Just over a decade ago a group of Gloucestershire residents got together with the aim of organising an annual music festival. This wasn’t to be a festival that attracts superstar bands though, 2000trees was launched as a platform to give up-and-coming acts a chance to shine. In the twelve years since the inaugural festival took place it has won numerous national awards as well as acting as a springboard to many successful music careers.

The 2018 festival takes place from 12th July – 14th July in the serene setting of Upcote Farm in the Cotswold hills. Appearing at this year’s festival are established bands like Enter Shikari, Twin Atlantic and Hell is for Heroes who will be joined by over 120 other acts, many from Gloucestershire. Andy Rea, one of the six founders of the Festival, is delighted with the 2018 line-up. He said: “We work very hard to ensure there’s a wide range of musical genres represented. A lot of the acts fall into the rock category but there also a number of folk, jazz and other musical styles on the bill. We’re a festival that’s all about the music, it’s a great thrill to welcome such a wide array of acts for what promises to be another fantastic three days.

“It’s been a really incredible journey when we sit back and think what we’ve achieved since the first 2000trees all those years ago. Before the first festival we didn’t know at the time if it was going to be an annual thing, it could have been a one-off. Fortunately for us it was a big success and we’ve kept building every year. What works really well for us is we book established bands as well as offering lesser known acts the chance to play in front of a big crowd. Giving the up-and-coming acts a chance to get up on stage and show what they can do is what we’re all about. These acts deserve a big platform, they’re so talented and it’s great to welcome back so many of the bands year after year.

“We’re not trying to compete with the likes of Glastonbury, we know what we are, and we know what the people who come here want to see. Everyone involved, whether that’s the staff, the volunteers and of course the visitors, is there because they love live music.”

Since holding the first festival over a decade ago the organisers of 2000trees have been presented with numerous awards for their hard work, as Andy explains: “We recently won our fifth national award for our commitment to grassroots festivals which is something we’re enormously proud of. There’s six of us involved in the organising and booking of acts for the festival, so it’s a real team effort. It’s just great to be a part of something that offers so much to the people of Gloucestershire.”

One local musician who will be performing at this year’s 2000trees is Jack Cooper, who is building up a big following in Gloucestershire. Jack, who studies popular music at the University of Gloucestershire, recently performed at the Wychwood Festival and says the chance to take to the stage is 2000trees will be the highlight of his fledgling career.

He said: “I cannot wait for 2000trees, it’s going to be amazing. It was after a performance in Cheltenham that I was approached by representatives of 2000trees who gave asked me if I’d like to play at their festival. Some of the bands playing there have been around a long time, so to get the chance to play in front of what will be the biggest crowd I’ve ever played in front of is going to be really exciting. I want to make a career out of music and playing 2000trees gives me great exposure. I’ll be playing all my own songs that I’ve written, I can’t wait.”