2000trees Review - Saturday

Joshua Wilkinson
2 days ago
5 min read

By Josh Wilkinson and Jess Robinson

We're now at the final day of 2000trees 2025, and what a few days it's been. While we were certainly sad to be leaving Upcote Farm for another year, we still had more fantastic acts to get through first. And they more than made sure the festival went out swinging.

Employed to Serve

Presenting the audience with an unrelenting, explosive set, the heavy powerhouse that is Employed To Serve took to the stage - and demanded your attention. It didn’t take long before moshpits were kicking dust into the air and crowdsurfers were spilling over the barrier, with the crowd giving just as much energy as the performers on stage. Employed To Serve have taken that classic metalcore sound and made it their own, with every track hitting you like a wrecking ball. This gut-punchy sound combined with the audience’s intensity made for one of the most impactful performances of the festival, and Employed to Serve deserve all the appreciation they can get.

Bruise Control

Over at The Cave, Manchester hardcore punk outfit Bruise Control make sure everyone is paying them attention. Frontman Jim Taylor complains that he hasn’t seen as many trees as he was expecting at the festival but the same can’t be said for wasps – “It should be called 2000 wasps!” he exclaims. Jim makes regular visits to the crowd below, stealing hats and joining mosh pits, and after making sure the audience knew the main words to “No More”, he frantically paces around the crowd aggressively sharing the mic with everyone he could, including a young lad who steps up to the challenge brilliantly. For those who aren’t afraid to get sweaty and let loose, Bruise Control have you sorted.

Vukovi

As the final afternoon of the festival approached the evening, Vukovi put on one of the most entertaining performances I’d seen so far. Lead vocalist Janine Shilstone’s sparkling outfit danced in the sunlight, while the audience danced to their infectious beats. The band had drawn a huge crowd, with every single person in attendance getting caught up in the show. The screams and cheers only grew louder as Shilstone performed from the barrier early into the show, demonstrating the sheer amount of love from both sides. It was clear to see why Vukovi are such a special group for so many people, and I think part of that is down to it being plainly obvious just how much fun they have on stage. Once the crowdsurfers started they didn’t stop, with the band putting on a show that was more than worthy of the main stage. Vukovi are right at home on a festival line-up, and I hope to see plenty more featuring them in the future.

LOWLIVES

Fresh off of a tour of some of the best small venues the UK has to offer, LOWLIVES' time on the Neu stage had me wishing I'd seen them on that run. The alt-rock quartet's infectious riffs, catchy hooks, and non-stop drums quickly had the crowd moving, owning the stage from track one. While the heaviness of their tracks varied, the energy within them did not, especially when the band performing them were just as animated. You can tell that every member of LOWLIVES loves doing what they do, and when they're enjoying themselves that much, it's impossible for you to not too.

Letlive.

Now onto the performance that many had been waiting for, especially if the size of the crowd was anything to go by. Letlive’s 2000trees performance was one of just 3 opportunities UK fans had to see the band before they say goodbye, with London shows either-side of their day at Trees being the only other chances. For those who didn’t get a chance to see any of these performances, I’m very sorry to say you missed out. Letlive’s set here was one of the best I’ve ever seen, and one that was filled with so many incredible moments that it’s a task just to think of them all. From bringing a Marshall mascot and a fan frontman Jason Aalon Butler had met earlier in the day up on stage to Butler’s dramatic climb to the top of the lighting setup, this performance was one that will be sticking with me for a long time.

Everyone in attendance, whether they were part of the band or part of the audience, gave it their all, making Letlive’s set one of the most intense, ferocious, and bittersweet performances I’ve ever had the pleasure to witness. Butler struggled to hold back the tears as he described how special this moment was for the band, who had reformed for a true farewell tour after their split in 2017, but there were those in the crowd who couldn’t keep themselves quite as composed. You couldn’t help but feel like you were part of something more, which made it all the more difficult to accept when the band bowed their final farewell. I know people say you can have too much of a good thing, but I don’t think we can ever have too much Letlive, and I’ll be holding out for them to return again in the future.

Black Foxxes

Last to perform on the Neu stage at 2000 Trees 2025 is none other than Black Foxxes, who give a performance everyone will walk away from somewhat enlightened. As the band take to the stage, frontman Mark Holley is nowhere to be seen for a few minutes before running onto the stage and explaining how “that wasn’t meant to be a dramatic walk on, I genuinely just got locked in the toilet outside”. In no way rattled by the experience, Mark and the rest of the band launch into the first of only five songs they will play. To fill the full fifty minutes, they extend their final song “The Diving Bell” from nine minutes on record to a full twenty for the live show. With a sophisticated grasp on dynamics, the band bring listeners along on an incredible musical rollercoaster, and with the truly captivating saxophone playing by Sam Irvine it is impossible not to be completely mesmerised by the end of the show.

Alexisonfire

The final headliner for the final day of what had been a truly incredible installment of 2000trees. Two years on from their last UK appearance, Alexisonfire delivered a commanding performance that made the wait more than worth it. With their signature heavy riffs, demanding stage presence, and vocals that sound ripped straight from their recordings, Alexisonfire expertly demonstrated why they’re still such an icon of the scene 24 years on from their debut album. While I’m sure many wish they made a more frequent appearance on UK shores, it does make these rare festival appearances feel all the more special, and even more so when they’re the last headliner. When it came time for their legendary song "This Could Be Anywhere” In The World there wasn’t a fan in the crowd that wasn’t belting it out, with thousands of voices coming together in a stunning display of appreciation for the group. As the final track came to a close and the band raised their arms and said their goodbyes, rapturous applause filled the air, evidence of a set, and festival, that surpassed all expectations.