2000 TREES FESTIVAL PART 2 – 12TH TO 13TH JULY 2024
After returning from breakfast in Cheltenham, Friday’s action commences with Slotfaceon the main stage. They’re from Norway and were last here in 2018, so their return is long overdue. They deal in melodic pop-punk, and when playing at midday, they appear to coax out the sunshine. This er….slot is never easy to fill, but Slotface are doing a fine job. They’re enthusiastic, bouncy, and…..charming. Possibly not the most rock ‘n’ roll description of a band, but that’s what they are. At this time of day, nobody really wants to be assailed by raging heavy metal or be intellectually challenged, so Slotface eases us into the day wonderfully.
Haley Shea is an excellent frontperson and engages with the crowd from the moment she sets foot onstage. They play a song called Tired Old Dog, released on Haley’s thirtieth birthday. So, there’s a definite degree of humour at work here. There are also feminist politics, albeit of a comparatively low-key variety. A lyrical example from one song was: “Patti Smith would never put up with this shit”. Well quite. Haley jumps into the mosh pit and communes with her public during the last song. As starts to the day go, this really couldn’t have been much better.
With a veritable spring in my step, I head to the NEU stage for Problem Patterns, who hail from Belfast and deal in fast, shouty punk with thought-provoking lyrics. Poverty Tourists is about people who pretend to be working class. At times, the vocal delivery verges on rap, which serves the songs well. This is another band where the members frequently swap instruments and roles. One of them explains: “We swap around a bit. It’s fun, but it leaves awkward spaces in the set.“ To be fair, those spaces are short, and the instrument swapping quickly becomes part of the band’s onstage character. It’s all part of their performance.
I head back to the main stage for The Rumjacks, a Celtic folk-punk band from Sydney, Australia, which photographer Cris has recommended to me. It is an excellent recommendation, too, as their music immediately sweeps me up. Their music is generally swift and seemingly sweeps up a lot of other people, so it’s not just me! They attract many crowd surfers, including one dressed as a tiger! They’re a long way from being a one-trick pony, though. They have a ska song entitled Bloodsoaked In Chorus. That was something that I very definitely wasn’t expecting! They’re a great live band, but at the moment only have dates scheduled in the US, so I may have to wait a while before seeing them again.
The NEU stage calls me once again, this time to see Idestroy. This band has been around for quite a while, so I’m surprised they’re appearing on this stage. They’re a classic guitar-bass-drums three-piece dealing in melodic punk-inspired rock. They have a new album coming out towards the end of the year and play some of that for us. It’s pretty impressive. Headphones is a song originally issued for International Women’s Day, but will also be on the album. It’s about women being able to walk home safely at night, wearing their headphones, and not having to have their keys in their hands. I Don’t Want To Talk To You is also from the new album, and the title amply describes the subject matter. All My Friends Are Plastic will be the first single released from the album in October. They tour in support of Rews in the Autumn.
I shuttle back to the main stage for As December Falls, a four-piece from Nottingham. Their music is well-played, but it’s basically fairly standard heavy rock. They try to start a mosh pit, but there seems to be little enthusiasm for it. For some reason, today, they just don’t inspire. However, I get the impression that in a club venue, it would be a different story.
And now, as they used to say on Monty Python, for something completely different! Cosmic Psychos are a long standing Australian punk band comprising men who definitely are old enough to know better! They greet us with “au revoir”. Okay….. The music is very fast and very tight, with some excellent lead guitar. They play one of their all-time classics, Nice Day To Go To The Pub with the statement, “Every day is a nice day to go to the pub!“ Well, I can’t argue with that. During Fuckwit City, John’ Mad Macka’ McKeering does a kind of geriatric duck walk and then takes off his shirt. Not a pretty sight! Depending on your outlook, there’s worse (or better) to come as the band moon at the audience’s end of their set. This really is top entertainment! Many people forget that what amuses blokes at sixteen will probably still amuse them in their sixties! Cosmic Psychos will be supporting The Chats on their UK tour in December. Don’t say that you weren’t warned.
