Photos: Carla Mundy

One balmy 30° Wednesday in July, several thousand determined and excited fans descended on Upcote farm in Cheltenham to get the Beeros in and trade sweat in the mosh pits of 2000 trees.

The midweek kick-off didn't deter the enthusiasm with a duo of stages supplying the soundtrack to tent pitching and friend reunions, The Word stage playing host to half the acts and The Forest providing much needed shelter for the other half.

The nineteenth annual edition of the Cotswold alt-rock party returned for 2026 with almost identical weather as the previous year, which could only be described as, bloody hot.

Karen Dió showed no signs of feeling the temperature though, Her Brazilian blood allowing her to leap around the Forest stage with boundless energy.

“It's still early so I assume you guys are ready for this situation”, she grinned, offering a call and response hype-up before ‘Cut Your Hair’. Dropping in a rocked-up version of ‘Casual’ by Chappell Roan, the high-octane set was over all too soon.

Hyphen followed, coming on stage to ‘Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!’ by ABBA and screaming “I hope you're feeling good 2000 trees, as this might be it” before ripping the crowd a new one with his song of the same name.

With a political, angry and hip-shaking set, Hyphen led the crowd in a chant of ‘Hate Yachts Not Dinghys’ screaming “I fucking love this shit!”

Later on, in the forest, Pup brought pop-punk to the slightly cooled but still sticky masses with a full playthrough of their 2016 album, ‘The Dream Is Over’.

“We are Pup from Toronto Canada, we're not gonna do too much talking, we're just gonna let it rip” they promised, and let it rip they did.

As Thursday rolled around and the first full day of music got underway Saint Agnes wasted no time on the roasting main stage by starting their set with a wall of death, those strong soldiers in the mosh pit happily obliged.

“We are Saint Agnes and we are here to have a bad time”, singer Kitty Austen threatened before giving their all to ‘bloodsuckers’.

Happydaze drew a keen crowd over on The Axiom, tent stages with a through-breeze being a blessing and a curse in the heat. The challenge of tempting people into the sauna/mosh pits balanced by the opportunity of impressing the seated and sheltering cohort sheltering at the back of the tent.

“Hands up if you're gonna come see us again?” vocalist Luke No I'll asked towards the end of the pop-punk based set. If the hundreds of hands that went up in the air are fully sincere or not, only time will tell.

“Is it just me or is it too hot?” Desmond Johnston of Cowboy Hunters asked, going two for two on high energy Scottish bands on the Axiom stage. Cowboy Hunters however reached new levels of unhinged with a song called ‘Shag Slags Not Flags’, a song that encapsulated the overall vibe of an angry, political band with no filter or concern about offending anyone.

On the main stage a quite different sight was underway with Mariachi El Bronx, the corkscrewed version of the LA punk rockers- The Bronx. The side project, a creative outlet now turned into a quite seriously fun show.

“My golden Californian skin is used to this weather. Your weak British skin can't cope with it”, lead singer Matt Caughthran joked (or maybe not) with the melting crowd.

One of 2000 Trees great strengths fully on show with this set, showcasing an alternative community that isn't afraid of ANY alternatives. With the previous year's embracing of hip-hop duo Kneecap, Trees-goers don't particularly care about rock purism, as long as the heart and soul is in the right place.

On the more sheltered forest stage, Deadwax showcased their Grime/Drum & Bass/Rock hybrid with singer Jack Millburn asking for two stepping and asking where his D&B crew was.

“This is our first time, maybe next year?” he insinuated cheekily to an elated crowd.

Native James continued the bill of bands not afraid to melt genres together with his aggressive Rap-rock.

“This is my first time here, you ready to turn the fuck up?” James asked an already bouncy gathering amongst the trees. “We gon’ make a cult after this” he grinned at the reaction.

Delilah Bon brought the same aggression with a completely different energy over on The Cave stage with her signature, unapologetically feminist rage.

“I miss you on stage. I feel like I've been in my bedroom forever,” Bon riffed. The artist has been going through a period of writing and has taken a step back from live shows, so with a load of pent-up energy she gave it all to the fans.

Quintessential and importantly sincere anthem ‘Dead Men Don't Rape’ was followed by ridiculously irreverent ‘Bush’. A song about pubic hair, complete with a crowd surfer dressed head to toe in foliage.

Photos: Magda Campagne

“This time last week we didn't know we were gonna be here”, vocalist Rob Damiani marvelled as Don Broco stormed onto the stage with no fanfare at all and ramped the energy up abundantly.

Coming off the back of a summer of touring their new album ‘Nightmare Tripping’, Broco had the tricky task of slotting numerous new hype songs into an already stacked set list.

Damiani talked about getting the offer of a Trees headline set only the weekend before after coming off stage at Finsbury Park in a support spot of Biffy Clyro. With the sad news of planned headliner, Chicago alt-rockers Alkaline Trio needing to cancel all shows in England due to co-singer Matt Skiba’s health, Trees scrambled for a new headliner and Broco jumped at the chance, Damiani gushing about how much the festival has meant to the band over the years.

