PREVIEW: 2000 Trees festival, Cheltenham, 6-8 July 2017

The ever-excellent 2000 Trees festival returns to Upcote Farm in the glorious Cotswolds this weekend. With a capacity of just 5000 but a booking policy to rival the big hitters, 2000 Trees has firmly established itself as a highlight of the festival calendar. If you prefer your music noisy, your crowd friendly and your beer local there’s much to love here. This year’s headline slots are provided by the likes of Slaves, Lower Than Atlantis, Nothing But Thieves and Beach Slang.

There aren’t many tickets left, so just £90 (or an extra £20 for the Thursday as well, or even a combination ticket for the equally excellent ArcTanGent festival next month) you should definitely get yours right now. Or at least after you’ve listened to this playlist of who we’re most looking forward to.

Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes

Former Gallows frontman Frank Carter has moved on from the hardcore punk of the band that made his name, but the Rattlesnakes’ music is no less compelling.

Honeyblood

There’s a certain beachy wooziness to Honeyblood’s music, an idea of Californian sunshine somehow filtering through the post-industrial greyscale of their native Glasgow. They’re as intriguing as that sounds.

Jamie Lenman

Jamie Lenman’s old band Reuben have a campsite at 2000 Trees named after them, so it’s probably fair to call him a bit of a hero to a lot of people onsite. His solo album Muscle Memory is a beguiling mix of chunky metal and jazz-flecked folk, and Reuben’s third album In Nothing We Trust has just been reissued by Big Scary Monsters, so expect the unexpected.

Gnarwolves

Gnarwolves are the most fun skate punks around at the moment. Second album Outsiders channels everyone from Fugazi to early Blink 182. Busy Main Stage guaranteed.

Rolo Tomassi

Rolo Tomassi have just emerged from the studio, so we’re hoping an airing of some choice cuts from their as-yet untitled fifth album, the follow up to 2015’s Grievances.

Tall Ships

Tall Ships’ long awaited and critically well-received second album Impressions finally came out at the beginning of this year. Their widescreen anthemic math-rock will no doubt be energised by the long wait.

Muncie Girls

Debut album From Caplan To Belsize was one of the best albums of last year on the quiet, all Jimmy Eat World emo wrapped in feminist frustration. Get there early to make sure you don’t miss them.

Peaness

Chester’s finest make swooning surf pop and will charm the socks off the tiny Neu stage on Saturday afternoon. Their two EPs thus far have just been released by Alcopop! Records, which is a mark of quality if ever we saw one.

Doe

Doe are one of the most exciting bands around at the moment, their Sleater-Kinney influenced indie rock a breath of fresh, shouty air, notwithstanding a tendency to slip a cheeky Spice Girls cover into their set.

The St Pierre Snake Invasion

If you were at last year’s festival, you may have been shaken from your hungover stupor by the St Pierre Snake Invasion’s brutal hardcore. This year you can get even more up close and personal on the Neu stage, and you should.

See you down the front.