Photo: Ben Morse We’re only 9 days away from the award winning and critically acclaimed 2000 Trees Festival, and we honestly couldn’t be any more excited. Nestled within the scenic heart of the Cotswolds, the festival has earned a devoted following due to it’s nourishment of emerging talent, friendly and warm atmosphere and it’s proud stance as an independent festival. Whilst this years lineup is topped by post-hardcore legends At The Drive-In, alt-rock heroes Twin Atlantic and heroic genre benders Enter Shikari, the undercard is truly full of amazing talent. Whilst it would be almost impossible to list every band we recommend in detail, here’s our first half of our list of top essential 10 acts to see next weekend. Byrde The solo project of singer/songwriter Sarah Howells is Bryde. She released her debut album, Like An Island earlier this year, and has gained a reputation for her enchanting vocals and music that blurs lines between indie and pop music. She draws inspiration from a diverse range of life experiences and influences to create authentic lyrics that change from vulnerable to fierce in a single moment. These deft changes in her demeanor are sure to mean that her stripped back performance at this year’s festival will captive many. Ahead of her performance at 2000 Trees, Bryde will be supporting Fatherson at London’s Lexington, and will be playing some UK shows with The Joy Formidable throughout August. Bryde is due to play the Forest stage at 18:10 on Saturday 14th. Vodun Bringing powerful vocals together with metal-infused riffs and spiritual lyrics are the London based rockers, Vodun. Their music sets them apart from many heavy bands, not least because their genre is so difficult to define. Their live shows are filled to the brim with energy and enjoyment, which is always a talking point if you’re going to mention them. Frontwoman Chantal Brown’s roots are in gospel music, yet her experiences in various aspects of music, including as Do Me Bad Things’ vocalist have allowed Vodun’s music to span genres in a fascinating way. Vodun are due to release their hotly-anticipated second full-length album, Ascend on September 7th, and we’re sure that their set at 2000 Trees will preview some of this new material. Vodun play The Cave at 14:10 on Friday 13th. Turbowolf Predominantly a punk band that likes to keep things weird is Turbowolf. Each and every one of their live shows are exhilarating, with frontman Chris Georgiadis presenting himself on stage as a true performer. The band released their stellar third album, The Free Life in March, an LP that is filled to the brim with cleverly written and brilliantly executed tracks. While this new release may feel a little different to previous ones, the songs translate perfectly when played live and their set at 2000 Trees is sure to be the best kind of chaotic. Already 2018 has seen Turbowolf tour the USA alongside Royal Blood, and tour the UK headlining bigger venues than ever before. After their show at 2000 Trees, the four are due to tour the UK and Europe alongside The Killing Joke, who are celebrating their 40th anniversary. Turbowolf play the Main Stage at 16:50 on Thursday 12th. Enter Shikari Perhaps the most exciting band 2000 Trees is bringing to you this year is Enter Shikari. They’re a band well-known for the expertly produced elements they include in their live performances, including surround sound and perfectly timed moving images. Their performances at 2000 Trees will be some of their only ones at festivals in the UK this summer, and with both a full headline set and a stripped back set in the Forest over the weekend, we can assure you that you’re in for a treat. Their fifth studio album The Spark was released last year, and it saw the music shift slightly from previous releases; with many more polished electronic aspects, and lyrics carrying much more weight than before. While The Spark certainly split opinions within the fanbase, the live shows surrounding the release were true Shikari style, and saw both old favourites and new bangers being played, as will their sets at 2000 Trees! Enter Shikari play The Forest stage at 16:30 and the Main Stage at 21:50 on Saturday. Demob Happy Demob Happy released their second full-length album Holy Doom in March, which saw the Brighton based trio more clearly define their sound. This includes chunky bass riffs, solid drums, and melodic vocals that offset their music in a way that weirdly works. They bring together aspects of 60s psychedelic and 90s grunge music to create understated songs that will have you hooked from the first listen. The band toured Europe with Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes in March, and their run of festivals this summer will end with Reading & Leeds in August, before heading to the US for a lengthy tour alongside Nothing But Thieves. Their April UK tour in support of Holy Doom saw the trio play both brilliant new material, and some older tracks that got the crowds moving. We’re sure that their set at 2000 Trees this month is going to get some heads banging. Demob Happy will play the Axiom at 17:05 on Saturday.
