So, somehow I have reached the ripe old age of nearly 30 and not been to one of the biggest rock festivals in the UK. That finally all changed last weekend when I went to 2000 Trees for the day. It’s not like I hadn’t been to other festivals of the same size (see our Long Road Review, for example), but I still didn’t know what to expect. Safe to say I loved it! It’s very well set up and organised, isn’t too big, and packs plenty of different stages and styles into the small sight. I’d definitely go back again if the lineup was another good one!

But, I also want to talk about the bands, as we managed to see a good few over the day…

The first band we caught a full set from were The Xcerts on the main stage. Scottish bands just seem to hit different, and these were no exception. The soft/indie/pop rock was amazing to hear live, and the crowd went nuts throughout. I’d not really heard their music before now, just their name, but they have a big new fan in me, and I’ve had a few of their songs on a fair bit over the past few days since I got back. They fed perfectly off the massive love from the crowd and, although the frontman came across as a bit arrogant at times, it kinda worked well with their show. A great way to open the day for us!

We caught the first half of the Mysterines on the main stage too, but honestly I could take them or leave them. They sounded good, but didn’t feel they had really any stage presence, just going through the motions instead of performing. Maybe it was the style of music though, as plenty around us appeared to love it!

We then headed over to the awesome Forest Sessions stage to catch Mordessa. Granted, we thought we were going over for Noah and the Loners, and I’m still not quite sure what happened there or if something got lost in translation. However, I didn’t mind, as Mordessa were desert rock/grungy/indie awesomeness! The band had such a swaggering stage presence, as if they were playing on a stage far bigger than they were. They only had a short set, but ripped through a handful of awesome songs, and looked like they had fun doing it! The band only have one track out currently, but are going to go far if they keep pushing!

Then we reached the first of a run of three bands that we went to the festival to see, Amigo the Devil. I didn’t know what to expect, but I came away having experienced one of the best sets I’d ever seen. It was 45-minutes of dark folk/spooky banjo time awesomeness, and I was all for it. On top of being an incredible lyric and songwriter, Danny is one of the most charismatic people I’ve ever seen, holding the crowd in the palm of his hand from the very first note. And the rest of his band were also amazing, both at plating and performing. For a minimal stagehsow, I couldn’t take my eyes off any of it!

And whether it was new album tracks (which are awesome) like ‘It’s All Gone’ or ‘Cannibal Within’, or old crowd favourites like ‘Hell and You’ or amazing set closer ‘Hungover in Jonestown’, it was all incredible. We even got a new, yet-unreleased track, ‘My Body is a Dive Bar’, which went over a storm and is catchy awesomeness just like everything else. It was not only one of the best sets of the day, but one of the best sets I’ve seen so far this year. To the point where I was almost tempted to get tickets to their Birmingham show, and probably would have if I wasn’t already busy at another gig at the weekend. The band are phenomenal, and deserve to be absolutely massive with the show they put on and the songs they write. Amazing stuff.

Somehow, despite being a fan since practically the moment I arrived in secondary school, I’d never managed to see Frank Turner live. That finally all changed last Saturday, as I got to witness a full near-hour-and-a-half from the lyrical-genius folk-punk rocker. And what a set it was, too. I got every single song I could have possibly asked for (aside for maybe something off No Man’s Land) and more. From modern hits like ‘Do One’ and ‘Haven’t Been Doing so Well’ to old classics ‘Recovery’, ‘I Still Believe’ and even ‘Worse Things Happen at Sea’ (requested by the booker), it was a hugely enjoyable, varied set. He’s a consummate professional when it comes to performance too, having done pushing 3000 shows and perfecting how to hold a crowd. He even got over half of them jumping on day three of a festival in the rain, which not many people would be able to do. The Sleeping Souls are just as entertaining to watch too, and played their hearts out for the entire set. I loved every second, and my inner teen can finally be happy. Heck, a good half of it legitimately gave me goosebumps, finally hearing it live. If it wasn’t for the bands either side of it, it would have been a set to remember…

Holy shit, Creeper are on another level. They were very much on their home turf, playing to a packed tent at a festival that they cut their teeth at in the beginning and have rose through the ranks of over the years. However, that’s still no excuse for putting on the absolutely blinding show that they did last Saturday.

Opening on the epic ‘Further Than Forever’ before continuing to run through the best Sanguivore has to offer (and there’s a lot), I was in heaven already. Will is a born frontman and showman and bounced around the stage like a man possessed, and the crowd lapped up the entire thing. However, the rest of the band put on just as good of a shoe, and deserve all the props in the world for that. It was already a special set, but it was when they dived back into their first album that it got truly magical. The crowd went nuts for the punky ‘Down Below’, giving it everything they got. And by the time emotional ballad ‘Misery’ was played, everyone was singing their hearts out. Heck, the band paused before the last chorus and the crowd carried it on, and fucking loudly I might add. It was a truly special moment, and one that nearly brought most of the band to tears. And of course, closing on their big recent single ‘Cry to Heaven’ was also an excellent idea. The band have been going from strength to strength over the last couple of years, and goddamn if this set doesn’t prove that they are a massive headliner in the making!

Don Broco felt like a bit of a comedown after that. Don’t get me wrong, I was never the biggest fan of the band anyway, but just about anyone would feel like a comedown after Creeper. It didn’t help that they also didn’t sound great, though. I also feel like opening on their biggest hit, ‘Everybody’ didn’t help. It was one of the few songs I’m a fan of by the band, and hearing how much Rob sounded like he struggled to sing it, his voice sounding hoarse, it kinda put a dampener on the rest of the set. To the point where we only stayed for a few more songs, peacing out after another song I don’t mind, ‘Gumshield’. They put on a good show, don’t get me wrong, and it was cool to see some pyro, but it just felt like there was something off with them, and after a fantastic day I struggled to enjoy them somewhat.

Overall, though, it was an amazing day! Some incredible bands and a generally really well put together festival. I’d go back again in a heartbeat, and would LOVE to see Amigo or Creeper again ASAP. If you ever get the chance, check out the festival or any of the bands, I can’t recommend it all enough!