2000 Trees 2026

[FrogLobster]

King Gizz are jammy and weird enough to be an ATG band: James has said that before on the pod.

 

Viagra Boys are my vote.

 

 

[readingnotleeds]

Going to go for an optimistic curveball pitch of Hayley Williams 

[readingnotleeds]

On 24/02/2026 at 20:00, Chavmeisterdeluxe said:

They're doing 20k ish tickets on this tour, dont think Alkaline Trio have shifted that many

 

The thing is the tour is only a few months before trees, do they have true extra demand to shift tickets on top of the tour. As an exclusive next year could work, this year I think would be pretty weak 

[Kieron]

2 minutes ago, readingnotleeds said:

Going to go for an optimistic curveball pitch of Hayley Williams 

Did think about this myself with her new side project etc. Don't even know where she falls without the rest of Paramore

[Mcbatesman]

38 minutes ago, readingnotleeds said:

Going to go for an optimistic curveball pitch of Hayley Williams 

Think that is being optimistic 🤣

[justanothername]

18 hours ago, liamglastocrowhurst1 said:

James has never really said that are co headliners since the last poster was released 

If he said that it would make people sort of expect the last headliner to be weaker so could see that as a reason to avoid mentioning it.

46 minutes ago, readingnotleeds said:

 

The thing is the tour is only a few months before trees, do they have true extra demand to shift tickets on top of the tour. As an exclusive next year could work, this year I think would be pretty weak 

Is this much different to letting a headline artist announce a full tour around Trees which they have done in the past? Just proves they can shift tickets really.

47 minutes ago, readingnotleeds said:

 

The thing is the tour is only a few months before trees, do they have true extra demand to shift tickets on top of the tour. As an exclusive next year could work, this year I think would be pretty weak 

Demand for her tour was crazy. She could sub R&L. She ain't headlining Trees 

[Chavmeisterdeluxe]

2 hours ago, readingnotleeds said:

 

The thing is the tour is only a few months before trees, do they have true extra demand to shift tickets on top of the tour. As an exclusive next year could work, this year I think would be pretty weak 

 

There's not a huge amount left to shift. I feel like it has to be someone touring now or they'd have just announced them.

[liamglastocrowhurst1]

2 hours ago, Chavmeisterdeluxe said:

 

There's not a huge amount left to shift. I feel like it has to be someone touring now or they'd have just announced them.

That or it is only just going over the line now.

[Kieron]

With Gav mentions that Biffys manager is coming on the pod at some point (I'm sure that's what he said, does this increase their chances? Or am I daydreaming?

[Mcbatesman]

1 hour ago, Kieron said:

With Gav mentions that Biffys manager is coming on the pod at some point (I'm sure that's what he said, does this increase their chances? Or am I daydreaming?

Of headlining this year?

 

Absolutely no chance they have 40k Finsbury park show to still sell a week before and Cardiff castle a few weeks after 

[Chavmeisterdeluxe]

3 hours ago, Kieron said:

With Gav mentions that Biffys manager is coming on the pod at some point (I'm sure that's what he said, does this increase their chances? Or am I daydreaming?

 

Of headlining, no, there was mention in passing on the pod of a secret set at Trees this year though, and James has said before he'd only do that if he had to, and has also said he had discussions with Simon Neil about how Biffy could play and one of those was as an announced surprise so read into that what you will 

[JoeT]

On 24/02/2026 at 09:45, Chavmeisterdeluxe said:

 

Yep

 

And next year is 10 year anniversary of Enternity and I suspect they'll do some shows for it, a Trees headline slot being one of them 

Eternity in full still seems like a bit of a reach to headline trees but it’s certainly the only way they could do it, and surely co-head at the best. They’re a different (worse) band now. IMO they need to release another good album again to be in the mix.

[readingnotleeds]

2 hours ago, JoeT said:

Eternity in full still seems like a bit of a reach to headline trees but it’s certainly the only way they could do it, and surely co-head at the best. They’re a different (worse) band now. IMO they need to release another good album again to be in the mix.

 

Yeh they weren't headline level on that album, so don't see that doing the album in full would magically bump them to headliner. 

 

Saying that could see one of them / Bob Vylan / Hot Milk doing it in the next year or two, as they're the trio he says he wants to make the push. Still think Frank Turner is a sure thing for next year.

[JoeT]

On 24/02/2026 at 10:28, itskinglizard said:

mulling over in my head who the final headliner could be;

 

Rise Against - small gap in their tour schedule, they'd have to fly to UK and then straight back to Austria after but it is possible? but they do already have some UK shows announced which would ruin Trees shot at any exclusivity

 

Trivium - in Europe at the right time to be announced but already playing Download quite high up

 

Billy Talent - Have already announced that big UK show with Alexisonfire, but that might not rule them out entirely just yet

 

Malevolence - UK based, getting pretty sizeable and have nothing announced past June yet

 

Feeder - hard to pin down these days, seem to play just about anywhere, lots of odd little festivals 

 

Enter Shikari - next to no chance given their big headline tour upcoming that they want to sell tickets to

