2000 Trees 2026

[Chavmeisterdeluxe]

I don't think The Hives are really ever on Trees radar, James has said he doesn't really wanna book anyone that plays all the Superstruct Festivals 

[JoeT]

19 hours ago, BlackFoxx said:

Good work on this, although Creeper I think are still too small according to James' comments on the podcast. Maybe Wednesday headline or a co-headline structure.

 

Few missing from the list too, could see Wunderhorse and Viagra Boys for newer acts that could maybe headline. More legacy post-hardcore acts like Thursday, Thrice, Silverstein maybe (not 100% sure of relative sizes in the UK). Also think the Gallows reunion if it happens with Frank could headline. 

 

Agreed that Creeper would be a co-headline. Thursday and Silverstein are not big enough to headline.

Thrice co-headlined relatively recently, so wouldn't expect them back this soon.

 

Wunderhorse are clearly getting to the size you need to be but are a bit too indie and boring for Trees IMO.

 

Viagra Boys would be brilliant and are the right size now - they seem to fit every vibe and definitely have songs on the heavier side.

 

Gallows with Frank would obviously be a big deal if it ever happened again.

 

On Jawbreaker - they're big enough to do a Brixton show which is often the gauge for bands being big enough for Trees but just not sure it would relate to the Trees crowd in 2026.

[BlackFoxx]

Thinking Soft Play as well since they've been added as the Biffy tour support. Maybe a co-headliner? Not sure they're we big we they were before when they headliner pre name change

[therefused]

2 hours ago, BlackFoxx said:

Thinking Soft Play as well since they've been added as the Biffy tour support. Maybe a co-headliner? Not sure they're we big we they were before when they headliner pre name change

They headlined a couple of years ago, don’t think they’ll be back so soon 

[Rusty Spoon]

Think we could see a slightly bigger band budget next year given the early bird sales so some slightly bigger headliners might be in scope that usually wouldn't be.

 

For anyone that doesn't listen to the podcast apparently a 'mad' band has offered themselves to headline the Friday. Would assume that translates so someone James would think are traditionally too big for the slot.

[therefused]

11 minutes ago, Rusty Spoon said:

Think we could see a slightly bigger band budget next year given the early bird sales so some slightly bigger headliners might be in scope that usually wouldn't be.

 

For anyone that doesn't listen to the podcast apparently a 'mad' band has offered themselves to headline the Friday. Would assume that translates so someone James would think are traditionally too big for the slot.

The Wednesday i thought he said? 

[Rusty Spoon]

3 hours ago, therefused said:

The Wednesday i thought he said? 

It was the Wednesday. No idea why I typed Friday.

[Mcbatesman]

So deftones for Wednesday then

[kjvffm]

 

On 24/07/2025 at 17:34, Rusty Spoon said:

Think we could see a slightly bigger band budget next year given the early bird sales so some slightly bigger headliners might be in scope that usually wouldn't be.

 

For anyone that doesn't listen to the podcast apparently a 'mad' band has offered themselves to headline the Friday. Would assume that translates so someone James would think are traditionally too big for the slot.

From this I take it as potentially Wednesday getting a band that could be in conversation to headline/co head a normal day. Or do we not think it’s that crazy an offer?

[northernangel]

On 24/07/2025 at 17:34, Rusty Spoon said:

Think we could see a slightly bigger band budget next year given the early bird sales so some slightly bigger headliners might be in scope that usually wouldn't be.

 

For anyone that doesn't listen to the podcast apparently a 'mad' band has offered themselves to headline the Friday. Would assume that translates so someone James would think are traditionally too big for the slot.

They also said they had a massive biggest ever lineup this year and it's a poor damp one

[Rusty Spoon]

13 hours ago, kjvffm said:

 

From this I take it as potentially Wednesday getting a band that could be in conversation to headline/co head a normal day. Or do we not think it’s that crazy an offer?