I’m back at the main stage for Crawlers. They’re late, and it turns out that we’re lucky to be seeing them all. They’re extremely lucky to be here. A wheel flew off their vehicle on the M6, and they were nearly hit by a truck behind them, but they managed to pull onto the hard shoulder. The first thing that vocalist Holly Minto says when she gets onstage is, “We nearly died on our way here”. Having heard what happened, I wonder whether the band are perhaps in shock. They play a short four-song set and play as if their very souls depend on it! Hats off to them for having the sheer guts and commitment to play after having such an experience. It was an outstanding performance, too! Crawlers play the Leeds and Reading festivals at the end of August, and prior to that tour the US as support for Jane’s Addiction and Love & Rockets.
Nova Twins are a band I’ve seen quite a few times. I first saw them at the Cro-Cro Land Festival in Croydon in 2019, and I was absolutely blown away by them. Their musicianship continues to be absolutely awesome. Bassist Georgia South is very much a lead bassist and vocalist Amy Love often abandons her guitar to concentrate on singing. That said, she is certainly no slouch as a guitarist. Georgia coaxes some extraordinary sounds out of her instrument when there’s only bass and drums. Both girls have impressive collections of effects pedals and know how to use them. There are absolutely loads of crowd surfers, young and old. It’s almost like a conveyor belt. During the last song, Choose Your Fighter, Georgia and Amy join the crowd surfers, still playing their instruments. There’s nothing to fault here. Nova Twins are one of the highlights of the festival.
It’s back to the NEU stage now for Lovebreakers, a pop-punk four-piece from Birmingham. They’re a great live band and apparently have Green Day’s seal of approval. I can see why. Their material immediately grabs you, and the band very much takes the audience with them. Also, guitarist Chino is a Gibson man which get the thumbs up from me. You simply can’t beat the Gibson crunch. Starlight is about Birmingham and is one of the few songs about Birmingham which isn’t at least a little negative. I’m not a huge fan of bands doing covers, but when Lovebreakers cover Bruce Springsteen’s Born To Run, they drive it like they stole it. It’s a cracking version, with the sax solo played on guitar. I’m sure The Boss would approve. Set closer I Want My Twenties To Last Forever (don’t we all?) is very fast and really grabs you by the throat. They play Birmingham Academy on 19th September. Definitely a band to watch.
I next venture into The Cave for Blood Command. I tried to have a nap in here between bands yesterday, and one of the bands sound-checking was quite offended that I was sleeping at the back of the venue: “naebody (they were Scottish) sleeps while we’re playing!!!“ Point taken. I certainly don’t try to sleep during Blood Command’s set. For one thing, they’re far too interesting and engaging. For another, they’re Norwegian, so if they did tell me off, I wouldn’t understand what they were saying. Their music is tight and powerful shouty metal. Vocalist Nikki Brumen says, “It’s not true what they say about the UK”. I’m not entirely sure what she means by this. Maybe she’s referring to the Brits’ traditional reserve, which certainly isn’t being displayed by this audience!!!
I head to the main stage for Bob Vylan, who has attracted a huge crowd! This feels like a headlining set. Singer Bobby Vylan leads us through some stretches to warm us up for the exertions ahead. Both he and drummer Bobbie Vylan go by their stage names to protect their privacy, which is fair enough. Having such a big crowd, Bobby renames the festival “Vylanfest”. They were recently given an award for having the UK’s best rap album. There’s a blonde photographer onstage following Bobby’s every move. She seems to follow him even more closely when he takes his shirt off.
Bobby brings his daughter Moonrise onstage, who tells us: “Let’s fucking go!“ Dream Big is dedicated to Moonrise and all of the younger people in the audience. Moonrise sings some very creditable backing vocals. Bobby is certainly more full of himself than I’ve seen him before, but why wouldn’t he be? It’s no good being a shrinking violet onstage. At times, he reaches the point of being a bit annoying, but he’s very funny, too. Bobby tells us that the basic message of tonight’s gig is: free Palestine. Well, I don’t think too many people will argue with that. It’s an excellent performance. Is Bobby self-aggrandising? Possibly. Are the band good? Definitely!!
