Friday at 2000Trees truly is turned out to be spent at The Forest Stage. Acting as a perfect bit of respite from the sun and some down time from the shade kicking Julia Wolf pulls in a huge crowd. With a stunning ethereal gazey energy about her, the forest is the most gorgeous setting for some gorgeous talent. Offering up stunning and delicate vocals that send shivers down your spine, this is a five star talent selection from the booking team and one that would easily pull in bigger and bigger crowds year on year. It can’t be easy having the likes of Frank Turner on stage after you as it may feel like a lot of people are just here early to secure a good spot. However for Julia Wolf this doesn’t feel the case. The crowd feel an established fan base following a rising talent with many roaring cheers after each song.
Frank Turner is practically part of the furniture at this point when it comes to 2000trees. Not having him at the festival in some capacity would be like having no trees at the festival. For this year’s offering, it’s a very special treat of Love Ire & Song in full. With the majority of the 15,000 capacity rushing down to squeeze a spot in the intimate and already overflowing forest stage it’s a busy one. While it could be argued this probably should happen on the main stage to give everyone a good look in, it would’ve absolutely taken away from that exclusive magic feeling.
Taking those first steps onto the stage and being met with an erupting roar that was probably loud enough to be heard in the centre of Cheltenham. With the 2000trees poster boy back in his home stomping grounds, it’s time for some fun. As expected, Frank is doing what he does best. It’s a ride of emotions as a total mates fest. Jet lag seems to hit even harder in the feels while you’re in a beautiful little forest with an even more stripped back environment, while Long Live The Queen is an excellent mood boost and gives that classic Frank Turner sound we all know and adore. Of course as expected Photosynthesis is as ever the perfect sing along anthem it always is, with everyone giving it everything they’ve got (and hopefully saving franks voice a little for the upcoming million dead set!.)
Mixing things up on an exciting new solo venture, Tonight Alive’s Jenna McDougall is next up on what we’re naming the Friday Forest stars! With a change in sound moving from pop punk into a more alt rock sound, this new solo project is soaked up with an insane level of enthusiasm from the crowd. If there’s one thing about the 2000trees crowd, they will show up in force to support new acts, whether that’s a small band just starting out early on in the day, or an established artist trying something new. With a gorgeous voice that loudly, but softly fills the forest, it’s an incredibly exciting set to watch. Delivering a dreamy nostalgic energy, Hevenshe is big on the cards as one to watch with what’s to come next.
Moving away from the fantastic acts the forest has to offer, it’s time for a retreat down to the main stage for our first of two headliners for today, Coheed And Cambria. As expected, the crowd is enormous, with many still flooding in as the set has started. Though not a massive follower of the band, I have heard tracks here and there, and was lucky enough to see them perform on one of the UK editions of warped tour, so i am lightly familiar. With my lack of knowledge and it being years since seeing the American rockers, my excitement was high, much like the buzz about the crowd. Within minutes of the set starting its so easy to see why these guys have been one of the most talked about and anticipated acts of the weekend. Delivering an insanely smooth and slick performance, it’s a total vibe sesh. Few things are better than just indulging in a sunset and watching a band of this calibre perform in one of the most gorgeous surroundings the Cotswolds has to offer. Rounding things off in the coolest way possible with “Welcome Home” and a 12 string guitar, it’s hard not to stand there in bewilderment for one of the most phenomenal golden hour sets. It’s tricky when you’re not really familiar with a lot of a band’s work as you often have no idea what’s being played aside from the odd ‘popular’ track. But it’s a sign of the standard on offer when you’re completely drawn into every single hook and riff on offer.
Yet another highly talked about set of the weekend, it’s time for The Axiom headliners, Million Dead. A dream booking for both trees organisers and fans alike, of course you know what we’re going to say. The tent is obviously overflowing. Highly anticipated and a reunion 20 years in the making there’s that magical buzz you only find at 2000Trees. Eagerly Awaiting the band to come on, friends and strangers alike are chatting away until that moment the ‘lights’ drop and were ready to go all into action. If you’ve turned up to this set expecting more soft folk vocals from Mr Turner, you’re absolutely in for a shock; but maybe a pleasant surprise. Fully swinging into a more growley punk rock side were shown off his diversity and the exceptional collaborational talent with the band.
And for the final time today, it’s back to the main stage for the one and only Taking Back Sunday. 2025 is the year of dream bookings for 2000Trees organisers, and this is another one checked off the bucket list. Kicking off the nostalgia fest we’re diving right in with “A Decade Under The Under Influence”. For the most part the crowd and Taking back Sunday alike seem to be having an excellent time, with front man Adam Lazzara even declaring hes “thoroughly enjoying himself!.” That being said, we obviously have to address the elephant in the room. With many whispers and concerns around the crowd leading up to this set if we would get a worthy headline performance.
From a technical point of view, there were absolutely moments where the sound seemed oddly quiet for a headline and main stage performance. As a huge Taking Back Sunday fan, it was difficult to pick apart why many people seemed so upset. It could completely have been down to striking gold on the section of the crowd I was in. Surrounded by people fully adding to the atmosphere and loving every second as much as myself. Feeling fully thrown back to my teenage years and absorbed into that emo nostalgia (yes, it really wasn’t a phase!) the set was instantly a weekend highlight. Performing an excellent mix of crowd pleasers (a term obviously to use loosely here, more appropriately – the “popular songs”)
Massive set highlights come from “El Paso”, “Set Phasers To Stun” and “You’re So Last Summer”. Although of course we’re treated to Lazzaras legendary mic tricks, one thing that is obviously missing from the set is a bit more crowd interaction and stage presence as headline performers. As their only UK performance of 2025, this could’ve purely been down to wanted to cram in as many hits as possible to their set time.
Finishing things off for the evening is what can only be described as the perfect final three tracks. Starting the “encore” with “Flicker, Fade” as a gorgeous ballad, before going into the more rowdy and energetic belters of “Cute Without the E (Cut From The Team)” and “MakeDamnSure” its damn near impossible not to be singing your heart out and loosing your voice, all while donning the biggest smile possible. For all those grumbling at the standard of the performance earlier in the evening, now is where they’ve come to life and cheered up a bit. Even with their critics, there’s a reason Taking Back Sunday are up there as emo legends.
