Gloucestershire-based festival 2000 Trees returns in July once again bringing with it one of its strongest line-ups to date, from household names to rising stars and hidden gems.
Although 2025 might only be our third year at 2000 Trees, it’s rapidly become a highlight of the festival calendar. Falling annually in July, it’s an amalgamation of alternative music, wrapped up in a distinctly DIY ethos that’s evident from the moment you land on site. It celebrates the smaller, upcoming bands, whilst regularly bringing in big hitting headliners as well.
Of course, this year is no exception. With two co-headliners on Thursday and Friday, this year’s iteration of the festival sees five Main Stage headline sets from the likes of PVRIS, Coheed & Cambria and Taking Back Sunday, whilst Alexisonfire close things off on the Saturday. This year however, all eyes will be on Kneecap, whose Friday night set will likely be the highlight of the weekend for many. Regardless of where one might stand on the band’s politics, it’s unlikely anyone will be able to question them as festival headliners come Friday morning.
As mentioned however, at 2000 Trees it’s not all about the big names. On Thursday morning alone, the likes of rising emo kids Grieving, Manchester rockers PAVÉ, and Bristolian hardcore offering Uncertainty all make an appearance, meaning any lingering cobwebs from over indulgence are sure to be blown away before lunch time.
And that’s just the first morning. Saturday sees the weight pick up, especially on the Axiom Stage with a hattrick in the form of Cloud Nothings, McClusky and a reformed Million Dead rounding out an evening that’s impossible to resist for fans of post-hardcore, whilst providing ample gaps in order to dash over to the Main Stage to catch both Coheed & Cambria and Taking Back Sunday’s headline.
Indeed, considerations like this from the festival bookers are just one of the reasons that makes Trees the festival that it is. To put it simply, it’s a festival that cares, and in doing so this ethos bleeds into it’s community effortlessly, making for one of, if not the most, inclusive, welcoming and enjoyable festivals on the UK circuit.
That said, ethos alone doesn’t sell tickets (although plenty buy them before the line-up is announced). It’s the line-up for the most part that seals the deal for any festival, and we’ve barely began to scratch the surface of this year’s.
The Forest Stage continues to outdo itself year on year, and Friday alone sees an acoustic Q&A session from Coheed & Cambria, as well as festival regular Frank Turner performing his debut album in full, not to mention La Dispute doing the first of two sets of the weekend.
Other bands doing a couple of sets across the weekend include both Vower and Unpeople, whose recent rapid ascents can be attributed, at least in part, to the support of 2000 Trees and ArcTanGent, not to mention the 2 Promoters 1 Pod podcast, hosted by booker James Scarlett, alongside Damnation Festival owner, Gavin McNally.
A live iteration of the podcast will take place again on Saturday over on The Word Stage, which we can expect to be at capacity, if last year is anything to go by. Earlier on the Saturday, however, things kick off in as heavy fashion as one might expect with Alexisonfire headlining, plus a run of bands in the form of Hidden Mothers, Love Rarely, Vower and Brusie Control all making for a weighty start to the final day.
With plenty more on offer across the weekend, not to mention two full stages on the Wednesday night for those of us who want to kick things off early, 2000 Trees 2025 just might be the best version of the festival yet. If you haven’t been, and are thinking it might be up your street, just bite the bullet and get your ticket now as this year is on track to sell out.
Tickets and further information can be found on their official website, Facebook and Twitter.
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Dave Beech is a music writer based out of Manchester. He writes and edits for a number of different websites and links to his work can be found over at his blog, Life’s A Beech, as well as his Louder Than War author’s archive. He also tweets as @Dave__Beech.
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