Vol. 98
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Tag: Youth Killed It
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2000trees Festival
Upcote Farm, Cheltenham
9th – 12th July 2025
Cover 📸 Joe Singh
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2000trees 2025 – the big review!
Isn’t it funny that particular years at festivals get remembered for certain things? There are years at festivals that are infamous for the weather, events revered for landmark performances, weekends fondly remembered for a special attraction, and of course those other oddities that make something memorable.
2000trees is now a staple of the festival calendar. The pilgrimage to Upcote Farm in Cheltenham has become a must for passionate fans and when something becomes routine, even a positive one like attending this great festival – our brains need something to help differentiate between each occasion.
Well, 2025 is going to be long engrained in the memories of attendees for a number of reasons which we will get into during this review. 2025 at 2000trees for now though can simply be summed up with three words – heat, Kneecap and wasps!
Yes, in amongst the endless jokes from bands about counting the trees were quips of 2000 degrees and 2000 wasps. The intense and unrelenting heat has a massive effect on the weekend; it makes everything difficult and means many will have had to tailor their expectations of what they wanted to see across the weekend.
It would be easy to write an essay on the inferno that we all survived, but all we will say is that the wonderful 2000trees community deserve all the credit in the world for banding together to ensure that the festival was still a resounding success.
We came to see some bands though, so let’s get this thing started!
WEDNESDAY
The Wednesday at 2000trees is seriously special. A relatively small selection of early birds get to make the most of the beautiful Forest stage. This stunning setting always has a unique atmosphere, but the opening night party always hits differently.
The first band on, just two hours after the gates open, are returning heroes Haggard Cat! The band have no problems in getting the crowd moving and the love they receive just goes to demonstrate the connection that this group of passionate fans build with those acts that impress at 2000trees.
Another fantastic example of this comes next as Blank Atlas hit the tiny Word stage near to the forest. Usually reserved for podcasts, comedians and kids activities, on Wednesday the Word stage alternates with the Forest Stage to give fans a relentless live music experience like only trees can. Having wowed crowds with an early morning set last year, Blank Atlas return to deliver another great slot this year.
2000trees are a rarity among bigger festivals in that appearances over consecutive years aren’t just accepted, they are expected! Wednesday is known for bringing favourites back and next is a group made of members of various trees favourites – Vower. They keep the evening building nicely, as do Buds. in the Word tent next.
It’s clear that unpeople are heading for big things and they play the first of two sets this weekend next. They take the route of not repeating any songs across their two performances and this set takes the party theme to a new level with new songs punctuated by fun covers of ‘Fight for Your Right (To Party)’, ‘Hash Pipe’ and ‘Sugar’!
Other Half, Blood Command and Meryl Streek all keep the night flowing perfectly before Panic Shack provide an early highlight and Grove Street ramp up the intensity of the crowd.
We are then treated to a special throwback set from Kid Kapichi which is poignant with this being the last festival for the original line-up. The Meffs are their incendiary selves as they headline the Word tent and Forest stage headliners Hot Milk bring their fantastic new album, ‘Corporation P.O.P.’ to life with a fun set.
As the blazing sun finally disappears, the best bit of trees can commence – the after-hours activities. The silent disco at trees is legendary and a recent addition is a live band in the forest but played through the silent disco system. Listening to 2000trees royalty The Xcerts through our headset is a very different experience and the band make the most of the setting by delivering a crowd pleasing setlist.
THURSDAY
A warm night sleep then finds us awaking to an even hotter Thursday and the first day proper of the festival. As we’ve touched on, if you are that way inclined then you can watch non-stop live music all day and we happen to be that way inclined. So, deep breath…
Hangovers be damned, first up in the NEU tent at 10:30am (yes it’s early but it’s far too hot to be in your own tent) are Terminals who like Blank Atlas before do a great job of engaging the morning zombies.
Meryl Streek follows his fantastic Word tent set with a bigger opening set on the main stage and Youth Killed It kill it with a great set over at the Axiom stage. It helps in this heat that four of the stages are tented, but Karen Dio attracts a relatively decent crowd for her bop of a set back at the main stage.
