In just two weeks 2000 Trees will open the gates to its Cheltenham fields yet again to a 10,000-strong pack of music fans, and I’m getting excited for this year’s line up. Let me spotlight some bands for you so that you can colour-code your clashfinder with a ‘LOUD WOMEN recommended’ hue (I recommend purple).
Baby Said
I couldn’t start this preview without mentioning Baby Said, alumni of LOUD WOMEN fest 2024 as well as the LOUD WOMEN stage at Rebellion 2024! Playing on Thursday as part of Forest Sessions, the Italian-Punjabi sisters Veronica and Jess Pal deliver an infectious blend of punk, grunge and alt-rock, peppered with 90s nostalgia. I can’t wait for the Trees crowd to fall in love with them! They’re on the festival circuit this year so be sure not to miss them. You can throw back to their session at LOUD WOMEN Radio on Resonance FM to get in the mood.
Split Dogs
Another LOUD WOMEN hot tip are Split Dogs, who told us in their own words:
“we’re like Status Quo but queer and hard.”
Fast developing a reputation for delivering in-your-face punk bangers, they are not to be missed on Friday on the Neu stage.
Panic Shack
RØRY
We really loved seeing RØRY, Lake Malice and As December Falls touring together earlier this year – see Anita Maj’s review here – so it will be amazing to catch up with the bands again. Lake Malice’s metal / hyper pop fusion is a force to be reckoned with, As December Falls command the mosh pit like no other, and RØRY has a unique power to unite the audience through raw emotion and shared experience. RØRY headlines Forest Sessions on Saturday, with As December Falls playing there shortly before, while Lake Malice take to the Neu stage on Thursday.
SPRINTS
I have been playing SPRINTS‘ Letter To Self on repeat since seeing them at Wide Awake this year and I am already looking forward to catching them again at Trees – their indie / punk riffs together with catchy-because-relatable lyrics are just the tonic for me.
Blood Command
A band that I got obsessed with at last year’s ArcTanGent festival was Blood Command, self-described as:
“Norwegian Deathpop; dressed to kill top to toe in Adidas”
They leave a lasting impression with their relentless, furious intensity, razor sharp vocals and captivating stage presence. Frontwoman Nikki Brumen has the audience in the palm of her hands and delivers a performance you genuinely want to keep seeing again and again.
They will be on the Forest Sessions stage on Wednesday.
Orchards
Another ArcTanGent 2024 favourite of mine, Orchards, are headlining Forest Sessions on Friday and they are a band I cannot get enough of live. Their infectious energy is unparalleled, their indie rock is peppered with math rock and alt-pop and on line ups that are heavy, they bring a splash of light.
Hot Milk
I have Hot Milk on my must-see list for the rest of this year already. The fierce Manchester outfit are the UK’s response to Paramore with a Bring Me The Horizon edge.
Playing Wednesday late on the Forest Sessions stage, they could be the best start to your festival if you arrive early.
Mallavora
Mallavora, who Josse enjoyed seeing play with Knife Bride earlier in the year, will be on the Main Stage at 11am on a Friday, so grab a strong cup of coffee to kick start your day with them.
If you have any access needs and see them on the line up – you know the event will be accessible to you because they famously don’t play inaccessible venues. Their alt metal tackles themes of illness and disability with ferocity and sensitivity.
Vukovi
Vukovi are Scottish alt rockers bring with them a blend of hard riffs, electronic wizardry and catchy (yet confrontational) hooks.
They tackle themes of mental health, resilience, and identity and I cannot wait to catch them on the Main stage on Friday.
Witch Fever
Witch Fever feature heavily on LOUD WOMEN’s pages. Fresh from playing their home turf Manchester Punk Fest, the four-piece seamlessly fuse riot grrrl rage with sludge and doom riffs.
Their new single ‘Dead To Me’ is a relatable anthem and I cannot wait to see the circle pit at their set. They will bring their chaos to the Neu stage on Friday evening.
Love Rarely
Fresh from this year’s Portals Festival, Love Rarely are a three-piece that are making a name for themselves with their alt rock blended with post-punk and shoegaze.
Playing the Main stage on Saturday at 11:30, they are a band worth waking up early for.
VENUS GRRRLS
Another band known to frequent the LOUD WOMEN pages are VENUS GRRRLS and their punk rock mixed in with garage rock. Known for fierce live performances, and anthems about rebellion and empowerment that get the crowd going, I will be sure to catch their set at Neu stage at 17:00 on Friday.
I could wax lyrical about every band I am excited to catch, but I know that I will meander all the stages, bump into friends (and make new ones) and inevitably follow someone’s lead to discover a new music obsession. This is just the kind of place and community that 2000 Trees has cultivated. So pack your layers, and find me running like a maniac with my traffic light red hair looking like Cruella DeVil on a Pokemon mission to catch as many bands as is physically possible and patiently await a report back.
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