The party may have already started for those lucky Wednesday 2000Trees 2025 attendees, but Thursday marks time for the festival to “Officially” open for everyone. The challenge now comes to unload the car, get your camp set up, and grab your wristband… all before the stellar line up kicks off at 10:30am (even earlier if you’ve got kids to entertain, the place to be is The Word Stage!) While a festival starting music at 10:30am may seem ludicrous to many, it’s become a norm at trees. Why? It’s the only way to pack all the fantastic acts into such a busy day.
Opening music for the festival comes Terminals on the Neu Stage. For such an early start, the stage boasts a favourably large crowd who’ve made the effort to check out one of the smaller bands on the line up. While those of us who’ve been here a day already have settled in, it seems a fair few have dropped their camping gear off and decided it’s a ‘later’ problem in favour of checking out the music first. Opening track ‘Waves’ starts things off with an atmospheric build up before entering some gentle vocals that beautifully echo throughout the tent.
Offering a slick unit performance and some dirty guitar riffs for so early on in the day, it’s quick to see why people have turned up early for these guys. One of the best parts of 2000Trees is the platform the offer to smaller bands and artists to grow their audience and develop a fan base. Many of the festival attendees know if you’ve got a gap in your clash finder you can easily wander around and find something exciting on one of the stages, as well as knowing it’s always worth getting up early to check out those lower down on the bill.
Terminals at 2000Trees 2025 by Jez Pennington
Now it’s finally time for the big moment of the main stage opening. With the honor bestowed on none other than Irish rap and spoken word icon Meryl Streek. Battling the blistering heat and early start to the day, the odds may seem stacked against him, as well as being a stand out act from the usual at 2000Trees, but nothing is going to dampen the spirit, energy, or effort here. With music that heavily focuses on real life issues and everyday people, 2000Trees is the perfect crowd. Everyone is welcome here, and no conversation seems controversial. It’s a safe place to embrace exploring the heavy stuff with a group of people that’s a supportive family. A hugely standout track comes as ‘If This Is Life’, spoken word layered with hard hitting newsreader headlines, all combined with bright and bubbly instrumentals you feel yourself walking away and tapping along again and again at intervals throughout the day.
Meryl Streek at 2000Trees Festival 2025 by Jez Pennington
A highly talked about band of the weekend, its back to the Neu Stage for Pavé, Manchesters alt rock offering. It’s another set where the tent is packed out, and not just for some respite from the sun.‘aren’t YOU scAREd to be ALONE’ gives that slow opening build up before diving into some infectious riffs and hooks that punch all the way to the back of the tent. It’s a track that immediately grasps the crowd and has you hooked thoroughly onto the lyrics.
With gorgeous vocals from lead Alanya-Jade and an incredible confidence that oozes from the band, there is no doubt this band will be back and performing on the main stage. From start to finish this set is filled to the brim with tracks you want to add to your spotify favourites and listen to over and over. ‘SLOW MOVEMENTS’ is another great example of this and an absolute earworm of a track. If you want music that has you acting out air guitar and drum solos, this is definitely the band for you and closing track ‘Crowded Isolation’ does just that.
Heading back down to the mainstage, it’s time for the first of many festival debuts. Welsh rock band Himalayas. Giving an energy similar to that effortlessly cool of Arctic Monkeys, while delivering music that is perfect for fans of Royal Blood and Mallory Knox, it’s safe to say Himalayas have found their perfect new home and will be warmly welcome back every year. Offering a high energy and incredibly cool, slick performance, it’s a 10 out of 10 booking from the team. Himalayas are a band where the name has floated around for a while in familiarity, but not being lucky enough to catch them live. It’s an occasion where wandering around the small site of trees created a happy accident and the stars finally aligned to see them. Similarly, for the band it was an equal pleasure, 2000Trees being a festival they have wanted to play for a long time, and finally getting to do so to an excellent crowd. Each track of the set flows beautifully into the next. Balancing cool groovy moments of ‘Thank God I’m Not You’ with more rock heavy riffs from ‘Cave Paintings’ there’s something to appeal to everyone in the audience.
Himalayas at 2000Trees 2025 by Gareth Bull
Following a cheeky warm up set in the forest on Wednesday; primarily filled with covers, we’re finally ready for Unpeople to dominate the mainstage for their next set of the weekend. This is a band who have truly exploded and continue to go from strength to strength. Dominating the scene and truly deserving of all the flowers they receive.
