It is the UK’s largest festival that celebrates African and Caribbean music and culture. In the spirit of celebrating Oye’s philosophy, which is considered to be: ‘free and open to all’, the event will be free of charge. Their funding partners are officially listed and they include the Arts Council England and Liverpool City Council.

The festival originally began in 1992 in the form of small performances in the heart of Liverpool’s city centre, and over the decades it has risen in popularity. To account for the growing audience, the festival moved to Sefton Park in 2002.

Headlining Acts

It was announced 3 days ago (27th February) that the two headlining acts will be Les Amazones d’Afrique and Julian Marley. Les Amazones d’Afrique are an all female, contemporary world-music group who embrace international voices to blur cultural boundaries, and will close the show on the 22nd. Julian Marley, the ninth son of the beloved and late Bob Marley (1945-1981) who helped introduce Reggae music to the world, will perform the following day. He will be glistening in his post-Grammy glow for Best Reggae Album which was awarded to him on February 5th, 2024. More of the main stage artists are yet to revealed, but will be very soon. 

According to BBC, the art director of the festival, Paul Duhaney, said: 

“Les Amazones d’Afrique are the definition of a supergroup – so much talent coming together to create something really special … And with Julian Marley you’ve got a reggae superstar who has truly emerged from his father’s shadow … You don’t win Grammys without being an incredible talent in your own right and it’ll be a Sunday night for the history books when he closes the festival this year”.

Transcending Cultural Boundaries

This festival is more than a tribute to African culture. It will challenge misrepresentations of African culture, which in the narrow Eurocentric view is attached to images of war, poverty, famine and diseases. (It can also be understood as a way to challenge Bob Geldof’s representation of famine in Band Aid’s 1984 Christmas classic ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’) Therefore, the festival aims to challenge these images and assumptions of reality through their beautiful and eclectic abundance of foods, intricate cultures, artists and music. There will be a total of 90 stalls which will sell the most popular African food and drinks, as well as fashion and arts and crafts.

According to The Sunday Times: “This isn’t just the largest festival of African and Caribbean music in Britain, it’s the best.” 

Overall, Liverpool is the place to be this summer season. This festival is more than a performance of international voices, but sets an intention to transcend assumptions and celebrate multi-culturalism without geographical boundaries.

Chief booker James Scarlett said of next summer’s festival, “Once again we’re bringing a line-up of 2000trees legends, including the likes of Boston Manor and The XCERTS, to open the festival on the Wednesday night for those of you lucky enough to get your hands on a four-day ticket. We’re also stoked to be welcoming so many bands like The Gaslight Anthem, Manchester Orchestra, Hot Mulligan and Better Lovers to the festival for the very first time. 2000trees 2024 is already shaping up to be something truly special – don’t sleep on it!” 

The festival is certainly aiming to capitalise on and further promote acts that have been grabbing the attention of fans and critics in recent months with groups such as Brighton’s Lambrini Girls, Southampton’s thrash/hardcore crossover band Grove Street and Glasgow’s Dead Pony all getting the opportunity to wow audiences with their exciting, pulse-raising live sets that have earned them much press coverage over the past year.

A stand out feature for 2024 will undoubtedly be Better Lovers-a supergroup made up of members of Dillinger Escape Plan and Everytime I Die. UK audiences will be eager to catch what will assuredly be a wildly chaotic and exhilarating performance from a band that promises true greatness in the years to come.

Founded in 2007, 2000trees festival was began by six friends who were tired of the mainstream festivals dominating the British Summer Time scene and yearning for a more underground celebration that featured bands that were less well known, up and coming or rooted in the alternative scene. The festival remains small, capping out at 15,000 attendees-giving it a close-knit atmosphere.

Tickets to the 2024 edition of the festival are on sale now and can be purchased here.