I’m a bit worried that whoever I see after Bob Vylan is going to pale by comparison. Luckily, Manchester’s Hot Milk proved me wrong. They’re on at the Axiom, and they own it from the first chord. They’re an emo power-pop band with dual lead vocalists Hannah Mee and Jim Shaw. They’re not just vocalists though: both play guitar. Hannah strapping on a Flying V for Bloodstream. The band are on tour in the US at the moment, and flew in from San Francisco this morning especially to play this festival. If that isn’t dedication and commitment, then I don’t know what is. There’s certainly no sign of jet lag as they play a very energetic show. They returned to the US shortly after this performance but are back in the UK to support Palaye Royale at Wembley Arena on 9th November.
Tonight’s headliners at the main stage are The Chats. Now, I’ll say right away that this band are very much a one-trick pony, and I’m sure that they would admit that themselves. However, what they do, they do really well. They’re an Australian pub band. The kind of band that you would choose to soundtrack your Friday or Saturday night, which makes their Friday night headlining slot particularly apt. They specialise in fast punk, and who doesn’t like that? Guitarist Josh Hardy is wearing an MC5 t-shirt, which is a clear sign of where their musical influences lay. Bassist Eamon Sandwith makes most of the stage announcements and is very witty.
The set is something of a greatest hits set, which I guess is what a festival set should really be, as you’re unlikely to be playing to a partisan audience. Most of the crowd seem to know the songs though 6L GTR is a highlight. Stinker is about a very hot day in Queensland, Australia. They also have another song about a very hot day in Queensland, Australia. Eamon tells us that it has a different title and different lyrics, but a very similar chord progression. The Price Of Smokes is about “the extortionate tobacco tax in Australia”. Eamon tells us that it’s “a bit slower”. I don’t notice any significant reduction in speed compared to the other songs. They end with Smoko, which is probably their most famous song. There’s no encore, but there doesn’t need to be. The Chats have done their job. As one, the audience stumbles off in search of further entertainment. Although the music has ended, the night is still relatively young.
We have a slightly earlier breakfast on Saturday, so that we can get back to see The Meffs open the main stage at 11am. They’re worth the (relatively) early start. I’d seen them before at the Rebellion Festival in Blackpool, where they were ace, and they don’t disappoint today. The Meffs are proper punk, with songs about the issues that concern ordinary people. Vocalist Lily clearly means every word. Drummer Lewis is also necessarily powerful. Wasted On Women is about not tolerating discrimination. Clowns is about the British Government of any political persuasion. Lily gets the audience to chant “fuck Brexit“ beforehand. Everything’s Gone is a new as yet unreleased song about the post-Covid landscape. Broken Britain, Broken Brains is effectively about what the title says. The Meffs are a rare band who tackle what is wrong with modern life head on. More power to them.
Next, I’m off to the NEU stage to see Mould, a three-piece from Bristol who specialise in fast punk. The bassist plays chords and creates some impressive demonic growls with his instrument. He also occasionally sings lead. One song starts off in a time signature that I can’t identify, but soon returns to the safety of 4/4. They have a new single out, and also an EP out next month, but don’t tell us the title of either. They are indeed men of mystery. Clearly a band worthy of further investigation.
I return to the main stage for 68, who are a duo from Atlanta, Georgia. Blues-based duos always risk comparison with the White Stripes, but that isn’t the case here. They’re noisier for a start, and there’s a level of eccentricity that even Jack White probably couldn’t reach. They’re both dressed in black tie and dinner suits for a start. The vocals are more shouted than sung. The lyrics are quite witty, too. Particularly a line in Tell Me Something I Don’t Know: “Blessed are the billionaires”. Well, maybe. Guitarist/vocalist Josh Scogin uses a theremin, which I’m always quite partial to. It’s one of the great unsung instruments. Also, instead of thanking the audience, Josh holds up his guitar with “thanks“ written on the back.