Despite the heat, the mainstage is full to the brim, with people still wandering down as the set opens with ‘waste.’ It may be hot, but the crowd aren’t scared to get in the throws of it and give it their all for the pits. There’s a huge love for Unpeople at 2000Trees, and they have quickly become a firm part of the furniture. ‘Smother’ offers another sing along banger moment, all while showing off the diverse talents in the band. A great balance of screaming heavy moments, combined with flaunting incredible vocal talents elsewhere.
Following chaotic antics of an engagement and a broken ankle in their wednesday set, of course there would be more shenanigans today; and what better than guitarist Luke getting right in the heart of it. It’s safe to say, crowdsurfing while still playing your instrument truly is a talent for the CV. Offering a massive confidence on stage and commanding the crowd there’s not a shadow of a doubt we will be seeing them in that headline slot sooner than you may think. Finishing things up on anthemic favourite ‘the garden’ were left energised and hungry for just a little bit more to satisfy our Unpeople needs until we get to see them again.
Switching things up and moving to the forest, Baby Said take to the stage. Kicking things off with fast, punchy pop hit ‘Mouth Shut’ were really shown the mix in acts here at 2000Trees. Having just released their debut album, what better place to share their music and create a solid boost to their fan base. There’s something really special about this act. With such a mix in their music, with pop and some rock elements, as well as some ethereal dreamy tracks; the forest feels the perfect setting.
Back down at the mainstage we have yet another festival debut with The Hunna. A really fitting act for the festival, with their older music offering a more upbeat summer indie anthem vibe, and newer offerings being more rock heavy focused, we’re in for a good time here.
‘Take A Ride (Lights, Camera, Action)’ sets a fast pace and high energy tone for the set; one the crowd are fully ready for. Not only is it a the bands first appearance at the festival, but the crowd are treated to a live debut of brand new track ‘Hide and Seek’, something only played to other members of the band. A real exclusive and true treat. It wouldn’t really be a festival experience if the band didn’t get their crowd, and thats exactly what The Hunna did with ‘Apologies’… all before diving into one of their most recognisable songs ‘Bonfire.’ Of all the tracks of the set, this probably isn’t the one you’d expect the most pit to start for, but thats exactly what happened. Witnessing it with the glorious sun beaming down just made you feel so grateful and happy festival season is back in full action. After a few more track, and before rounding off their set, the band of course take a moment to make the crowd feel appreciated for how special and enjoyable their first experience at 2000Trees has been.
When it’s been over 7 years since you’ve last made an appearance at a festival, you obviously need to make your return to the stage a memorable one. As expected Grumble Bee did just that, and set a comedic tone while they were at it. Building up the anticipation and atmosphere with an opening track of The Office (U.S) quotes. With a packed out forest stage this audience was ready to go hard, and ‘PSYCHO’ worked so well for this. Noting it had been a dream to play 2000Trees and that was completed in 2018 at the Neu Stage, it felt special to be back after all this time. During ’Francium’ you can feel the rustic and raw passion come through on frontman Jack Bennett’s vocals.
It’s undeniable to see the stage and performing with the band is where he belongs. Throughout the performance we’re treated to glorious levels of banter that really lives up to the tree’s reputation of a ‘mates fest’ as this set feels like a warm catch up with an old friend. There’s no sense of divide between band and audience, everyone’s just there for a good time. It’s felt even more with the crowd wholeheartedly getting involved in singing along to ‘Love You Better’ and just fully vibing in the beautiful surroundings.
Taking some time to just take in the stunning surroundings of Upcote Farm, it’s hard to miss the overflowing Word Stage. No, there isn’t the next hottest band performing at 17:30 in the afternoon. It’s the ever popular 2000Trees Pub quiz. Year on year growing exponentially more popular and defying the odds with tough band clashes, you need to be ready to battle your way to the front as if you wanted a barrier spot for the main stage to get in on this action. Expect chaos, shenanigans, and unhinged banter – it’s a great way to break up you day from music and regain some strength ready to throw down for the rest of the days bands.
Taking it up a notch for 2025, 2000Trees organisers have gone above and beyond. Booking five fantastic headliners, and PVRIS marks the first of those back at the main stage. A hugely anticipated act since announcement, it’s no wonder the main stage arena is fast filling up. While some may argue eager Kneecap fans are getting down early to secure their spot, it really seems everyone is here for our American Alt heroes. Three songs into the set, people are still flooding down to the arena to catch this set. A few tracks in were given a break for some much needed stage interaction and vocalist Lynn Gunn truly delivers.