PAVÉ, HIMALAYAS and CHROMA all keep the pace going with more really fun performances. It’s already becoming clear that the standard of acts booked for trees again this year is high, and despite the hazardous conditions, each band is determined to grab their opportunity with both bands.
Indeed, across the weekend there aren’t many disappointing performances at all and that is a credit to the artists but also a testament to the regard this festival is held in. Bands want to do it justice but also know that a big performance here can elevate their career more than an early set at a bigger festival. At 2000trees they are playing to a smaller crowd of engaged fans and not a group of often disinterested attendees looking to kill time.
The continued rise of unpeople began at 2000trees and it’s marvellous to see them really thriving. As such their appearance today on the main stage feels like a crowning moment for them and the reaction to the likes of ‘The Garden’ just convince you further that this bands trajectory will see them headline this festival within five years.
Dream Nails and SNAYX are next on our watchlist before we head into the Axiom to enjoy the return of another typical trees band – Puppy. Having been away for a while, the trio get a huge reception and the likes of ‘World Stands Still’ and ‘Entombed’ remind you how special the band are.
The Hunna make the most of their first trees appearance on the main stage and you can’t help to enjoy the infectious Hyphen in the NEU tent. BIG SPECIAL sound big and special on the main stage and Kid Kapichi smash out a second set of the weekend at the Axiom stage as we head into the first evening of the full festival.
This year features five acts billed as headliners and the first of those is up next on the main stage. PVRIS are out celebrating the anniversary of their incredible debut ‘White Noise’ and songs from that album feature prominently in what is a truly fantastic performance. Lynn Gunn is an absolute star and the singalongs that the band conjure in the most intense sunshine are refreshing as hell.
2000trees continues to grow year on year and that is demonstrated by Twin Atlantic returning to headline the Axiom having previously twice headlined the main stage. Clearly bands want to play trees and the festival have a great relationship with their regulars. The crowd loves every moment of another standard set from the fan favourites.
Kneecap were a controversial booking for the festival (if that even is possible), even prior to the media frenzy that has accompanied them in recent months. Although they’ve played before, musically they were an outside choice as a headliner.
When first announced some speculated online how many (or few to be precise) would watch them. Well now they are the most infamous band at the festival and the field is packed! Easily one of the biggest crowds the festival has seen, there is a real party atmosphere amongst attendees.
The set itself feels more like a celebration of cause as much as a rousing endorsement of their musical output. It however will go down as one of those ‘I was there’ moments for 2000trees.
It’s then time to hit the full multi-stage, multi-channel silent disco again and take in another live disco set, this time from the ever-charming Dream State.
FRIDAY
Friday feels hotter still and you can certainly see the crowds really beginning to flag. Each band however still get their own personal group of fun starters and somehow the 2000trees atmosphere never wanes despite the challenging environment we are in.
Failstate and Mallavora get the early slots today and again are both able to make the most of them. EVER, Eville and Oversize follow for us and we again find ourselves locked into a cycle of mightily impressive bands one after the other.
The good times vibes are essential to 2000trees and Press Club, Youth Fountain and BLACKGOLD keep them coming as we make our way through our third day in heaven (but with the climate of hell).
We then make our way to the forest and another special feature of 2000trees. You can often catch bigger artists doing intimate things in the woods and this year we have the privilege of trees icon Frank Turner playing his album, ‘Love, Ire & Song’ acoustically in full.
Trash Boat, VENUS GRRRLS, FIDLAR and Benefits get things a lot noisier again next and all four are again in top form. As are Coheed and Cambria who attract a huge crowd to the co-headline performance. Always a bit of a marmite band, the crowd at trees welcomes them with open arms and the band get to see for themselves why this event is so special.
We’ve had a few returns and reformations at 2000trees this year, but it’s the appearance of Frank Turner led Million Dead that has garnered the most excitement. They don’t disappoint and their five-piece version sounds absolutely huge headlining the Axiom today.
