We were invited along to review this years 2000 Trees Festival held at Upcote Farm just outside Cheltenham.  We were really looking forward to it as the line up was looking really good and we had heard nothing but positive things about earlier festivals.

We arrived on site at 11am on Friday morning, the ground was a little soggy but we were hoping that the rain would hold off until after the music had finished, unfortunately we were not to be in luck as the rain started to fall just as the first band  took to the stage.

Che

‘Che’ are a band that hail from Worcestershire, who were the winners of the 2009 2000trees Electric battle of the bands.  They were a very talented bunch who had the crowd dancing along.  They interacted well with the festival goers and front woman Lydia is a real star in the making.

Che 2000 Trees Gallery

The Dawn Chorus

‘Godsized’ were supposed to be the next offering of the day, but unfortunately they had to pull out of the show.  They were replaced by ‘The Dawn Chorus’, a very good choice in our opinion.  These young guys really know how to put on a show and gave it their all even though they also had to play their original slot in the Leaf Lounge later in the day. Frank Turner has described them as his new favourite band, and we can see why.  They put on a varied mix of rock/folk/pop blended well with perfect vocals and really tight playing.

The Dawn Chorus 2000 Trees Gallery

Crazy Arm

‘Crazy Arm’ were next to take to the stage, and by this time the weather was turning quite nasty. This did not deter them from belting out some good old , in your face, rock n roll. Their sound is quite unique and has a hint of country as well as undertones of punk.  They are unique and very entertaining.

Crazy Arm 2000 Trees gallery

Attack! Attack!

‘Attack! Attack!’ were welcomed to the stage by quite a few screaming young ladies (and men)  who had obviously travelled especially to see them today.  These young Welshmen are blasting onto the UK festival circuit and going down a storm. We saw them the previous week at GuilFest, where they played in a tent, but somehow their sound was much better suited to the larger main stage at 2000 Trees.  They thundered along through their set with loads of enthusiasm and we can definitely see why they have been nominated as The best British Newcomers by readers of Kerrang magazine.  Check them out, you will love it !!

Attack! Attack! 2000 Trees Gallery

Sucioperro

‘Sucioperro’ are a band that we had heard of before, but not managed to catch live. They were really entertaining and delivered some monster sounds to the fields of Upcote Farm today.  Their style has been described in many different ways and it would be impossible to place them into any particular genre as they are truly versatile and each song is different from the other.  Some are slower, some blow your minds away with the rifts that come screaming from the guitars, but one thing they all have in common is that they are beautifully delivered from some real masters of music.

Sucioperro 2000 Trees Gallery

The Chapman Family

‘The Chapman Family’ definitely should have opened with the classic ‘singing in the rain’ as by now it was a torrential downpour that was showing no signs of letting up. Water was swimming around the stage as they played and the crowd were resembling drowned rats.  However, this did not seem to dampen their enthusiasm for this band who are really making waves in the UK right now. As an unsigned band they have achieved so much in their short two and a half years together, they seem to be playing all the festivals of 2009 including Glastonbury, Sonisphere and Leeds/Reading. Today was the turn of the 2000 Trees festies to get to see this hugely entertaining band.  Their music seems to be based on the old punk ethos of, if it sounds good play it and if it doesn’t sound good then play it anyway, just louder and be really outlandish at the same time!  ……. Were they good? Stonkingly ……. Did they entertain everyone? 110% …. Would we go and watch them again?  Hell yeah!!! If you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing these guys live then your life is seriously lacking.  Get off your bums and go seek them out

The Chapman Family 2000 Trees Gallery

Unfortunately this was the end of our time at 2000 Trees for this year as the rain was just too much for our poor camera equipment to take and as there was nowhere for us to shelter and the parking fields were starting to resemble a Turkish mud bath, we felt that we should make our way home.  This has not deterred us from returning next year, but maybe we will pack a tent that we can use backstage for us poor ‘press’ people to take cover in.

This really is a great little festival that provides everything you could need from great food, great loo’s, a lovely arena and fantastic bands, unfortunately they have no control over the weather and the British ‘summertime’ is just a joke!