 

I don't think it would be that big. Creeper are the only potential band that I'd say that it could be who fit into that category (and that's only due to James' insistence that they'll be a headliner rather than thinking they're big enough now personally). Other bands I've thought it could potentially be: Deaf Havana or Twin Atlantic, both ex-headliners; Dinosaur Pile-Up, a band James said he wants to be a future headliner; Vukovi, probably not that mad a shout but a decent size and clearly love the festival. 

 

20 minutes ago, northernangel said:

They also said they had a massive biggest ever lineup this year and it's a poor damp one

 

He'd be a shite promoter if he wasn't bigging up his festival. FWIW, AoF are the most expensive headliner they've ever had (and put on the best Trees headline set I've seen), and there also wasn't a point this year where I felt like there was nothing worth watching.

[Chavmeisterdeluxe]

3 hours ago, northernangel said:

They also said they had a massive biggest ever lineup this year and it's a poor damp one

And still clueless people can't fathom that he was right because he had 5 headliners instead of 3 😱

[northernangel]

46 minutes ago, Chavmeisterdeluxe said:

And still clueless people can't fathom that he was right because he had 5 headliners instead of 3 😱

Couldn't care if he had 8 headliners lol, doesn't make it the biggest lineup they've ever had lol! So we are now saying quantity of headliners over quality makes it better. Trees have infinity booked better headliners, they booked 5 to cover up that 4 of them are poor headliners on their own. You know, the same as most festivals who book co-headliners as its recognised they are thought if enough to do it on their own. Next we'll be saying Reading getting Hozier/Chappell or Disclosure/Foals and such like is better than getting Foo Fighters, Eminem, The Killers, Billie Eilish and the list goes on because it's two and not one lmao.

[kjvffm]

6 hours ago, Rusty Spoon said:

 

I don't think it would be that big. Creeper are the only potential band that I'd say that it could be who fit into that category (and that's only due to James' insistence that they'll be a headliner rather than thinking they're big enough now personally). Other bands I've thought it could potentially be: Deaf Havana or Twin Atlantic, both ex-headliners; Dinosaur Pile-Up, a band James said he wants to be a future headliner; Vukovi, probably not that mad a shout but a decent size and clearly love the festival. 

 

 

He'd be a shite promoter if he wasn't bigging up his festival. FWIW, AoF are the most expensive headliner they've ever had (and put on the best Trees headline set I've seen), and there also wasn't a point this year where I felt like there was nothing worth watching.

Given that Wednesday has had a trend of ‘returning heroes’ from the previous years line up I can see Vukovi or Twin Atlantic taking that spot.

[sacred shape]

10 hours ago, northernangel said:

They also said they had a massive biggest ever lineup this year and it's a poor damp one

That's like, your opinion, man. Personally was the best ever Trees line up across the card, and I love Kneecap, Coheed and AOF so my headliners were also amazing. Couldn't do much better than that without booking Biffy or Deftones

[bingobear]

20 minutes ago, sacred shape said:

That's like, your opinion, man. Personally was the best ever Trees line up across the card, and I love Kneecap, Coheed and AOF so my headliners were also amazing. Couldn't do much better than that without booking Biffy or Deftones

Same for me. Best line up. So much to fill every single day

[northernangel]

35 minutes ago, sacred shape said:

That's like, your opinion, man. Personally was the best ever Trees line up across the card, and I love Kneecap, Coheed and AOF so my headliners were also amazing. Couldn't do much better than that without booking Biffy or Deftones

I've seen them booking better undercards than this year comfortably in previous years.

[Mcbatesman]

On 26/07/2025 at 12:54, northernangel said:

Couldn't care if he had 8 headliners lol, doesn't make it the biggest lineup they've ever had lol! So we are now saying quantity of headliners over quality makes it better. Trees have infinity booked better headliners, they booked 5 to cover up that 4 of them are poor headliners on their own. You know, the same as most festivals who book co-headliners as its recognised they are thought if enough to do it on their own. Next we'll be saying Reading getting Hozier/Chappell or Disclosure/Foals and such like is better than getting Foo Fighters, Eminem, The Killers, Billie Eilish and the list goes on because it's two and not one lmao.