The last band on the main stage today are Taking Back Sunday and whilst a fun time is had, poor sound mix, an uninspired setlist and a lack of real energy mean that they are perhaps the first band to not truly hit the spot this weekend.
Thankfully that feeling doesn’t last long because next we head into the campsites, which at 2000trees are another unique feature. Whilst the partiers will rave in the silent disco, others will find themselves at the tiny busking stages. We head to Camp Turner to catch a special unplugged performance from Cyan Kicks which is simply stunning. The beautiful set being the best way to finish the penultimate day of this special festival.
SATURDAY
With the sun still showing zero sign of giving in, the final day of 2000trees is here and Saturday begins with a really fun run of Honey Buzz, Gen and the Degenerates, Love Rarely and The Molotovs. These acts ensure that despite surreal levels of lethargy kicking in the crowd is still given a rousing slap across the face!
Perhaps though a bucket of water over the head would work better today and Bad Sign, Catbite and Daytime TV are on hand to deliver that with more enjoyable performances. Love Is Noise sadly experiences catastrophic technical problems next however and cuts his set short.
Split Chain, Employed To Serve, Anxious and Soapbox are all on hand afterwards however to reinvigorate us as we head into the final straight of the weekend. Cyan Kicks then plug themselves in and deliver another real highlight of the festival in the forest. Magical!
The set of the weekend however belongs to the incredible VUKOVI who absolutely own the main stage and elicit frenzied scenes that belie the overpowering temperatures.
Making no reference to the footwear needed by vocalist Janine due to the lava like feel of the stage floor, the charm and charisma that she possesses should see VUKOVI able to headline this event in the future. Each track sounds massive today and if the weekend had ended here, it would’ve been very fitting.
It doesn’t end here however, and we still have time to squeeze in performances from La Dispute, letlive., SPRINTS and final main stage headliner Alexisonfire. Underground favourites, returning icons, new heroes and a band made to headline trees – just a perfect reflection of what this festival is all about.
Throughout this review we’ve used the word special an awful lot to describe 2000trees and that’s because no other word does it justice. The event feels like less of a typical festival and more of a family gathering. As it continues to grow however, the event will face some dilemmas because if it grows too big it will lose the very thing that makes it so special.
Thus far, despite the growth the organisers have managed to do that. They can’t do anything about the weather or the damn wasps, but they may have some online criticism coming their way this year for car park exiting and VIP overcrowding.
That said though, the things that they got right this weekend far outweighed any issues. Every festival has issues, it’s how they are dealt with that demonstrates the passion of the organisers and you can be sure that 2000trees will ensure that concerns are listened to. Credit must also be given to the organisers for sticking by their guns and allowing artistic integrity to remain intact.
Despite the wasps, the controversy, the extreme heat and any minor gripes 2000trees 2025 is another resounding success. The bands, the atmosphere, the food, the drink, the party, the side quests, just everything about this festival is special and we can’t wait for 2026!
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Vol. 92
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The Snuts
UEA LCR, Norwich
Monday 17th October 2022
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THE SNUTS – NORWICH – LIVE REVIEW
When the industry is always looking for the next big thing, The Snuts have certainly thrown their name in that hat over the past couple of years. A huge debut album has now been followed up with a brave, adventurous and importantly well received sophomore record.
To really breakthrough though artists need to back up what they do on record when taking to the stage. Tonight we head to the UEA LCR in Norwich to see what progress the band have made on this front.
Up first however are local favourites Youth Killed It who command the stage as if they were the headliners. Full of genre-bending rifftastic sing-a-long anthems, the band control the stage with utter ease. Whilst just the opening act tonight, there would be worse bets to place than one predicting that Youth Killed It will return to headline this stage.
Next, the audience are serenaded by young singer-songwriter Heidi Curtis who is able to charm the baying crowd with her uplifting performance. Curtis is most definitely one to watch in the coming years.