 

The Hives - in Spain on the only day available for a headline slot

 

AFI - pretty much no chance now that they've been announced for All Points East big Deftones show

 

Amyl & The Sniffers - not due in the UK til August, also announced for All Points Easy, extremely doubtful

 

Jimmy Eat World - next to no chance given they already have their three big Bleed American anniversary shows upcoming in the UK

 

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - not got much in the calendar, would potentially be a bit of a wildcard so unsure on how likely this could be 

 

Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls - can we just not, please James please no

 

Turnstile - likely ruled out because of how big they're getting alongside their UK shows being set for August, rather than July

 

IDLES - in Slovakia a couple days before the 11th July, could potentially fly back and play a show? a few other UK festival dates in their calendar however

 

Underoath - nothing in the calendar between May and August according to their website, would fit in REALLY well alongside Glassjaw to be fair but would they come all the way over from the US just to play Trees? (I can dream)

 

Biffy Clyro - too big too expensive let's be honest this just isn't happening 

 

what could I have missed? 

With the announcement imminent I’ve tried to compile a shortlist too. The only one of these I could see is Billy Talent as Rise Against are busy. Reason being as although they’ve got the AOF date, they were “announced” for the Offspring/Dropkick show but don’t appear to have actually been “announced”. Still think it’s a stretch though.

 

I think Underoath would be underwhelming size wise, but it does feel a year when they may have resorted to desperation.

 

And I don’t think Malev are in the conversation at all tbh, it’s not a metal/heavy festival (I know BFMV headlined once) and I don’t think they’ve get someone like that to headline.

 

I think @justanothername Hot Mulligan and @liamglastocrowhurst1 Viagra Boys are both great shouts.

 

Hot Mulligan are getting bigger all the time and it’s the right time to get them. They’re on a massive up. Viagra Boys certainly big enough and timing would work as they have a big London show on Friday.

 

Others (would be one off shows) could be yellowcard, the used, Fightstar, Beartooth, Neck Deep, NFG, Simple Plan (some of these are very Slam Dunk though).

 

[itskinglizard]

14 hours ago, JoeT said:

And I don’t think Malev are in the conversation at all tbh, it’s not a metal/heavy festival (I know BFMV headlined once) and I don’t think they’ve get someone like that to headline.

James has discussed on the pod before having While She Sleeps and Bleed From Within hopefully headline one day in the future when they are big enough so I think he'd be more than happy to book a heavier band if he thought it fit with Trees demographic tbh

[justanothername]

16 hours ago, JoeT said:

And I don’t think Malev are in the conversation at all tbh, it’s not a metal/heavy festival (I know BFMV headlined once) and I don’t think they’ve get someone like that to headline.

 

I used to think this but like you said BMFV headlined before and they tried to get Architects one year so I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility. I think they were probably considered at one point but don't think they managed to shift enough tickets to get beyond that stage. Also not sure why you ruled out Malev for being a metal band then suggested Beartooth.

[JoeT]

1 hour ago, justanothername said:

I used to think this but like you said BMFV headlined before and they tried to get Architects one year so I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility. I think they were probably considered at one point but don't think they managed to shift enough tickets to get beyond that stage. Also not sure why you ruled out Malev for being a metal band then suggested Beartooth.

Thinking about it, Malev would probably just about work I guess. They’re playing that Slam Dunk heavy stage and any band playing that could play Trees. Not sure they would want to share with Slam Dunk though. According to @Andre91 it’s all done and dusted anyway so there’s no point continuing to speculate!

 

Also from listening to the latest song from beartooth, I’m not sure they are a metalcore band anymore!

[AndyC___]

Do we think we're definitely getting the final announcement this week? I know James mentioned it on the pod a few weeks back but the Jan one got pushed and we've not had much word since. Would love another podcast lineup drop at 6am!

[Rusty Spoon]

I don't think the festival would be adverse to booking a heavier/metal band. It's just the lack of availability or right sized bands to headline that can fill big enough venues on their own tours and have enough appeal for people who wince at harsher vocals.

[Chavmeisterdeluxe]

Booking Bullet to headline is completely different to Malev. Everyone going to Trees knows Tears Don't Fall.

[Chavmeisterdeluxe]

4 hours ago, AndyC___ said:

Do we think we're definitely getting the final announcement this week? I know James mentioned it on the pod a few weeks back but the Jan one got pushed and we've not had much word since. Would love another podcast lineup drop at 6am!

 

Last announcement they didnt confirm til the day before so could be the same again. I know they've got a guest on the pod and they never tend to do Trees drops on there for some reason

[Mcbatesman]

2 hours ago, Chavmeisterdeluxe said:

Booking Bullet to headline is completely different to Malev. Everyone going to Trees knows Tears Don't Fall.

Bit of  00s nostalgia as well

[liamglastocrowhurst1]

Lads im starting to think we are not getting anything this week

[Chavmeisterdeluxe]

It'd make sense to wait if they weren't gonna be able to announce the headliner.

[liamglastocrowhurst1]

Well i was wrong we are getting an announcement tomorrow