With massive new tracks ‘Nightmate Tripping’ and ‘True Believers’ Broco seamlessly added their new and heavier tracks into a set with old party favourites ‘Everybody’ and ‘T-Shirt Song’. There does seem to be a sense of making sure everyone gets maximum Broco with the band launching into many songs with little to no introduction. Notwithstanding a cheeky hydration break, Broco seems focused on making sure everyone still gets to hear their favourite tracks from a back catalogue spanning more than 15 years.

Photos: Carla Mundy

The following day, Friday vibes were high with House Of Protection demanding the crowds all, with a small dose of shame. Singer and guitarist Stephen Harrison asking if the crowd was tired when opening track ‘Pulling Teeth’ didn't spark pits to the size of his liking.

The crowd soon woke up for a circle pit around a crowd bound Harrison who jumped into the pit and was joined, seemingly out of nowhere, by Jordan Fish of Bring Me the Horizon fame, who screamed a flawless verse of ‘Learn to Forget’.

Being a bit more gracious towards the crowd Harrison offered some love to the sizzling crowd;

“It's our first time here, lovely Festival, amazing people, Amazing location”. We couldn't agree more.

Over on The Word stage, amongst a stonking line up of comedians, chats and thought-provoking artists, a “LIVE POD, LIVE POD, LIVE POD’, chant rang out at The Sappenin’ podcast as Sean Smith and Morgan Richards interviewed the ever-chaotic Liam Cormier from Cancer Bats and Bat Sabbath. Cormier musing about if he could possibly be the man who has played most sets and stages at one festival in history? (We’re not sure on that one).

“I can't believe we're here. We're so very grateful. Thank you to you guys! Thank you so much for an amazing night” Arcane Roots were full of gratitude, the melodic alt-rockers putting on their typical, transcendent show complete with slow builds and satisfying breakdowns, the trio, masters of their unique brand of ethereal rock.

“There's going to be some new shows. There's going to be some new music”, promised frontman Andrew Groves.

With a couple more shows in the schedule- an appearance at Trees sister festival- ArcTanGent and a headline show at Outernet in London, Arcane Roots played themselves out for now with ever popular ‘If Nothing Breaks, Nothing Moves’.

Photos: Carla Mundy

Over on The Marshall Stage, Tropic Gold brought out special guests for a very special first ever headline festival slot.

With Joshua O’Donnell of Banks Arcade joining the band to scream along to ‘A PLACE CALLED EUPHORIA’ and Harpy slinking around the stage for the collab song ‘Witch House’ the Metalcore trio simply added seasoning to what was an already strong set.

Finishing off the night of live music over on the Forest stage, sister duo ALT BLK ERA took advantage of a much cooler time of day to get the crowd bouncing.

“This was the song where I told the world about my hidden disability and how hard that's been guys”. Nyrobi Beckett-Messam opened up before the beautiful ‘Straight to heart’. Beckett-Messam having battled chronic fatigue for many years, not letting the condition slow her down one jot.

As the duo finished the crowd off with the hype of ‘Run Rabbit’ the time came to don the headphones and trees turned into a silent disco arena for the remainder of the cool hours of darkness.

The hilarity of a late night Battlesnake silent disco set was lost on no one, not even the band, with their delight at playing a full set through headphones on the forest stage evident.

Saturday brought the bittersweet ending to 2000 trees, the annual fancy-dress theme day (‘2000 memes’, for 2026) and an interesting end to the evening with the England/Norway match shown on the main stage straight after headliners Neck Deep were done, there was still a full day of sweating it out in the arena in the relentless heat (is this just every year now?)

With Arcane Roots sailing through a chill early evening acoustic set on the forest stage and the Ogretones with a full brass section over on The Word stage, the duality of Trees was once again on show for the final day. When they say there's something for everyone they damn well mean it.

Marmozets braved the still blazing sun on the main stage, with singer Becca Macintyre pregnant, and still giving it her all. Marmozets have had a stacked summer, bouncing around between, among many others, Download Festival and a supporting Biffy Clyro alongside Don Broco the previous weekend.

Finishing with 2018 Banger, ‘Major System Error’ Marmozets proved after almost 20 years (hey, birthday twins with 2000 trees festival!) they definitely still have it.

Over on the forest stage A were joined by Sean Smith of The Blackout for their biggest hit ‘Nothing’. A, a band that don't shy away from being an act with ‘that one song everyone knows’ they held their own through an entire set of fun pop-punk.

In typical unserious Trees style, Dinosaur Pile-Up were greeted by a mosh pit filled with dinosaur suited fans. This, another charm of trees, cringe doesn't exist in the fields of Upcote farm.

The effort and passion fans put into running jokes, commitment to the bit and quirky costumes, completely reflected in the ridiculous amounts of effort some fans put into the attempt to win a ticket for life by reigning supreme in the annual costume contest.

Closing out the Festival, Neck Deep gave it their all, and then some, with a set that spanned seven albums and almost 15 years, the Welsh wonders keeping the attention of a packed-out main stage arena even as the footy began part way into their set.

Neck Deep are a band with a fierce and dedicated fanbase, a week deserved headliner and a perfect way to draw a close to a mission, but pleasure of a weekend at 2000 Trees.

Photos: Gareth Bull

With 2027 marking the twentieth anniversary of the festival, Trees will have a task on their hands beating the vibes of 2026, but as with every year, there is no doubt they will meet that challenge like the true, dedicated music fans the founders are.

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