Finally the venue get the group that they’ve been waiting for as The Snuts arrive onstage to a powerful politically charged video. Yes, video… the band instantly showcase their intentions to raise their live credentials with a elegant stage set up.
It’s not all style and no substance however, as The Snuts are able to back it up with a stunning performance full of effortless cool swagger. The audience are held in the palm of their hand as they mix material from their two albums.
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Fan favourites such as ‘Glasgow’, ‘All Your Friends’ and ‘Always’ sound absolutely huge while newer tracks ‘The Rodeo’ and ‘Zuckerpunch’ show that new album ‘Burn the Empire’ is also full of anthems.
If tonight The Snuts were auditioning to be the next breakout indie megastars then they’d have been given the part before they even finished their routine!
An encore of ‘Burn the Empire’ and ‘Fatboy Slim’ is really just the icing on what has been a delicious cake. The Snuts it would appear are ready to take over the world.
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Neck of the Woods Festival
Earlham Park, Norwich
Sunday 29th May 2022
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NECK OF THE WOODS FESTIVAL REVIEW
All 📸 (c) Denis Gorbatov / Full Pelt Music
As May draws to a close, the traditional UK Festival season commences. Of course 2022 is the first full season in three long years following the pandemic-related disruption to the 2020 and 2021 summers.
It must be fate then that as we journey towards Earlham Park in Norwich, the skies are grey and the rain begins to fall. It wouldn’t be the UK summer without some of the wet stuff now would it?
Our destination on this chilly spring Sunday is a new venture called Neck of the Woods. The one day festival sees organisers take over a venue vacated by yesterdays Let’s Rock Retro Festival.
I’ve long championed the notion that Norwich needs an indie/rock festival and if tagging along to this existing event makes one viable then I’m all for it. Line-up wise Neck of the Woods is certainly going for the growing younger indie crowd with only headliners The Kooks of a certain vintage.
Access is quick and easy and the atmosphere once inside is nice and relaxed. The usual overpriced festival food and bars are present as are four stages of music.
Given the ongoing cost of living crisis it’s somewhat disappointing yet fully expected post-pandemic that food and drink prices have increased since last year. A hot dog, fries and a can of pop coming to a staggering £14.50! As I say, expected given the past couple of years, but a little frustrating.
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The site is setup well for a one day event with the stages spread out between two different areas, each with one outdoor and one tented stage. As expected there is some sound bleed at times, but nothing too invading.
There are a handful of stalls and other activities scattered around the site, with ample facilities such as toilets plus a separate VIP area. Thankfully there are no major queuing issues all day with the amount and distribution of everything on site seemingly well measured.
That’s the amenities taken care of then, now onto the music! That is after all why we are all in this field, with a little sunshine now poking through.
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Opening the main stage are local favourites Youth Killed It who do a fantastic job in getting the early attendees engaged. Their unique brand of indie punk captures the imagination of the young audience and shows great promise for a band coming into their own.
The main stage and the tented second stage, sponsored by local venue The Waterfront, alternate meaning eager music aficionados can catch an endless stream of musical pleasures if their legs can hold them. We are able to hold this pace for the first half of the event, allowing us to take in some great young acts including a fair few to have featured on our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist!
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One such act is Liverpudlian indie upstarts Rats who open the second stage with a blistering set which wins over every single person present. A glimpse into the future of indie music, and the future is once again looking bright.
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Next on the main stage are The Lottery Winners who, with their great onstage banter and even better musical output, may be the perfect festival band. The group have the audience in the palm of their hands throughout their short set and leave the crowd wanting more, which is all you can really hope to do.
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Another enthralling act grace the second stage next with their superb 80’s tinged Synth-Pop are Deco. This is a name that is popping up on many a festival line-up this summer and is certainly one to watch out for.
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Also on the one to watch list is the fabulous Lauran Hibberd who has been making waves for a couple of years now. Hibberd is preparing to release her debut album later this year, and on the evidence of today it is set to be a big one. Fully expect to see this name playing higher up festival bills next summer!