Attempting to do the ‘Fun screamy scary stuff’ before diving into funky pop banger ‘Holy.’ An effortlessly cool track which as expected shows off gorgeous vocals we know and adore. As expected ‘You and I’ goes down an absolute storm as a hugely popular track. Even those casual listeners to PVRIS will know this one and it feels an excellent choice to make sure no one in the crowd is feeling left out. In true rockstar fashion, it’s a mammoth 20 track setlist, and while there are no complaints from the musical performance, the set does feel a little lacking in that ‘headliner dazzle’ of more production put in place this could’ve been totally by choice of the band or something out of their control with restrictions of the following headliners set up. What goes without saying is PVRIS have garnered a strong following over the years and continued to put out music and performances that keep them coming back hungry for more time and time again.
The days cracking on and it’s finally time for our Axiom Headliners, none other than Twin Atlantic. Having headlined the main stage in previous years with phenomenal success, when this announcement was made, we just knew the tent would be packed out for this performance, and that it was. When you see Twin Atlantic on a line up you know you’re in for an excellent time, and you need to be ready to bring your A game. Consistently offering flawless high energy performances, these guys are never ones you want to miss. Kicking things off on a fast pace from the get go, 2025 release ‘Salvation’ opens up the set for us and the crowd are ready to GO. If a little bit of a scottish twang doesn’t come through when you’re singing along to Twin Atlantic, you’ve probably gone wrong somewhere. ‘No Sleep’ gives the first opportunity for us to really let this shine through (as well as relating to not being able to sleep in our roasting tents.)
Throughout this set there’s a wonderful mix of new hits as well as those old classic bangers that got many of us into this iconic band. Taking a break between tracks to give a shout out to the festival organisers, front man Sam McTrusty gives special appreciation for 2000Trees years ago being one of the first festivals to give the band a chance outside of Scotland. As always there’s a slow song you look forward to hearing at a festival with a bunch of strangers. ‘Crash Land’ is that song for Twin Atlantics set, for no other reason than the hugely cathartic and therapeutic experience of the crowd singing “Just as things are looking up, we’re fucked” all while the band soak in that moment. It’s one of those magical things that just stick with you and breathe a new lease of life and calm. Just as our luck had it, we got another magical moment to hold onto dearly. ‘Meltdown’ gave us the chance to get our lights up in the air and sway along for yet another beautiful song.
While you can sense this means the set is coming to the end, it’s the perfect moment to catch your breath and indulge as you know Twin Atlantic are going to make you give it your all for the finale. Now we’re done getting all soft and capturing our sentimental memories… It’s time to ‘flick the switch on the generator’. When you hear those words it’s time to warm your lungs up and pull out the big guns. ‘Heart and Soul’ is a song you simply HAVE to sing along to, all with some cheeky air punches to those groovy guitar riffs. Losing your voice to a Twin Atlantic set is truly a right of passage and sign of time well spent. Every time they make the pilgrimage to trees it’s never disappointing. Please continue coming back as long as this wonderful festival is running.
When you hear you’ve got a headline slot at a festival, it’s probably one of the most exciting bits of news a band can receive. When you hear your slot clashes with one of the most talked about bands in the world right now, that excitement may be dimmed a little bit. Stick To Your Guns truly drew the short straw on this one, but it seems there’s still a heavy fan following as The Cave stage is heavily packed out and overflowing in anticipation for their performance. Walking on stage to the 20th Century Fox theme and ready to give it their all, both the band and the audience are ready for a heavy set and some filthy riffs. Wasting no time, with ‘Nobody’ barely starting, the crowd are getting rowdy and getting the pits going.
Stick To Your Guns at 2000Trees 2025 by Gareth Bull
While it’s a tough spot to hold, the band acknowledge and appreciate every single person choosing to see them this evening, all while mentioning how excited they were to see kneecap on the line-up but equally gutted they couldn’t actually watch them perform. Where Stick To Your Guns have done well here is offering something more ‘Traditionally Trees’ and its welcomed by many to have this over the Irish rap offering from Kneecap which is a total curveball compared to the rest of the line up, despite this being their 3rd appearance at the festival.
Header image of Twin Atlantic at 2000Trees 2025 by Carla Mundy
Pre-sale tickets for 2000trees 2026 are on sale now at the official website.
