Every second weekend in
July, in the rolling Cotswold hills a few miles outside Cheltenham, Upcote Farm
has become a bona fide destination for UK music lovers.
Growing from rustic roots (straw bales for urinals, children’s play areas at
the side of the main stage) into a 15,000-cap, three-day showcase of the best
in alternative sound, 2000trees has welcomed the world-class likes of Turnstile
and IDLES, At The Drive In and Enter Shikari into its scenic surrounds.
2023
will be no different. Welsh metal mainstays Bullet For My Valentine, resurgent Kent
punks SOFT PLAY (formerly Slaves) and the inimitable Frank Carter & The
Rattlesnakes are set to headline over fellow mainstays Hundred Reasons,
Skindred, The Wonder Years, Dinosaur Pile-up American Football and Deaf Havana.
Hell, Simon Neil/Mike Vennart/Dave Lombardo supergroup Empire State Bastard are
even dropping by for one of their first-ever shows.
One
of the greatest highlights, however, has always been the festival’s stacked line-up
of upcoming and underground stars. From relatively established heroes like
Loathe, Holding Absence and Kid Kapichi to breakthrough acts as hot as lozeak,
Paledusk, Frozemode, Lynks and Modern Error, of course, there are far too many
to fit on a list like this. For your viewing pleasure, though, we’ve sieved
through the best of the best to select 20 sets that you simply cannot
miss...