With 2000trees weekend swiftly approaching, there’s a whole lot of incredible music on this year’s lineup.
Taking place between July 10 and 13 at Cheltenham’s Upcote Farm, the festival will see a trio of headline sets from The Gaslight Anthem, The Chats, and Don Broco – with the latter playing their only live show of 2024.
If you’re still unsure on who you should be catching in the field new t weekend, take a look at Rock Sound’s must-see artists below.
The Gaslight Anthem
Making their long-awaited return with ‘History Books’ in 2023 – their first album in just shy of a decade – the punk legends recently brought us some huge collaborations with the likes of Bruce Springsteen and PUP’s Stefan Babcock.
Speaking to Rock Sound as part of our Album Story series, frontman Brian Fallon told us:
“We didn’t want to make a ‘classic’ Gaslight Anthem record or a ‘return to form’ Gaslight Anthem record.
“If you said that to me, that would mean something that sounds like ‘The ‘59 Sound’ or (2010 follow-up) ‘American Slang’. And we’ve already done those records. Going into this, we knew we wanted to make something that is obviously The Gaslight Anthem, but The Gaslight Anthem of today, and not The Gaslight Anthem trying to recapture something from 10 years ago. That was the main order of the day. And I do think we succeeded with that.”
Read our full Album Story feature on ‘History Books’ here.
We also caught up with the band earlier this year to discuss their latest EP and their headline slot at the festival.
Manchester Orchestra
With their 2023 EP ‘The Valley Of Vision’ building upon the cinematic notes of 2021 album ‘The Million Masks Of God’, Manchester Orchestra have long been defined by their sonic evolution.
Led by Andy Hull, a poignant songwriter driven by emotion and inspired by life’s biggest questions, Rock Sound recently sat down with the frontman to talk through the origins and stories of ten of the band’s most iconic lyrics.
Speaking on a lyric taken from ‘The Valley Of Vision’ track ‘Rear View’, he told us:
“A lot of times, I write from the perspective of different characters. It’s a way that I can unlock deeper emotions in myself, because often when I try to write about a specific thing that I’m feeling I can’t get as deep as I would like to. On a very human level, that lyric is an apology to my child. I promised him that I was going to give him this grand life, and when I wrote that line I suppose I wasn’t feeling like I was the provider I had hoped to be. That’s an insecurity thing, so it’s tapping into a very uncomfortable vulnerability, but a vulnerability that’s true.”
Read our full Behind The Lyrics feature with Manchester Orchestra here.
Kids In Glass Houses
Having recently shared the first taste of their forthcoming fifth album, ‘Theme From Pink Flamingo’, Kids In Glass Houses are well and truly back.
Last year, we caught up with frontman Aled Phillips to discuss the ten items he cannot hit the road without, as part of our Tour Essentials series.
Check out the full feature here.
Delilah Bon
With her forthcoming self-produced second album ‘Evil, Hate Filled Female’ arriving September 13, Delilah Bon has treated us to some huge singles recently.
From the empowering ‘Maverick’ to the brilliantly candid ‘Finally See Me’, this is your chance to catch the fast-rising alt. star before she fully blows up.
Creeper
Delving into the vampiric underworld on their huge 2023 album ‘Sanguivore’, there’s no band quite like Creeper.
Returning to familiar ground to celebrate the ‘Sanguivore’ era as Axiom Stage headliners, frontman William Von Ghould spoke to Rock Sound all about their most recent record as part of our Album Story series:
“Creeper always make concept records, it has always been our way to tell little stories with a message behind it. That’s where we’ve always been and this one is no exception. Just a little bit grander…and a little more silly.”
Read our full Album Story feature on ‘Sanguivore’ here.
Hot Milk
Is it really a festival without Hot Milk?
The duo have become king and queen of the festival season over the last few years, taking things to the next level with the release of their long-awaited debut album ‘A Call To The Void’ last year.
Speaking to Rock Sound as part of our Album Story series, Han and Jim told us all about their explosive live show:
“One big thing for us that we learned very quickly was to write for live” Jim said.
“We are a rock band first and foremost and live is our bread and butter. It’s where we feel most comfortable and most at home. So you’ve got to make sure your songs hit the same way live as they do on record.”
“What I will say is I don’t think anyone will have seen a show like this from a band on their first record” Han added.
“It is a stage show and quite theatrical. It exceeds what we have done in the past in terms of what Jim has managed to design. We are putting an equal amount of effort into the live show as we did into the record.”
Read our full Album Story feature on ‘A Call To The Void’ here.
Boston Manor
With new album ‘Sundiver’ set to arrive September 06, Boston Manor are barreling into their next chapter.
A record created from a place of optimism and sobriety, celebrating new beginnings, they’ve already treated us to a few huge singles including ‘Container’, ‘Sliding Doors’, and ‘HEAT ME UP’.
With their biggest UK headline tour to date taking place later this year, you don’t want to miss their big return to the stage.
Artio
Releasing their debut album ‘Babyface’ earlier this year, Leeds’ Artio have marked themselves as ones to watch in the alternative scene.
Talking to Rock Sound backstage at Slam Dunk Festival 2024, the band’s vocalist Rae told us about writing ‘Babyface’ and why Twenty One Pilots‘ self-titled album was a key early source of inspiration.
ALT BLK ERA
With the recent announcement that their debut full-length album ‘Rave Immortal’ will be arriving on January 10, 2025, the sister duo have given us the first taste of their latest era with infectious new single ‘My Drummer’s Girlfriend’.
Continuing their festival season after making their Donington debut last month, Rock Sound spoke to the band at Download Festival to discuss plans for the album and their dream collaborations.
WARGASM
Bringing the ferocity of their 2023 debut album ‘Venom’ to the festival for the first time, Sam Matlock and Milkie Way are sure to put on a set to remember.
Speaking to Rock Sound as part of our Album Story series, the duo told us all about the process of creating the record:
“I do not respond well to being rushed. In life generally, but also in the creative process,” Milkie said.
“It’s been a long time coming for this and I don’t think any of these songs were written in one day.” Sam agreed.
“Everything came together super organically, and I think you can hear that. When you rush people, you can take away the authenticity.”
Read our full Album Story feature on ‘Venom’ here.
We also caught up with WARGASM at this year’s Download Festival to talk about playing tracks from ‘Venom’ live, collaborating with Bad Omens and joining Enter Shikari during their main stage set.