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The Royston Club continue the hot streak of great young bands at Neck of the Woods next with another top showing in the tent. With many fans seemingly already in the know, the band are able to create a fun atmosphere as our legs begin to tire.
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No time for rest just yet as we return to the main stage for a band that feel on the cusp of something really big. The Snuts hit the number one spot with their debut album and recently played some huge shows across the country including Brixton Academy.
Songs such as ‘All Your Friends’, ‘Always’ and ‘Glasgow’ from that album feel like they were made with days like today in mind. With the sun now making regularly scheduled appearances from behind the cloud and the crowd fully in the festival spirit, the band go down as expected. A hero’s reception for a group surely destined to headline this sort of event.
Now after that relentless run of superb music, we must stop and retreat to check out the VIP offerings. With a private bar and toilets along with ample seating including a good view of the main stage, the VIP area is basically what you’d expect at a festival; nothing too fancy but a nice place to chill out.
But whilst we rest, the music doesn’t. The organisers have done well to secure a line-up featuring some of the best new bands on the scene with a splattering of larger acts to draw the crowds.
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Whilst we relax we get to enjoy dodie who offers something slightly different to the indie lad rock predominantly featured. An enjoyable set from dodie allows us time to recuperate before another onslaught of music.
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We pick things back up towards the top of the bill now with Sea Girls on the main stage. Sea Girls are a band that I’ve heard of but never actually listened to. Not really knowing what to expect, the band are able to quickly get my attention. They also have the attention of the majority of the attendees with a clear connection existing between band and fans.
Their time on stage sails by very quickly which is usually a good sign, and with their name featuring on many festivals this summer, I feel they’ve earned a little more attention from me before I hopefully see them again.
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In fact, one of my favourite things about festivals is discovering new music. I’d like to say NOISY on the third stage are a new discovery but they’ve actually featured on our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist already. That said catching them live here gives new emphasis to their music as the band play one of the most energetic and passionate sets of the day.
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Perhaps this energy and passion is what make our sub-headliners DMA’s fall a little flat having to follow them. Another band that I’ve not personally delved too deeply in before, I can’t say that are able to grab me as much as many others have today. A slower paced set perhaps wasn’t what the doctor ordered following NOISY in a small tent and prior to Yonaka in the big tent.
DMA’s are pleasant enough and perhaps do deserve deeper inspection, but as the weather gets colder and the feet start to ache, they struggle to capture my imagination today.
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That was never going to be a problem for our second stage headliners Yonaka however! This after all is a band built on energy and passion, a band whose bond with the audience is synergetic.
Arriving slightly late on stage, the band power through their set which just adds even further impedance and immediacy to their performance. A sublime mixture of the stunning and the powerful encapsulates Yonaka as they deliver the likes of ‘Ordinary’, ‘Call Me a Saint’ and the incredible ‘Rockstar’.
Fans in attendance have probably just witnessed the performance of the day, but having slightly overrun it’s time to leg it back to the main stage where The Kooks have just arrived for their headline performance.
Their setlist tonight features debut album ‘Inside In/Inside Out’ predominantly to celebrate its 15th anniversary. Adding in a few hits from that albums successors makes for a pretty great festival setlist.
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Opening with ‘Seaside’ and ‘See the World’, the band instantly have the crowd in hand. They are able to maintain this connection throughout their performance which is more than worthy of the headline slot.
By the time ‘Naïve’ closes their set and sends the fans off into the night, it is very much job achieved both for The Kooks and for Neck of the Woods. Norwich does need an event like this, and whilst far from sold out, the event is well enough attended to be deemed a successful debut.
Hopefully Neck of the Woods can build on this solid start, build their brand and bring some of the biggest indie acts to Norwich in the coming years. Most importantly though I hope that they maintain the focus on new bands!
Today has been a day of discovery, finding great new acts before enjoying a handful of the best indie acts around at the moment; the perfect mix. I’d imagine we will be hearing a lot more from a number of these acts over the coming years, and hopefully we will be back at Earlham Park next year.
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