WATCHING TREES 2026
A Weekend Sonic Ramble in the North Wiltshire Countryside
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Friday 29 May - Sunday 31 May 2026
Buy TIckets
Watching Trees is the combined dreamworld of Optimo (Espacio), Ransom Note, and an extended family. A unique environment in the outdoors to experience the Wild Planet Sounds we love and want to share with you. Expect afternoon sonic excursions, sounds with no boundaries where experimentation is encouraged, evolving into forest dance parties by night and on into peaceful dawn rituals, ashram sets... until sleep... or as you please.
North Wiltshire. Full details will be mailed to ticket holders.
Friday 4 June, 2pm - Monday 7 June, 10am.
The programme runs from Friday until Sunday afternoon, with breaks during the weekend. The bar remains open on Sunday evening for those not leaving that day.
The same amazing sound crew from Sound Services will return to take care of your ears all weekend. State-of-the-art quad system buried deep in the woods, powered by Funktion-1 stacks and tuned by specialist engineers. Plus a 6-point Ambisonic surround sound setup in the Bush of Ghosts ambient zone.
The site has some mobility issues but is generally flat in the main areas. Get in touch at info@watchingtrees.com if you have specific requirements and we'll do our best to accommodate and advise on suitability of access. This is an area we're constantly working to improve - please do ask if you're unsure.
We're passionate about protecting our planet and creating a cleaner, fairer, more sustainable future - and we can't do it without you. Ways to help: use public transport or car shares (we run coaches direct to site); respect and look after the farmland; use the litter and recycling bins provided; use the compostable toilets; bring a reusable water bottle and avoid single-use plastics; take all your tents and camping equipment home with you.
1000% HZ (Live) / 12th Isle / Aba Shanti-I / African Headcharge / Al Wootton (Live) / Alexis Taylor (Live) / Ally Tropical / Ana K Miller / Andy Votel / Asa Tone / Bikini Body (Live) / Brian d'Souza (Auntie Flo) / Budino / C.A.R. (Live) / Channel One / Chez de Milo / Coco Maria / Debonair / Devon Rexi (Live) / DJ Mingo-go / DJ Peanut / DJ Sundae / Edward Ka-Spel (Live) / Elena Colombi / Ellie Stokes / Family Mosaic / Fantastic Twins (Live) / Fantastic Twins present Chymical Wedding (Live) / Flug 8 (Live) / Franz Kirmann (Live) / Gabo (Live) / Glok (Live) / GONG (Live) / Graintable (Live) / Hamie Jouse / Heavenly Jukebox / House Hunting / Isa Gordon (Live) / Ivan Smagghe / James Holden (Live) / Jaye Ward / JD Twitch / JG Wilkes / Jimi Tenor (Live) / Joe Muggs / Josey Rebelle / Josh Caffe / Joy Orbison / Junglehussi / Kayla Painter (Live) / Kaukolampi (Live) / Kavus Torabi / Kiara Scuro / Kieran & Tom A / KiF / Komodo Kolektif (Live) / K-X-P (Live) / Lapalace / Li Yilei (Live) / Loris S. Sarid (Live) / Lupini / Manfredas / Manuol Bone / Maria Amor b2b Shcuro / Matt Cowell / Mermaid Chunky (Live) / Midland / Minotaur Shock (Live) / MRS: Matt Cowell, Rosie Ama & Sarahtonin / Nabihah Iqbal / Naum Gabo (Live) / No Home (Live) / Nosedrip / Not An Animal / O Samuli A (Live) / O Yuki Conjugate (Live) / Oceanic / Optimo (Espacio) / Parris / Phuong-Dan / Pleasure Pool (Live) / Princess P / Prosumer / Raf Rundell / Rosie Ama / Sally Rodgers (A Man Called Adam) / Sarahtonin / Scratchclart / Semi Specific Ensemble / Shubostar / Shy One / Solid Gold Rusty / Spritz Editions / Stella Z / Susannah Stark (Live) / TC LK (Live) / Terpsikores / The Golden Filter (Live) / Tia Cousins / Tim and John's Campfire Seance / Tom Sharkett (Live) / Venus Volcanism (Live) / W.H. Lung (Live) / Xylitol (Live) / Yu Su / Zoviet France (Live)
Adam Dagget / Alice Dolan / Angie Towse / Astro D'Araujo / Aya Haidar / Beth Flynn / Bethan Cooper / Donna Borokinni / Gwyn Dagget / Hertz & Hearts / Holly Mullen / Hywel Williams / Jennie Wickings (Wild Life Drawing) / Jim Angell / Joelle & Manish Makwana for Querencia / Laura Holdstock / Ren Faulkner / Russell Porter / Tanya Nonthando Wilson
David Keenan / Justin Robertson / Lee Brackstone / Matt Aniss / Michael Smith / Mike Power / Oriki / Paraiso / Yu Su / Zofia Page
North Wiltshire. Full details will be mailed to ticket holders. The closest train stations are Chippenham and Bath Spa, both about a £20 taxi from the site.
