Held in the Gloucestershire countryside, the 15,000-capacity 2000 Trees Festival returns this July with another belter of a line-up, led by Neck Deep, Alkaline Trio and Funeral For A Friend.

But while the bigger names grab attention (and sell tickets), part of what makes Trees special for us is everything happening around them. The festival has built a reputation for backing smaller, emerging bands and giving them a stage in front of a super enthusiastic crowd that’s genuinely there to discover new music.

We can’t wait to be back on site again so in the build up to the festival we’ve picked out ten essential sets you won’t want to miss this year.

Oslo’s Hammok have quickly shot to the top of our must-see list off the back of the most recent release “When does this place become our scene” on Sargent House. It’s a really fresh sounding record with the trio blending jagged, dissonant post-hardcore with an electrifying live intensity which we can’t wait to witness live. They’re one of the most exciting emerging bands out of Norway’s hardcore scene and we’ve been hooked since we first heard them!

Bristol’s Sans Froid are almost impossible to pin down musically as their progressive structures, jazz flourishes, math rock precision and soulful vocals all collide into something entirely their own. With standout musicianship across the baord, expect a technically dazzling set ahead of their forthcoming album Back Into the Womb which is released this Friday via Church Road Records.

Start your Saturday loud with PEACH as the Brisol noisemakers bring grit, distortion and raw energy in equal measure, sitting somewhere between grunge, punk chaos and desert-rock drive. Following the momentum of Only Love, their live shows are famously fierce and unmissable if you like your mornings chaotic and Ellies vocals are some of the most creative and unhinged you’ll come across all weekend.

Berwick-Upon-Tweed newcomers Overgrown are proving that heavy music can rise from anywhere. Mixing nu-metal aggression with grunge textures and a strong early-2000s edge, tracks like Pieces and Breathe have already marked them out as ones to watch. These guys came highly recommended to us by pals in Dutch Elm and they weren’t wrong. 

Baltimore’s Pinkshift deliver pure high-voltage energy. Fusing pop-punk hooks with post-hardcore bite and 90s grunge attitude, their live shows are explosive and socially charged. With growing international momentum, they’re firmly on a fast track upward and have recently been asked to support the Foo Fighters when they play in India so watch this space as big things are on the horizon for this awesome band.

Dublin’s Bicurious make intricate, joyful math rock feel effortless. A duo with serious technical skill and a playful edge, their Trees debut arrives off the back of their recent album and EP releases on Big Scary Monsters. Expect rhythm shifts, plenty of energy especially from Drummer Gavin and plenty of movement in the crowd.

The Scratch refuse to stay in one lane. Acoustic beginnings have evolved into a collision of Irish folk, heavy metal, post-punk and stadium-sized energy. Their live shows are rowdy, communal and built for chaos in the best possible way. DO NOT MISS THEM!

Bristol/London five-piece CLUB BRAT deal in controlled chaos with angular guitars, heavy bass and volatile rhythm shifts. With influences ranging from Fugazi to IDLES and The Pixies, their reputation is built on unpredictable, sweat-soaked live shows and a fierce DIY spirit. They’ve played for us a few times now over the years and they’re always great so it’s nice to see them get some more attention.

Knives operate as more than just a band. Their music carries a clear message of inclusion, diversity and empowerment within alternative music, creating space for marginalised voices and building a genuinely welcoming community around their sound. Having caught them recently at Strangeforms and Noizzefest this is a rising band you won’t regret going to see. There’s hints of post punk, grunge and Nu-Metal but whatever you wanna call it they’re awesome and well worth a watch!

We first caught London trio Frozemode on the Forest stage at trees a few years back and loved their crazy set which blurs the lines between rap, punk and alt-rock to creates something fresh,explosive and unstable in the best way. Born during lockdown and rapidly rising through the underground, their “controlled chaos” live reputation has made them a festival standout in waiting so it’s going to be great seeing them take over the mainstage in 2026.

WHERE:
2000trees Festival is located on Upcote Farm, near Cheltenham,
Gloucestershire. GL54 4BL

WHEN:
Wednesday 8th / Thursday 9th / Friday 10th / Saturday 11th July 2026
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2000trees Festival tickets available – HERE