2000TREES: The Return of SOFTPLAY - Thursday at 2000TREES
Deep in the forest in Cheltenham lies one of the Uk’s favourite metal festival: 2000Trees.An overwhelming feel of community and a stellar line up sees the return of Punk Revival Icons SOFT PLAY (formally known as Slaves) on the first day of the festival.
Tom Ellis (TJEphotos/FEATS)
Thursday was kicked off with Brighton’s own Beach Riot, an upcoming band who bring energy regardless, not only do they make incredible music but frontman Rory O’Connor makes the best coffee in Brighton, hands down its something you NEED to try. Coming off of a high of their most recent release of ‘Tell Me I’m Wrong’ bass driven and grittier than their usual Indie-Rock vibe, opening with a catchy chorus and motifs of oh’s and ah’s. Beach Riot are a band that I love to see live, I think they are ones to watch this year, and if their drive continues as it is right now we’ll be seeing them in the same light as SNAYX and Kid Kapichi alike. They were a perfect opener for a day that ended with SOFT PLAY.
Tom Ellis (TJEphotos/FEATS)
Blake Cornwall and Alice Guala cleverly known as Lake Malice 2000 Trees is filled to the absolute brim of bands that are bursting out of the seams of the scene, Lake Malice are ones that have been on the tip of our tongue, seeing them live for the first time this weekend explained exactly why everyone has been talking about them. Another band exploding out of the alternative Brighton scene, it seems like this band have got the ball rolling and it’s going a billion miles an hour, they’re interesting, their synergy irradiates across the tent, Guala outstretches her arms revelling in the energy while Cornwall occasionally throws his guitar behind his neck whilst staying tight.
With only six tracks released in their discography but a huge stage presence they’re building an expectation for similar bands breaking out of the scene. It seems as if Lake Malice have a clear vision of who they are and what they’re making - Throw them on the Main Stage and they’ll fit right in. Their latest track inspired by The Last of Us ’Bloodbath’ brings a The Prodigy-esque instrumental fused with djenty guitar chugs that makes this song so unique, it sustains hyper pop whilst still retaining the metal sound to the core. Its this direction that I think the metal world is blasting into with Bring Me The horizon at the fore-front of it all, while Lake Malice are pushing those foundations even further.
Tom Ellis (TJEphotos/FEATS)
The day was bought to ‘Smash the Gaff’s’, the one, the only - Kid Kapichi. In Six years they have gone from crawling from Hasting pub to pub to Main Stage at 2000 Trees, to the avalanche stage at Download. They’re Punk through and through, angry at the current state of our world, perfectly political but they’re fun. They make music that you can’t help but vibe to, throwing chocolate bars out into the crowd, buying a blow up burger for people to throw around and crowd surf on “that was the best £30 we ever spent” jack grins out into the crowd. They exude attitude unapologetically, ‘New England’ one day will be a classic with references to real British Punk culture like hating the monarchy & weirdly enough Postman Pat. The pits explode open for Kid Kapichi until ‘Party at No.10’ a song that berates the incompetent Tory government that the UK had to deal with during Lockdown.
Tom Ellis (TJEphotos/FEATS)
Welsh Rock Legends ‘Skindred’ then took to the Main stage, demonstrating what makes them one of the best Festival acts in the scene. Iconic frontman, Benji Webb, brought infectious charisma, charm, and most importantly, the infamous tunes that rocked the fields of Upcote Farm. Crowds erupted to chart-topper ‘Nobody’ alongside fan favorites ‘Kill the Power’, ‘Gimmie That Boom’, and ‘Warning', Where everyone’s T-Shirts were seen flying in the sky, partaking in the fan-Named ‘Newport Helicopter’. Skindred are known for their blending of Reggae with Nu-Metal and they never fail to captivate a live audience. If you haven’t heard of them before, have you been living under a rock? This is your sign to see them, you won’t regret it.
Tom Ellis (TJEphotos/FEATS)
The night was topped by the revival of Kent punk-rockers ‘SOFTPLAY’ (formally SLAVES). Frontman Isaac Holman and Guitarist Laurie Vincent came back with a new name and blew everyone away. A setlist full of classics such as ‘The Hunter’, ‘White Knuckle Ride’, and ‘Sockets’ while paired with a chaotic cover of Skepta’s ‘Shutdown’ was the best way to end the opening night at 2000Trees - expect a full review coming on SOFTPLAY soon on FEATS.