There are festivals — and then there’s 2000 Trees. This year, it wasn’t just the music that was blistering. The 2025 edition brought record-breaking heat, mind-blowing sets, emotional moments, and a community spirit that genuinely blew me away. Whether you were a Trees veteran or a wide-eyed first-timer like me, this year was something special. Here’s how it went down…
Wednesday: Into the Forest We Go 🌳
Kicking things off midweek, I arrived to a scorching sun and even warmer vibes. A shoutout to the absolute legends who helped carry my bags — that moment of kindness perfectly set the tone for what this festival is all about: community.
After setting up camp, we grabbed our wristbands and made a beeline for the Forrest Stage, my personal favourite. If you’ve never experienced it, imagine being wrapped in nature, fairy lights above you, surrounded by trees, and live music echoing through the branches. It’s intimate, and honestly a little magical.
Hot Milk hit the stage and absolutely tore it up. Their blend of emo-pop-punk and unapologetic attitude exploded through the trees. Vocalists Han and Jim fed off each other’s energy, switching from snarling aggression to heartfelt vulnerability in seconds. With singalong choruses, glitchy electronics, and a touch of chaos, they proved why they’re becoming one of the UK’s most exciting live acts. A perfect curtain-raiser that got everyone buzzing for the weekend ahead.
And then… the Silent Disco. Oh wow. Four channels, live DJ sets, even a live band streamed straight to your headphones while you danced under the stars. Yes, seriously. It’s an experience you have to try at least once — and Trees nailed it.
Thursday: Discovery, Energy & Twin Atlantic Magic
No chance of a lie-in — the sun had other plans! But with music kicking off from 11am, we weren’t complaining.
Kicking off with San Demas on the NEU Stage, I stumbled into my first surprise highlight. Their dynamic mix of emo-tinged alt-rock and melodic hooks landed hard — and their cover of Paramore’s “Ain’t It Fun” wasn’t just a gimmick, it slapped. One of those sets where you go in curious and leave a fan.
Karen Dio battled in-ear monitor issues on the Main Stage but didn’t miss a beat. Their sound—a unique blend of glam-rock flair and theatrical, riff-driven power—was a shot of charisma straight to the crowd’s veins. Even in the blazing sun, they had people dancing in black boots and eyeliner.
Then came Pavé , a band I’d been dying to see live. They didn’t disappoint. Tight, emotionally raw, and brimming with intent, their set hit like a diary entry turned sonic explosion. Their ability to shift from delicate moments to anthemic power was one of the day’s standout surprises. Check out our interview with Pavé here.
The Hunna delivered a high-octane set packed with anthems and undeniable energy with fan favourites and a brand-new single ‘Hide & Seek‘ that had the crowd instantly hooked. Their mix of indie swagger and arena rock scale makes them a perfect festival band, and they knew it — this was a band in their element. Check out our interview with Ryan from The Hunna here.
Lake Malice brought the chaos in the best possible way. Their genre-defying sound — equal parts hyperpop, metalcore, and glitchy aggression — was matched by a performance full of movement, colour, and emotion. Frontwoman Alice’s raw honesty during a dedication to mental health gave the chaos depth and meaning. Check out our interview with Alice from Lake Malice here.
Then came Pvris, effortlessly cool and relentlessly polished. Every song landed like a mini movie soundtrack — cinematic, moody, and beautifully produced. Tracks like “My House” and “St. Patrick” felt euphoric, and Lynn’s vocals never wavered once, even as the sun tried to melt us all.
But the day’s highlight? Twin Atlantic at the Axiom Stage. Powerful, emotional, nostalgic — and very, very loud. They poured their hearts out in every note, and the crowd gave it right back. When “Heart and Soul” hit, the whole tent lifted. One of my top 3 moments of the weekend, hands down.
Friday: Signatures, Nostalgia, and Coheed in the Sun
Friday leaned into emotional highs and Main Stage magic.
BLACKGOLD tore through an intense, genre-blending set that fused nu-metal, punk, and hip-hop swagger into something that felt dangerous in the best way. They opened with confidence and charisma, setting the tone for the day ahead.
