If the first two days of 2000trees set the bar high, day three smashed straight through it. From brutal breakdowns and relentless pits to emotional moments and one of the wildest silent discos I've ever witnessed, Friday had absolutely everything.
Opening the day were Guillotine, who wasted no time making their mark. The riffs were huge, the guitarist barely stopped spinning for the entire set, and the lead vocalist showed off an incredible vocal range. It was the perfect way to wake the festival up.
Next up were God Complex, and without a doubt they were the heaviest band of the weekend. Their vocalist is an absolute force of nature, and despite the unbearable temperatures inside the packed tent, the crowd never stopped two-stepping. The frontman demanded more crowd surfers, more stage divers and more movement, joking that security needed to earn their wages. After promising he wouldn't climb one of the tent pillars—earning a less-than-impressed look from the tour manager—the set descended even further into beautiful chaos. It was violent, loud and exactly what everyone wanted.
Walking into the tent for Knives, the first words I heard were, "Trees, open this shit up. I wanna see yous get fucked up!" That pretty much set the tone. The guitarist launched into the crowd while still performing, the pit exploded into life, and the addition of the live saxophone elevated every song. By the end, it was easily the sweatiest set of the entire weekend.
If there was an award for controlled chaos, House of Protection would win it every single time. Living up to their name, the duo delivered a performance packed with drum-riser leaps, trips into the middle of the pit and enough energy to power the whole festival. Somehow, the drummer even managed to crowd surf on a street sign before the vocalist finished the set by demanding two final pits and barking at the crowd to keep the madness going.
Call Me Amour brought a different kind of connection. Alongside huge singalongs and circle pits, there were plenty of smiles as Deliah and Scratch invited everyone to come throw some awful shapes with them at the silent disco later that night. One of the standout moments came when they asked everyone to turn to their best friend, look them in the eyes and jump together. It was simple, wholesome and a reminder of what festivals are really about.
Banks Arcade arrived with one goal: cause havoc. Massive riffs, commanding vocals and relentless energy made for one of their strongest festival sets yet. Their unreleased track Move went down brilliantly, leaving plenty of excitement for what's still to come. If the rest of the new album is anywhere near that standard, fans are in for something special. Even while joking about performing inside what felt like a furnace, they still found time to call all the "big boys" into the pit for one last round of carnage.
Greywind provided one of the most memorable performances of the day. Hearing material from the new album live for the first time was a real privilege, while the lead singer's vocals were nothing short of stunning. Although the set was unfortunately cut short due to a medical emergency in the crowd, the band handled it with genuine class. Rather than disappearing backstage, the singer came straight to the barrier to meet fans while everyone waited. It was a small gesture that left a lasting impression and perfectly reflected the band's connection with their audience.
Sunny Day Real Estate reminded everyone why they're considered legends, delivering a set packed with emotion and nostalgia that felt right at home at Trees.
Tropic Gold brought the energy straight back up, throwing absolutely everything they had into their performance. From the first song to the last, the tent barely stopped bouncing.
There was plenty of anticipation surrounding Funeral For A Friend, and they didn't disappoint. Lukas took a moment to thank the crowd for welcoming him so warmly despite being the newest member of such an iconic band, before the audience returned the favour with endless pits, constant crowd surfing and huge singalongs throughout.
Every time I see ALT BLK ERA, they somehow get even better. They're one of the most exciting duos around right now and know exactly how to whip a crowd into a frenzy. Seeing them perform on the Forest Stage gave the whole set an even more intimate feel, making one of the standout performances of the weekend even more special.
As if the day hadn't already delivered enough unforgettable moments, Battlesnake somehow transformed the silent disco into complete anarchy. Who thought crowd surfing and mosh pits belonged at a silent disco? Whoever it was deserves a medal. The chants, the chaos and the sheer amount of energy made it one of the most enjoyable sets of the entire festival. To top it all off, I managed to crowd surf to the front and capture one of my favourite photos of the weekend. Safe to say this won't be the last time I see Battlesnake.
Day three had everything that makes 2000trees special. World-class performances, unforgettable crowd moments, bands giving absolutely everything on stage and a community that never stopped moving despite the relentless heat. Somehow, with one day still to go, the festival just kept finding new ways to raise the bar.
2000Trees Festival: Day 3 Review