15,000 fans will descend on Upcote Farm this week to witness some of the best bands that the Punk/Emo/Indie scene have to offer. Check out Mass Movement’s guide on what to expect.

One of the best “smaller” festivals on the festival calendar, takes place in the scenic surrounds of the Cotswold Hills near Cheltenham. Now in its 16^th year, the 2000 Trees Festival focuses mainly around the Punk/Emo/Hardcore/Indie genres and has consistently delivered some dream line ups over the years and the 2022 edition is no different. Aside from an array of talented bands, the organisers pride themselves on delivering amazing food and locally sourced beers and ciders, which can be enjoyed whilst taking in bands such as Jimmy Eat World, Turnstile, Thrice and Idles. But let’s start this preview at the beginning.

The show starts on Thursday 7^th July and a highlight of the Forest Sessions will feature Onelinedrawing aka Jonah Matranga. The American singer/songwriter and former Far and New End Original frontman always delivers an entertaining and enthusiastic set, to accompany his melancholic music. Post punk quartet Witch Fever have been slaying the U.K toilet scene all year long and their reward is a slot at 2000 Trees. The Manchester quartet deliver a raucous racket that will be lapped up by the crowd. Further up the bill you will find Welsh sensations Holding Absence who are just going from strength to strength this year. A last-minute addition, replacing No Devotion, you can expect a set of dancing singing and perhaps some crying too. Pittsburgh punks Anti-Flag will provide the political punk power for the evening before Jimmy Eat World finish up the night with a set chock full of anthemic pop rock.

Punters will have a lively wake up call on Friday as Welsh guitar rock heroes James And The Cold Gun kickstart the day. If their recent shows around the UK are anything to go by, then we can be sure of a straight up in your face riff fest that will blast the crowd awake better than a bucket load of coffee could. Former Blackout singer and the ever-entertaining Sean Smith and his Raiders will shortly follow that up and the enigmatic singer will lead his band through an energetic set, where he will likely be in the crowd, more than he will be on the stage. 2021/22 have very much been the breakthrough period for future punk heroes Bob Vylan, who’s meteoric rise has seen them go from pubs to arenas within 6 months. Be sure to see what all the fuss is about. There’s a rare chance to see the amazing talent of Laura Jane Grace as the Against Me! singer brings her solo set to the festival. A gifted songwriter, Grace will have everybody singing along I’m sure. Talking of meteoric rises, has anybody in the world not heard of Turnstile now? They’ve taken their brand of hardcore to American chat shows and Glastonbury and now they promise to have everybody in the forest jumping up and down. Finishing up the Friday will be one of the forebearers of the emo scene at the turn of the century Thrice. Last year’s Horizons/East album was a triumphant return to form and there will be a lot of clamour to see the emo legends back on the stage.

Made up of members of Turnstile and Trapped Under Ice, Angel Dust recently hit the UK, for a short but successful tour which will culminate in an appearance onstage on Saturday, before legendary UK rocker Ginger Wildheart, will showcase his unique song writing ability to the 2000 Trees crowd and I’m sure that a few Wildhearts numbers will be thrown in for good measure. Vocalist/guitarist Amy Love and bassist Georgia South better known as The Nova Twins will grace the stage on Saturday afternoon. The grime/punk/rock duo have been on a steady incline sincethey won Best U.K. Breakthrough Band in the 2020 Heavy Music Awards and will no doubt deliver a lively set culled mainly from their new album Supernova. One of the liveliest mosh pits I’ve ever personally been involved in came at a Knocked Loose gig and that’s the sort of energy that we can expect from the Kentucky 5-piece. One of the biggest hardcore acts around they will certainly liven the place up before UK rockers You Me At Six take to the stage. The ever popular alt-rock superstars are the perfect band to help bring the curtain down on another year, but not before arena punk act Idles hit the stage. They may reject the punk term, but they have a lot in common with the genre albeit with a considerable lean towards indie rock, but to see them finishing up the festival, will be a not to be missed event.

Proudly independent, still run by a small team of dedicated individuals and with a perfect backdrop of the hills and forests, 2000 Trees is emerging as a must go for festival lovers and it’s great to see this DIY style enterprise go from strength to strength….Chris Andrews