Stereoboard Speaks To 2000Trees Ahead Of This Year’s Festival (Interview)
Monday, 12 March 2012
Written by Ben Bland
With 2000trees closing in fast this July, we spoke to one of the festival’s main organisers, Andy Rea, about what makes the event such a highlight of the British festival calendar.
Well firstly I guess I ought to offer my congratulations on how much of a success 2000 Trees has become in recent years. Did you ever think the festival would take off in the way that it has?
Thanks. We didn’t even know if we’d do a second one when we started! We’re delighted to have grown year on year and sell out faster each time. It’s definitely a big pat on the back for all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes to make it happen – not everyone believes that we do this in our spare time.
One of the things you mentioned when announcing this year’s festivals was not increasing the capacity. How much of an important feature of the event do you think its size is?
We feel like we’ve reached the right size for 2000trees and we want to keep the strong, independent spirit it has built up in the last five years. It’s a shame that not everyone who wants to come will get a ticket, but small is beautiful.
The fact that you only book British bands may be a good environmental thing but it also brilliantly showcases how great a music scene there is in this country at the moment. Who are some of your favourite British acts at the moment that you haven’t had a chance to book yet?
You’re right about the British music scene – it is increasingly strong and diverse and exciting, but only up to a point. For me the bigger festivals struggle to offer a unique musical experience because they’re all booking the same headline bands, whereas at 2000trees we bring together an eclectic mix that gives music fans the chance to discover their new favourite bands. We’re really lucky to have been able to book most of our favourite new and underground acts and we love it when they return, but if you really pushed me I’d love to see The Wildhearts at 2000trees – a band I grew up listening to and I was lucky enough to meet frontman Ginger once too. They’re brilliant.
You introduced The Cave stage to the festival last year, which has given it a slightly different feel. How has this affected the way you go about booking the main stage in particular?
There’s no doubt that The Cave was a huge success last year. It’s also the place to see bands favoured by a number of the organisers, at the heavier and weirder end of the musical spectrum. But we try to keep the main stage as the place to go if you want to discover bands that are more accessible if you are new to them, or new to festivals. Not everyone is there to have their ears melted by heavy metal!
Do you guys ever still attend other festivals? If so, what do you generally think of them?
We like to attend other events yep – ultimately we’re music fans and we work during 2000trees so it’s nice to get out there. We have a sister festival called Y-Not in Derbyshire which is run by our friends, so we like to turn up and relax there. Last year I went to Kendal Calling and had a great time, they have a good set-up even if the music isn’t always to my taste. The year before I went to Glastonbury for the first time, it was unbelievably good, I loved it. I think it’s important to see what else is out there each year.
You mentioned the eclecticism of Trees earlier on; I was wondering what sort of bands were your actual favourites. Are you all rockers at heart?
We’re all different, which is reflected in the eclectic mix of music at the event. However I’d say that we generally favour bands with loads of guitar riffage are always going to have the edge for the majority of us. So, rockers yes…metallers too probably.
What are some of your favourite sets from 2000 Trees gone by?
There are so many, honestly... seeing Frank Turner headline in 2010 to a crowd of thousands was brilliant - he was there at our very first 2000trees in 2007 so it was a special moment. Seeing local heroes Jim Lockey & The Solemn Sun continue to rise and rise each year is fantastic. Imperial Leisure are a really great feel-good band that get the crowd going, and really great guys too. Crazy Arm blew me away the first year they played and I still listen to their stuff more than most other bands, they are amazing. And So I Watch You From Afar went down a storm in The Cave last year. I could go on and on...
A lot of people come back to Trees year after year, what is it that you think keeps them returning?
I guess it’s just having fun in a field! It’s a relaxed and picturesque environment. People seem to have great memories of the festival each year and I think word of mouth is hugely important to us as well. I think the line-up has to be a very important part of the event, but we sell a lot of tickets before we announce bands so they clearly trust us to deliver that as part of the whole festival experience. The list of reasons to go to a small festival over a giant one is quite long for anyone that hasn’t been before – no queues, the closeness of everything, a more relaxed atmosphere, better quality food and drink, and clean toilets to name but a few.
What do you see the festival developing into a few years down the road?
As you know we’re not increasing capacity this year and we don’t look beyond each coming festival, so you’ll have to ask me that one in the autumn!
This year’s festival already features the likes of 65daysofstatic, Gallows, Pulled Apart by Horses and Rolo Tomassi. 2000Trees Tickets are on sale now.
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