65daysofstatic, and The Subways shine at 2000trees

The next morning of 2000 Trees, saw a break in the clouds and the allusive sun making a surprise appearance, sunning the grass and drying our clothes. The morning commenced with punk rockers Left Side Brain, kicking the second day into 4^th gear, however it was techno/electronica band Three Trapped Tigers that really got the crowds juices flowing.

This London based band, had real electricity, and an interesting use of offbeats and guitar rifts, which mellowed the mood and got the audience grooving. This weekend saw a trend of non vocal bands, however this only channelled everyone's concentration on the music, and Three Trapped Tigers were a prime example of this. This was an excellent blend of fresh beats, bellowing bass and 80's inspired synths, that sounded surprisingly fresh and new.

Manchester based ska/ reggae / punk rap rockers Sonic Boom Six's combination of funky underground beats and invigorating energy was purely infectious. A huge crowd pleaser, this 5 piece band, headed up by the tiny but mighty Laila Khan, gave a carnival feel to the afternoon, boosting the atmosphere and causing even the most unlikely subjects to 'skank' until sore. The urban sounds of this band could have easily been out of place, in this largely indie / folk music influenced festival, but this band looked at home in front of this grizzled crowd. The harmonies of Laila Khan and Paul 'Barney Boom' Barnes mirrored each other beautifully, with Paul descending into 'f**k you rap lyrics, complimented by the innocent chime of Lalia's voice. This was a politically proud group, complete with trumpets and trombone's, and the energy that radiated from every pore of the stage, was enough to have the crowd begging for more. We were all moths to the fire that this band generated.

Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit, a predominately acoustic, gentle folk band seemed to bring the mood down somewhat, considering the pumping rhythms and energy the previous bands all seemed to encapsulate. Truth be told, this was a very sudden change of musical style, however the deep rich voice of Johnny Flynn, mirrored to that of a very young Johnny Cash, caused a ripple of smiles throughout the audience. Guitar in hand, feet stomping, completely lost in his own story-book lyrics, the London based singer / songwriter, had a voice that went way beyond his years..

The lovely twangs of the banjo, matched Johnny's feverish plucking and strumming, with the sharp, soft drums, creating a toe–tapping sound, the perfect music to kick back with a pint of Badgers Bottom and soak up the sun.

Sheffield based band 65daysofstatic, boomed their way into the late afternoon sun, with a mixture of pounding drum loops and aggressive bass. A favourite of the bands that weekend, this 5 man noise monster, chomped their way through their recently realised album 'We were exploding anyway', with a passionate and epic display of industrial synth movements and keyboard bashing. The excitement that surrounded this bad, was displayed in the sheer force of the crowd, jumping their way through songs like 'Radio Protector'. 65Daysofstatic enforced an energy that matched that of any band that played during weekend, drawing in one of the biggest crowds over the 2 days.

This was encapsulated perfectly, in the display of one of the litter collectors, dropping his duties and Hi-Vis jacket and rushing into the crowd, fists in air, only to emerge moments later, crowd surfacing his way to the front of the barrier, and returning to his job within a matter of minutes. The soft piano interludes combined with the heavy kicking drums and trance-esque rhythms echoed around the hills of the Cotswolds, fizzing and sparkling its way into the evening. This was too short a set to have the first time listeners fully appreciate what this band captured, which was to harness the sound of the future and plonk into our willing laps, intense and mouth watering.

Penultimate band Bombay Bicycle Club's jazzy grooves and jives, rocked their way through the sunset, with a lovely wailing The Killers – esque noise. Technically, this band worked. Each instrument resonated clearly, with each given its moment to shine. However, again this may not have been the right moment for this band, given the previous line up. The mellow charm of this band was charismatically carried off by front man Jack Steadman, with his breathy and husky vocals matching the plucky and clear guitar strums. This set echoed that of Frank Turner's campfire themed set, the kind of which you want to join in, clapping,and sit around and roast a marshmallow or two. Overall, the set was slow, but an enjoyable series of songs to see out the sun on the final day.

Hertfordshire based rockers The Subways, saw out the weekend, with an excellent set, complete with smoke machine and stage climbing stunts provided by front man Billy Lunn. The energy provided by this band, remained consistent throughout their hour and a bit long set, hammering their way through favourites like 'Rock N Roll Queen'. The crowd was enthralled, captured by this 3 piece group, headed by Billy Lunn who simply radiated the rock n roll persona. Female bassist Charlotte Cooper's heavy riffs and excellent grooves provided an balanced accompaniment to Lunn's electric guitar tweaks. This was all perfectly back boned by accomplished drummer Josh Morgan, who's crashing rhythms and symbols provided the perfect backdrop to this bands indie rock persona. Harmonies between Cooper and Lunn were perfection, and both interacted with each other in a evidently fun and show stopping nature, jumping from any raised surface they could find!

The crowd was exhausted, but the energy that crackled throughout the site was evident, with the audience clapping for an encore, which The Subways were more than happy to provide. An excellent way to end a rather soggy yet musically rich and varied weekend.

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