Drummer Nikko Yamada throws his sticks into the crowd and then picks up another pair to play a solo accompanied by feedback from Josh. Josh explains that he can’t throw his pick into the crowd as he only has one. Bless! They play a bit of Black Dog by Led Zeppelin, which amply demonstrates their chops. Josh throws his guitar into the air a few times and catches it, before throwing his alleged only pick (it isn’t) into the crowd. He then plays with his teeth a la Hendrix. Josh then commences dismantling Nikko’s kit whilst he’s still playing, thus ending their set. Top entertainment, my friends. Top entertainment.
Next on the main stage are the very wonderful Panic Shack. They only have a half-hour set but fear not: they have a longer set on the NEU stage tonight. Consequently, they don’t hang around with this set. It kicks off with I Don’t Really Like It, which deals with unwanted male attention. I’d never realised how good the harmonies were in this song. It starts off with just bass accompaniment but gradually builds in volume, speed and anger. As opening songs go, they don’t get much better. Old favourite Meal Deal also features. This is a song with a serious message – about being so skint that a supermarket meal deal is all you can afford. Jiu Jits You is another favourite, and on another song, the band lie on the floor synchronised dancing whilst still playing. More top entertainment!!! We get The Ick, and Who’s Got My Lighter, then they’re gone.
I look forward to seeing them later on!!!
I toddle over to the Axiom for Indoor Pets, a four-piece from Sittingbourne who specialises in pleasingly over-driven college rock. There are a few stand-outs in their set. The singer abandons his guitar for Stink Eye, and the intro and main riff are played on the bass. London, meanwhile, is a paean of love and hates about the capital. Indoor Pets are a very interesting band that I’d like to hear more of.
Things lighten up at the main stage now for Dune Rats. They’re a three-piece pop punk band from Brisbane, Australia, and as photographer Cris told me, they are indeed a lot of fun. They may sound as if they’re the bastard sons of Green Day, but that doesn’t stop them from being a cracking band in their own right. I can’t think of many better ways to pass half-an-hour on a Saturday afternoon.
Next up on the NEU stage are The Nightmares, from Newport, South Wales. There’s what appear to be purple roses on the mic stands, and the band appear to be quite gothic. However, the music is more energetic than you may expect it to be. Vocalist Adam Parslow talks about when he goes “back to work on Monday”. This underlines how difficult it is for artists to make money from playing music these days.
The Mysterines are, I hope, making money. They released their second album Afraid Of Tomorrows last month, and are next up on the main stage. They start with recent single Sink Ya Teeth, one of many songs in the set which features vocalist Lia Metcalfe without her guitar. The opening track from the new album, The Last Dance, starts with guitarist Callum Thompson playing with a violin bow. For Dangerous from the first album, Lia regains her guitar. I’m pretty sure that when I first saw The Mysterines, Lia played guitar on everything. That said, she makes a perfect classic frontwoman. She sings with real soul. For the final song, Stray Lia once again discards her guitar and swigs beer between delivering vocal lines. The whole band looks really relaxed whilst delivering a really tight set. I’m sure it’s not as easy as it looks.
It’s back to my apparent second home, the NEU stage, for House Of Women. I’ve been trying to see this band for a while, but every time they play, I seem to be doing something else! Still – today’s the day! Live, they’re a five-piece, but they seem to have a core membership of three: Elsa Malazogu and Poppy Miller on guitars and Kyla Lanai on vocals and piano. Their music is quite challenging to define, which, in my opinion, is a very good thing. However, I will try: it’s slow but rocky with a very ethereal air. They seem to be quite versatile. One of the guitarists fingerpicks, and it sounds like a harpsichord! Quite how that’s achieved I don’t know. The same guitarist also headbangs. She’s a pretty awesome axe woman all told! They play Oram, which was a single, and Overgrown, which is their latest single. I have to say, I’m really impressed with House Of Women, and I recommend them wholeheartedly!!!
I shuttle back to the main stage for Cleopatrick. They’re a duo from Canada. Again, the inevitable White Stripes and Royal Blood comparisons arise. However, they’re undeniably heavier than The White Stripes, and the subject matter of their songs seems to be darker. Ultimately, did I enjoy them? Hell yeah!
