Preview: 2000Trees Festival, Cheltenham // 7th-9th July

In 4 weeks time I'm going to be heading to 2000Trees festival for the first time. It's a much talked about festival and one highly respected as a place to find some of the top up & coming talent. Based in Cheltenham the festival is in it's 10th year and previously had the likes of Frank Turner, Guillemots, Frightened Rabbit & Deaf Havana headline. This year Scottish indie band Twin Atlantic and punk legends Refused headline and it's a year not to be missed.

We're going to do this preview a little differently (as I'm going to the festival) and I'm going to share with you the bands I'll be seeing each day.

Thursday:

• Max Raptor // The Cave
• Oxygen Theif // Axiom
• Milk Teeth // The Cave
• Black Peaks // The Cave
• We Were Promised Jetpacks // The Cave
• Beans On Toast // Axiom
• *Special Guest* // Axiom

Max Raptor are the first band on over the weekend and they are definitely one of my favourites. Having released their 3rd album this year (Stereo Brain rating: 7.5/10) and with a slowly growing fan base they'll bring some of Britains best punk to the festival. Milk Teeth, aswell, will be bringing some of the UK's best early on in the festival. Compared to the likes of Nirvana and early Weezer their debut album Vile Child brought a modern take on 90's grunge to the excellent list of music released this year.

Black Peaks are another band ruffling feathers this year, their debut album Statues received amazing reviews from critics far and wide (Stereo Brain rating: 8.5/10) and was featured heavily on iTunes. Tipped for big things they will be one to watch at this years festival.

Possibly my favourite Scottish band from the line-up We Were Promised Jetpacks also grace The Cave stage this year. Their brilliant blend of indie rock will certainly something to look forward to with the added bonus of possibly hearing some new material with a 4th album supposedly on the way.

Most interestingly, however, for the Thursday is the 'Special Guest' headlining the Axiom stage which will be taken over by Xtra Mile Recordings for the day - a label most famously known through their success with Frank Turner.....

Friday:

• Vant // Main Stage
• Press To Meco // Axiom
• The Smith Street Band // Main Stage
• Moose Blood (Acoustic) // Forest Stage
• Kagoule // Axiom
• Will Varley // The Croft
• Neck Deep // Main Stage
• Basement // The Cave
• Twin Atlantic // Main Stage

Opening the main stage on Friday are the brilliant Vant who will bring their brilliant brand of fast paced indie-punk and possibly be one of the best smaller bands of the weekend. Also taking to the main stage on Friday are Australian pop punky band The Smith Street Band who having released 3 albums have a slowly growing fan base in the UK.

Press To Meco and Kagoule will be punking-up the Axiom stage, both bands have a cult following and Kagoule's debut album 'Urth' even breached the UK vinyl top ten last year!

Will Varley is another addition to the lineup from Xtra Mile Recordings, his funny and often initmate live shows should translate brilliantly to a festival of this size and will be one you don't want to miss.

Closing off the day on the main stage are generic pop punkers Neck Deep and scottish indie-rockers Twin Atlantic. Don't be fooled by Neck Deep's teenage following their show will be raucous and full of mayhem. Twin Atlantic, headlining the festival for the first time, will put on one hell of a show and have the whole festival up & off their feet. With a new album on the way too there may be a chance for fans to get a glimpse of the new material.

Saturday:

• Itch (of King Blues) // Forest Stage
• Creeper // Main Stage
• Black Foxxes // The Axiom
• Arcane Roots // Main Stage
• The King Blues // Main Stage
• Tigercub // The Croft
• Black Honey // The Croft
• Refused // Main Stage

Refused, the fathers of modern punk, will close off the festival on the Saturday with a raucous and messy show. However there are many acts to catch before them on that day.

The King Blues recently returned from what was thought to be a final split to release a new EP 'Off With Their Heads', we saw them support Enter Shikari in Cardiff and will definitely be high up our list to see on a packed Saturday.

Despite being headlined by one of the oldest bands at the Festival, Saturday is about the youth. Excellent young bands like Tigercub, Black Honey, Creeper and Black Foxxes all take the stage. Black Foxxes long awaited debut is out soon and both Black Honey and Creeper are hotly tipped to make waves wherever they go. DO NOT MISS THEM!

Sunday:

There isn't any music on the Sunday. This is pack up, leave and nurse your hangover day.

2000Trees is one of the best festivals out there for new and upcoming acts and we can not wait to hit it up!

If it tickles your fancy, tickets are available HERE