Truck Festival, Steventon, Oxfordshire, 25th-28th July 2024
Blistering sunshine and blistering sounds as Hill Farm once again played host to the now long established Truck Festival at the weekend – a dairy farm aptly adapted to offer up the cream of the crop. With big names across its duration including headliners IDLES, Jamie T, Wet Leg and The Streets, Truck continues to entice in the best of acts old and new, with more recent breakthrough artists counting Dog Race, Carsick, English Teacher, Lime Garden, Ebbb, Luna Lake, VLURE and Bob Vylan into its entourage. The site is a great size, easy to get around and go on then, let’s give a special mention to the usual bane of everyone’s festival existence – yes, the toilets were plentiful and the toilet roll replenishing team could be seen regularly around the portaloo huddles, big tick!
Middle row: Coach Party, Bottom row: Luna Lake
I guess good weather makes it easier (we missed the pre-weekend downpours) but the atmosphere across the fields was equally warm and relaxed, and clearly a lot of thought and planning had gone into making sure there were areas for everyone to enjoy. Good to see some families attending instilling a love of live music into the next generation to safeguard all those grassroots venues out there, without whom most of these artists would be nowhere near playing festival stages. Also encouraging to see that dinosaurs are welcome…
Lots of band T-shirts on display, with Dog Race taking the prize for most self-deprecating merch (see above). You can tell how popular a band are getting when they play an early slot and still people flock to see them. Having only caught them in pretty small venues so far, it was good to see that nothing is lost in translation on a bigger platform. They definitely have the ability to go their own way, the vocal setting them apart from many other indie-royalty contenders – certainly a big draw at The Market Stage. Elsewhere, lots more new music to catch and enjoy with lots of daytime support for Luna Lake and Coach Party on the main Truck stage, and a similarly favoured reception over at The Nest for The Manatees, Eliza May and Mary in the Junkyard, amongst many others.
Top left: The Manatees, Top Right: Eliza May, Bottom row: Mary in the Junkyard
With some happy memories of being squashed in The Barn as it was years ago, seeing the likes of Eagulls (miss that band), Bloody Knees and Bo Ningen, its new lease of life as the Rockin’ Chair saw a no less salubrious songster entertain the masses. Up against strong competition at other stages, Shaun Williamson brought his feel-good karaoke party ‘Barrioke’ to town, with one of the strongest setlists you could hope for at a festival and a fetching gold lamé jacket to boot. Whatever you were expecting it lived up to the hype, with audience participation not only welcomed but encouraged, as he worked his way through Don’t Stop Me Now, The Only Way Is Up and The One And Only to name but a few, a masterful emcee for sure.
No surprises though that another stand out set from VLURE turned the volume up to the max and beyond. Love to see some of the VLURE regulars at the barrier and it’s clear to see why their fanbase is growing and growing. Seemingly constantly working to bring new tracks to their much loved catalogue of thumping dense rave-topped punk poetry, they just can’t help but outshine the rest. After taking an impressive support slot at their last Glasgow show, rapper and SAMA protege Psweatpants joined as the band’s special guest, providing collaboration on stage and mosh pit management – a welcome addition to an already slick performance. A masterclass in how to beat the heat and win over a festival crowd.
VLURE with a stand out set at The Nest
Another outfit absolutely taking things by storm, Bob Vylan had the crowd eating out of their hands from the get go. Not missing the chance to highlight their clash with The Kooks, a few lines of Naive were tongue in cheekily shared before their usual pre-set meditation ritual. Great to see all ages in attendance, with a nod to two of the younger members of the audience for their glittery Dream Big signs. Protagonists of protest songs they may be, but the positivity that comes along with Bob Vylan is a marker of how good they are, and they brought the numbers along inside and outside the stage area – intense in tents and out if you like. Go and see them if you can, it’s a beautiful experience.
Bob Vylan playing to a huge crowd inside and outside The Nest
So how do you end an event of this size and stature? After days of festivities and ferris wheels, The Streets were possibly the perfect act to see things out. After their much acclaimed Glasto set, expectations were high and easily matched. Mike Skinner seems at the same time very comfortable in his headliner role and equally puzzled by most everything in the world, many chats with the crowd melding into lyrics and talk of trucks of the articulated variety. Fusing hits old and new in rapid-fire quick succession, it was a reminder of the quality of songs he’s put out into the universe, and an inevitable singalong to the perfectly formed Dry Your Eyes couldn’t really be beaten as a winding down to proceedings.
The Streets closing the main stage in style
Another year done and dusted, but not before the requisite closing firework display covered the sky, signalling the end of an excellent event and time for everyone to grab hold of some after-sun and a reel of memories. Thanks to all involved for having us along.
Truck team: Siobhan & Callum
Published 1st August 2024
Breaking Glass Magazine 