Festivals Get excited about… 2000trees Festival: A quick guide to the UK’s worst-kept festival secret

Trees lives and dies by its community, from the fans that come back time and again to the bands that very quickly turn back into music lovers. There are the artists that have played year after year - not least Frank Turner and Jamie Lenman, who repeatedly lend their names to areas of the campsite and their respective music endeavours to the lineup; even Million Dead, Frank Turner’s original post-hardcore outfit, will make their return in 2025. Then there’s the new crop, spearheaded this year by acclaimed Northern Irish rap prodigies Kneecap.

It’s indicative of Trees’ formula, a festival designed for music lovers but also for their friends and families. A sandbox of sorts with an impeccable musical backdrop, the weekend can be moulded to suit all tastes… as long as they sit at least a little left of the mainstream. Let’s face it: for the emo lovers out there, there may be little better than watching Coheed and Cambria and Taking Back Sunday take to the main stage on Friday this year. So, the tip? Simple: chat to people and enjoy the music. It really is one big family. 

Trees might not be the only festival to have embraced the magic of the silent disco, with many turning to this more neighbour-friendly option once the action on the main stages has died down. The only festival to host a silent disco? No. The first? Maybe? But the best? By far. What started as a small part of the festival’s billing has quickly become one of its most sought after, with Trees moving from a “get one before it’s gone” attitude towards the hallowed headphones, to seemingly shipping in enough for tens of thousands of festival goers. 

It really is something to behold. From every stage and every corner of the festival, with guest DJs across a multitude of genres, it’s simultaneously where you will hear the heaviest and most outright pop songs of the weekend, sung out of tune through the mouths of the drunk. It’s the best party of the year, bar none, if we do say so ourselves. 

Okay, we probably should have got this one out the way earlier, but on first appearance there’s only one tree. It’s a strong tree, but it’s one singular tree, nonetheless. It’s usually situated between the campsite and the Axiom Stage (the stages may move, not the tree), and on very sunny days it provides shade for much of the festival’s crowd. 

So, what about the other 1,999 trees? We haven’t counted them all, but you’ll find most near the accurately named Forest Stage, situated in, well, a forest. It’s been named the festival organisers’ favourite stage on multiple occasions, and there really is something special about it. What used to exclusively host acoustic singer-songwriters and stripped-back renditions of main stage counterparts has expanded to include full electric bands of its own, yet it’s always an escape from the rest of the site (which in itself is already an escape). If you really want to get away from it all, here’s your chance. 

In its sixteen outings to date - and with #17 around the corner - Trees has grown larger without losing any of its people-first approach, and this is never more evident than across its vast camp site, nestled immediately next to the main arena. That the two have become separate in recent years is evidently a necessity rather than for any corporate gain, as the campsite feels as much part of the full experience as the stages. 

The busker spots pull it all together nicely, hosting secret outings for some of the festival’s main stage players as well as scheduled bands of their own, plus a fair share of walk-up-and-play champions. If you think you’ve hung up those sleeping bags for good, why not unroll those dusty sacks and give them one last adventure. 

The days of awful burgers and chips have thankfully vanished across almost all festivals (majors included) in recent years, but as seems to be a repeated pattern, Trees has always been way ahead of the curve. Think giant bread rolls filled with chilli, vegan and vegetarian options galore, a nice little play on the greasy spoon café, Korean fried chicken, fresh noodles, pad Thai, or pies; the list remains as delicious as it is endless.

Now pair that with locally brewed beer of huge variety alongside non-alcoholic and boozy favourites, and you’ve got the perfect accompaniment to some of the greatest music on Earth (and we’re not even exaggerating). It’s time to eat, drink and be merry. 

Don’t be fooled by a lineup poster with just three days listed. Trees has in recent years - and presumably in 2025 - really been a four-day festival. The Wednesday is a mini-festival in its own right, bringing a smaller number of stages to life and acting as a welcome party for early arrivals. This year sees Hot Milk headlining the Forest Stage with the likes of Kid Kapichi, Panic Shack and a silent disco live set from The Xcerts.

So, arrive early and stay late to enjoy the full majesty of 2000trees, or Trees, or one of the greatest festivals on Earth. With PVRIS, Taking Back Sunday, Coheed and Cambria, and Alexisonfire announced at the very top of the bill, 2025 is looking to step it up another notch. We’ll see you down the front, or at the bar, or eating food, or under the tree, or at the silent disco, or… 

2000trees takes place from 9th to 12th July on Upcote Farm, near Cheltenham. For more info, or to grab any last-minute tickets, head to their official website now.

Tags: Features, 2000trees, Alexisonfire, Festivals, PVRIS, Taking Back Sunday