and incitements for positive change. We dont have a big sister, but if we could choose, it would be the Lambrini Girls.

For a total change of pace, Martha was up next for us. The self-professed anarchists put on a uniquely different show, with no single "lead singer" or "front person." Instead, they take it in turns singing the melody to what is probably a tune written by each of them. It ends up feeling like actual friends playing music together for fun. A feeling too often lost in music.

We ended the day with a short glimpse of The Wonder Years. I haven’t seen this band since their years on the Warped Tour route. But we were moved by the packed crowd singing along to both old and new tunes with palpable passion.

Day 2

Friday was the peak July heatwave day, so we welcomed the canopy refuge at the Forest Stage for SUDS and Lakes. In a beautifully tree packed area, it was the perfect backdrop for these two bands.

Where SUDS was more on the folksy and calm side, and Lakes featured swelling guitars and layers of atmospheric sounds, both were packed with emotion. We’d had the opportunity to speak with SUDS the day before (stay tuned for the interview) and were thrilled to catch their set and hear about the upcoming debut album.

After the forest it was right back into the chaos - chaos in a good way. Militarie Gun was up next; another band that sounds exactly like their record. We love to see it.

Even down a bassist, with the guitar player learning tracks only the night before, they brought a ton of energy for their California-infused hardcore set. Frontman Ian Shelton talked about their tough week, but still led with a gracious attitude for the bandmates and crowd.

Day 3

It was a short day for us, only catching a few packed sets from the tent sidelines. Our main focus for the day was to nab a great seat for American Football (which fyi, a great view is not hard to get at 2000trees).

*American Football, by* *Jez Pennington*

The American Football show was the set where musicianship really shone. They breezed through minor technical hiccups, and behind the fog and the atmospheric lightning it was clear that each of the band members brings craft and technique to their playing.

Their mesmerising set was easy to lose yourself in and the perfect passionate playing to close this festival. If you have the opportunity to see American Football, don’t miss it.

All in all

All in all, 2000trees was an incredible weekend with some of the best festival vibes we’ve seen. And honourable mention has to go to that veggie sushi burrito we’ll be dreaming about until next year.

Only thing we’d like to see different is a quicker turnover between sets to pack in more music, and more consistent clarity with bands on the length of their allotted set, which led to a few moments of confusion for both band and crowd. But this is a minuscule point in what is otherwise a positive, accepting and welcoming festival for all ages.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for our interviews with Lake Malice, SUDS and Kite Thief.