Death From Above 1979 are one of those bands that have almost inadvertently acquired legendary status. This is probably because they split between 2006 and 2011 due to musical and creative differences. They’re playing to a packed Axiom stage today though. Their musicianship is absolutely incredible. Their hooligan side is certainly well intact too, with bassist / keyboardist Jesse F Keeler coaxing crushing feedback from his amp. Drummer Sebastien Grainger sings. At one point, he comes out from behind his kit to sing at the front of the stage like a proper rock frontman, although his dungarees slightly detract from that particular image. Halfway through the set, a flood of crowd surfing erupts. It’s a bit of a riot – but in a good way. Death From Above undeniably batters the senses. I can honestly say that I don’t think that I’ve ever seen a band quite like them. That’s a compliment, incidentally!
I return to the main stage for Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls. Frank is one of the most passionate singers that I’ve ever seen. He very definitely means what he’s singing. He plays a few songs solo, but most of tonight’s set is with The Sleeping Souls, which is fine by me as they rock like The Clash. The lyrics are almost as good too! Frank has a new album out called Undefeated. There’s a very moving song called Letters, about a pen-friend Frank had when he was a teenager. Suddenly, she stopped writing, and he never heard from her again! Frank thought that he’d done something wrong, and that’s what the song is about. The girl in question heard the song on the radio and sent Frank an email! I do like a happy ending! Frank is another act that has drawn an absolutely massive crowd. I can’t help thinking that he possibly should have headlined.
Next it’s off to the NEU stage for Panic Shack’s second set of the day. Can I get enough of this band? Actually, no! It turns out that all of the security staff at the NEU stage are from South Wales, as are Panic Shack! They tell me that this is a coincidence. I’m not entirely sure whether to believe them. Since their lunchtime set the band have had a costume change, and they’re going to be playing a longer set so we’ll get some songs we didn’t hear earlier. Hurrah! The sound is better than earlier, too. They play Mannequin Man and pull static shapes to accompany it. There’s also a new song possibly called Vape, Phone, Keys, Lipgloss, listing the essentials that a girl has to carry with her when she goes out. During Meal Deal a guy at the front takes a sandwich out of his bag and waves it in the air, whilst taking the occasional bite. Nobody can say that a Panic Shack audience lacks humour. Although the band play for forty-five minutes this time it’s still not long enough. Hope they tour soon…..
I pop into The Cave for a blast of Wargasm. I’d seen them at Download a couple of years ago and they were really good. They don’t disappoint tonight with a hugely energetic set of loud shouty metal. Singers Sam Matlock and Milkie Way seemingly don’t know how to be static. At one point, Sam climbs up the central pole at the front before jumping back onto the stage. Good as they are, I’m knackered, and it all starts to be a bit too kinetic for me. I decide to make my way to the slightly quieter Forest Sessions stage.
There’s a very good reason for me to head to the Forest stage: Skinny Lister are on! I’ve been meaning to see them for some time, so this seems a good way to end my Saturday, and indeed, the festival. Skinny Lister are purveyors of Cajun-infused fast semi-acoustic rock ‘n‘ roll. They’re also very energetic. There’s a lot of leaping about, but the crowd are a little more sedate than the Wargasm audience! Inexplicably Skinny Lister’s bass player Scott Milsom is in Tokyo. Luckily, they still sound sufficiently vital without him. They’re joined by vocalist Dan Heptinstall’s father, George, who sings a song that he wrote called The Rose & Crown. It’s about “a proper London boozer”. There’s not too many of those left now. Towards the end of their set, the melodean player Max Thomas and singer Lorna Thomas both crowd surf. It’s a storming end to a storming gig. Skinny Lister tours the UK in November and December. Do yourself a favour and go and see them.
Trees Festival has been a real eye-opener. I’ve seen a lot of good bands, some of whom I’d never even heard of before. The bill was well put together, and the festival had a positive, friendly vibe, very similar to Glastonbury around thirty-five years ago before it became a TV event. I shall be back next year, and that’s not a threat. It’s a promise.
Words: MARK KELLY, Photos: CRIS WATKINS
You can read part 1 HERE.
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