Optimo release line-up for new festival, Watching Trees

Taking place in England’s Forest of Dean and Wye Valley across three days in September, Watching Trees will celebrate 25 years of Optimo (Espacio).

The UK duo will perform both together and solo, with additional DJ slots for Joy Orbison, Ivan Smagghe, Josh Caffe, Kiara Scuro, DEBONAIR, and more.

“Our lineup is a joyful patchwork of artists close to us and some we’ve admired from afar,” they said. “We’ve ignored borders in music and followed our hearts. With limited funds this year—because we’re just 500 people—we’ve managed a lineup that feels immense to us. We’re eternally grateful to the artists who agreed to be part of this. We hope many of them will return year on year.”

A compilation celebrating Optimo’s 25-year anniversary will also arrive later this year, as well as more additions to the Watching Trees lineup.

“We seek to replicate the original energy and fun of the early Optimo parties,” the feeling of the first time we danced outdoors in woodlands and open fields and enjoyed the freedom of getting to know the person next to us.”

For more on the festival, head to the website.