All tickets include camping. Bring your own tent for free and pitch up, or hire a bell tent from our partners Tinkerbell. You'll need to be offsite promptly by Monday 10am - please be conscious that you must be fit to drive to leave the site.
Purchase a campervan pass (£40) to park in the live-in vehicle area. We can't hook up power or facilitate chemical waste disposal on site. A standard car park pass is £15.
2-person or 4-person bell tents, with or without bedding. More info coming soon.
For something more comfortable, local accommodation options are available around Bath and Chippenham. If you're local or staying off-site, bring proof of your booking or residence on arrival, and we'll arrange re-entry access.
Return coach travel takes you straight to site on Friday and back on Sunday evening, so no need to drive.
Outgoing:
Paddington: Friday 4 June (Time TBC)
Return:
Site: Sunday 7 June 6pm
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Outgoing
Bristol Temple Meads: Friday 4 June (Time TBC)
Return
Site: Sunday 7 June 6pm
Planet Caravan: back this year in a new form. Expect the usual yearly custom merch - t-shirts, totes, caps and more - alongside the book table stacked with zines, small press and other almanacs, a record shop to dig through between sets, and Aiden's negronis.
Discussions: a programme running alongside the music itself, spanning craft, writing and music history. Full line-up announced closer to the time.
Late night soundtracked films: films through the night, scored live. Contemplation areas - quieter corners of the site set aside for slowing down.
Sauna: taking a new turn this year, watch this space.
Massage: restorative treatments on site through the weekend - more soon. Life drawing, woodworking and other - full programme to be announced.
Amazing South Indian food from Goodness Gracious Feast, bread and bakes from Hedonist Bakery, plus some new arrivals this year. Options for all dietary requirements.
Our bar collective is run by us in tandem with Pretty Decent Beer Co, serving BDS-compliant drinks throughout - draft beers, cider, spirits, wine and cocktails, plus non-alcoholic alternatives, all reasonably priced. As we're a small event run by people who care, we kindly ask that attendees limit personal alcohol brought on site to a reasonable amount for consumption in the camping areas only (e.g. 12 cans of beer/cider or 1 bottle of wine). No spirits or glass containers permitted, and no personal alcohol in the main areas. The can shack is open at limited times in the campsite so you can grab a cold beer while you set up.
Watching Trees is an entirely cashless festival - all bars and food traders accept card and contactless.
Compostable toilets across the site - please don't pee anywhere else.
Showers are included in your ticket price. There's a suggested donation on each cubicle to local homeless charity Doorway.
Plans can change - there'll be an official ticket resale opening in the run-up to the event. Sellers list via the support hub with their order details; buyers check the ticket page regularly for new listings.
Watching Trees is an 18+ event. No entry to under-18s, and no refunds for those refused entry at the gates.
Re-entry isn't permitted, except for those local or staying off-site with proof of booking or residence.
We recognise the need for proactive collective care and mutual respect for, and among, attendees. We do not tolerate racism, sexism, transphobia, homophobia, ageism, body negativity, ableism or other forms of discrimination - nor violence, non-consensual touching, harassment or leering. This applies across the festival grounds, the camping area and anywhere in between.Watching Trees is an 18+ event. No entry to under-18s, and no refunds for those refused entry at the gates.
For general enquiries email us at info@watchingtrees.com
For all press and media enquiries, email angie@therestisnoise.co.uk