 

I think you are confusing the meaning of the words biggest and best.

 

Biggest ever line up will be quantity, best ever line up would be quality.

 

So saying biggest ever line up would be correct 

[northernangel]

9 minutes ago, Mcbatesman said:

 

I think you are confusing the meaning of the words biggest and best.

 

Biggest ever line up will be quantity, best ever line up would be quality.

 

So saying biggest ever line up would be correct 

 

Best ever would be yes but the biggest ever should kind of point to quality as well as opposed to biggest ever but still poor....it makes no sense.

 

A festival could book the biggest top line they've ever booked, can that not be the biggest as well or is it only one or the other now?

[Chavmeisterdeluxe]

12 hours ago, Mcbatesman said:

 

I think you are confusing the meaning of the words biggest and best.

 

Biggest ever line up will be quantity, best ever line up would be quality.

 

So saying biggest ever line up would be correct 

Don't bother trying to point out the obvious, he won't have it and doesn't understand the job of promotor.

[Mcbatesman]

12 hours ago, northernangel said:

 

Best ever would be yes but the biggest ever should kind of point to quality as well as opposed to biggest ever but still poor....it makes no sense.

 

A festival could book the biggest top line they've ever booked, can that not be the biggest as well or is it only one or the other now?

 

I mean it's hard to objectively say what is the best ever line up, ones man's best ever line up could be someone's worst ever line up.

 

 

They could get deftones and biffy headlining and someone out there will still say it's a shite lineup 

[BlackFoxx]

7 minutes ago, Mcbatesman said:

 

I mean it's hard to objectively say what is the best ever line up, ones man's best ever line up could be someone's worst ever line up.

 

 

They could get deftones and biffy headlining and someone out there will still say it's a shite lineup 

Exactly this. Seems like a never ending argument.

 

I do think it's less controversial to say that booking someone like Alexisonfire is better for the festival than the likes of Deaf Havana or Twin Atlantic as a headliner.

 

Alexisonfire are a good example of what James was talking about on the latest podcast. Bigger, international bands that tour less frequently, have a bit of a cult status about them, and subsequently help shift tickets and give the festival a unique pull. 

 

As great as Trees is at promoting the UK rock scene, it is true that having a UK headliner can sometimes feel like less of a unique pull. For example, I've seen Enter Shikari half a dozen times, they'd be objectively a big band for Trees to get again next year, no doubt they'd smash the set too. But they've not exactly been hard to see live over the last couple of years. 

[Mcbatesman]

Just seen Amyl and the sniffers have moved the ally pally date to one I can't make so no wanting them to headline even more!

[JoeT]

Here's the remaining realistic summarized main stage headliner list for 2026 (bands that have played recently or wild guess reforms not included):

AFI

All American Rejects

Amyl and the Sniffers

Billy Talent

Creeper (co-headline)

Dropkick Murphys

Enter Shikari

Funeral For a Friend (co-headline)

Neck Deep

Rise Against (confirmed in Europe next summer, possible may be doing this as well as European festivals and supporting MCR stadium shows)

The Hives (Chavmeisterdeluxe suggests not though)

Viagra Boys

While She Sleeps

 

Any other glaring omissions?

[BlackFoxx]

14 minutes ago, JoeT said:

Here's the remaining realistic summarized main stage headliner list for 2026 (bands that have played recently or wild guess reforms not included):

AFI

All American Rejects

Amyl and the Sniffers

Billy Talent

Creeper (co-headline)

Dropkick Murphys

Enter Shikari

Funeral For a Friend (co-headline)

Neck Deep

Rise Against (confirmed in Europe next summer, possible may be doing this as well as European festivals and supporting MCR stadium shows)

The Hives (Chavmeisterdeluxe suggests not though)

Viagra Boys

While She Sleeps

 

Any other glaring omissions?

Turnstile? 

Bit more curveball but do we think Bright Eyes or Death Cab for Cutie could do Trees? 

 

Where'd the Rise Against as MCR support news come from? 

 

Edited July 29, 2025 by BlackFoxx