The Dangerous Summer followed with a set full of heart-on-sleeve lyrics and soaring melodies. At one point, vocalist AJ vaulted into the crowd mid-song — creating a real sense of connection between band and fans. Their set reminded everyone how powerful emo-rock can be when it’s lived in.
I took a break from the heat in the Marshall Signing Tent, crafting a tote bag (yes, really — and it looked sick), and even got it signed by BLACKGOLD. They were just as down-to-earth and fun offstage as on.
Later, Coheed and Cambria took over the Forrest Stage for an intimate acoustic set and Q&A. It felt like stumbling into a secret garden party hosted by prog-rock royalty. Claudio’s voice soared through the trees — and then they brought it all to the Main Stage that evening with full force. “Welcome Home” hit like a thunderclap, wrapping nostalgia and technical brilliance into a single, fist-pumping moment.
And then came Taking Back Sunday. Every bit of 2000s angst you’d expect, delivered with the experience and self-awareness of a band who’ve lived it. “Cute Without the E” and “MakeDamnSure” were screamed back word-for-word by a sea of sweaty, grinning fans. A total dream moment.
Saturday: Screams, Crocs, and the Perfect Ending
Saturday somehow turned the temperature up again, but the bands kept turning up the volume.
Daytime TV opened strong with slick, alt-pop rock that had even early risers bopping along. Their songs have that radio-ready but still raw quality — catchy enough for newcomers, emotional enough for the longtime fans. Check out our interview with them here.
Employed to Serve dropped a sonic sledgehammer on the Main Stage. Heavy, precise, unrelenting — Justine’s vocals were like a battle cry, cutting through the heat like a knife. Their set was pure catharsis, and even those unfamiliar couldn’t look away.
Vukovi stormed the stage with wild energy, glitchy visuals, and riffs for days. Janine’s barefoot antics (eventually resorting to Crocs to avoid burning her feet) added unexpected comedy to a powerhouse performance. Her stage dive during “La Di Da” was iconic — chaotic energy defined.
The Hara turned the Forrest into their own chaotic playground — scaling speakers, diving into the crowd, and delivering a feral, unpredictable set. It was gritty, theatrical, and impossible to ignore. Check out our interview with them here.
Then at The Cave, Calva Louise unleashed their signature brand of sci-fi punk madness. Their blend of futuristic visuals, acid-tinged guitar work, and genre-defying structure was like nothing else all weekend. We even got to hear some of their brand new music from their latest album ‘Edge of The Abyss‘ Completely unhinged in the best possible way. Catch up with Jess from Calva Louise here.
Letlive’s farewell set was one for the history books. Jason Aalon Butler gave everything — screaming, preaching, breaking down barriers between crowd and stage. Their genre-defying sound and emotional intensity made this a bittersweet goodbye that felt more like a revolution than a performance.
And finally, Alexisonfire. This was a moment. The perfect blend of hardcore intensity and melodic brilliance. George stormed the crowd like a man possessed, Dallas soared vocally like only he can, and the surprise moment of George chair-surfing across the audience might go down as one of the most unforgettable endings to any Trees ever.
Before the weekend closed, I returned once more to my favourite place – The Forrest Stage to see RØRY. She delivered a set that was quiet, emotional, and intensely vulnerable. Her honesty floored us. A brand new, unreleased track ‘Bite My Tongue‘ was exactly what RØRY does best and caught us off guard but for all the right reasons, I cannot wait for this to be released! The full set had people in tears — it felt sacred, and the perfect, soul-soothing end to an overwhelming weekend.
Final Thoughts: Trees, You’ve Won Me Over
If you’re thinking of going next year — stop thinking. Just go. 2000 Trees isn’t just a music festival. It’s a pocket of magic, connection, and discovery wrapped in suncream and glitter.
Whether you come solo or in a crowd, whether you’re there for the metal, the emo, or the indie, there’s something for everyone — and everyone is welcome.
From heartfelt sets to chaotic pits, from dreamy Forrest stages to DIY tote bags, 2000 Trees 2025 was one of the best weekends of my life. I’m still not over it.
See you in 2026. Trees forever. ❤️
