Truck Festival Hill Farm Steventon Oxfordshire
18th-19th July 2014
It's a 'Hot Sunny' Day as I make my way into 'Oxford' for their annual 2 day festival 'Truck Festival' it has been running for 18 years and when it was originally started it had band's on trucks playing to locals an idea created by local resident and female Musician Katie B (not to be confused with Katy B London Dub Singer).
The Festival has come a long way since then with headliners 'The Horrors' last year and this year 'The Cribs' and 'White Lies' (yeah I will get to them later folks),I arrive at my B&b its gorgeous lush big gardens and picturesque village,perfect setting for a festival gathering with a Summer Vibe, the site is only a 15 minute walk away, I get ready and set off for Day 1 at around 3pm today, I can relax a bit and check out some new talent and take in the festival atmosphere on my there there a plenty of lovely sight little streams ,woodland it feels like I'm holiday.
I get my wristband at the gate and notice I'm wearing wellies but not many people are as the grass is short and there is no mud in sight, so that's fashion Fxxk up no1 then ,it's 32c out here the hottest I've known it, so I'm off to watch the first band on my laminate of acts to watch in 'The Barn' on at 16.45pm, there was no sign post so I missed five minutes of 'Canterbury' a band attracting critics with their edgy sound from Farnham ,Surrey they are a bit like a young 'Arctic Monkeys' and are picking up quite a following judging by the crowd generating in 'The Barn' this afternoon some are more familiar with their back catalogue than me I only know one song when they played it from seeing them on MTV Rocks, it's lovely and cool here and the air con is doing a great job off cooling us all down, band included who mentioned that they were thinking of wearing shorts but didn't want to look silly on stage.
There are many different stages to watch different types of band's for the local talent unsigned acts there's the 'Veterans & Virgins Stage', for an independent feel 'Market Stage', There's 'The Saloon Bar' where you can chillax on bails of hay have a drink and something to eat watching the world go by if the music is not for you, there's lots for kids to do , The 'Truck Shop' is selling CDs and Tees of all the bands playing today and tomorrow, there is environmental stalls for petition hungry people, a large but not too large Helter Skelter and Ferris Wheel (I am not too good with heights but somehow I got myself to try it out after going round once from the top I was ok as the carriages were still and not rocking about).
I make my way over to 'Truck Stage' in time to watch Wale's 'Catfish & The Bottlemen' whose single 'Kathleen' is getting a lot of recognition and airplay,they manage to pull a crowd in and the sun is beaming down nicely, it's a relaxed festival no one's pushing so you can easy go from stage to stage as its close by, next band on the 'Truck Stage' are Californian Female Duo 'Deap Vally' drawing their inspiration from 'White Stripes','Hole', singer is dressed for the summer weather in short skirt and crop top with funky sunglasses, she quips "We feel right at home here it's just like California in the sun" they rip through a 30 minute set,ed haired drummer is already showing her legendary rock star potential playing those drums,always great to see a Female drummer not many like to be pushed to the back in the rhythm section but they played a great energetic set.
I managed to miss 'Little Comets' in the 'Market Stage I was walking by at the time and I thought they sounded great there was huge crowd in the tent and they were just finishing so gutted I missed their set, I stayed there for 'Dan Croll' there was a big crowd for him I watched the whole set ,it was 'Dan's Birthday so we sang 'Happy Birthday' to him mid set he was moved, Dan sounds like the cross between 'Vampire Weekend' and 'Jeff Buckley' he's got a great voice and I was really surprised to find I knew at least 3 of his songs one from a Tv commercial funny how we remember the ads before the songs.
The mood got edgier for next act 'Los Campansinos' a band of six from 'Cardiff, Frontman dressed in White Football shirt and knee length shorts, he kind of reminded me of a slim 'James Corden',I've heard 'Zane Lowe' referring to them as a great new act to check out they are a bit brash like 'Sonic Youth' 'The Pixies' I went mid way between their set before 10pm to get back to my B&B and relax in readiness for Day 2.
DAY 2 - PART TWO
I had a good nights sleep and woke to the news that much of the country had been hit with bad thunder and lightening storms but we just had rain overnight , I had an amazing breakfast there was so much choice it was like a feast and the day was already looking nice as I set off for 'Truck' I went straight to 'Truck Stage' watching the road crew and techies set up the stage for the first band on at around 12.00pm they have foliage and greenery wrapped around the equipment it looks interesting.
M+A a dance act duo from 'Italy' were a great start to the day with rhythmic house beats whistles,shakers and maracas they get the party started and get a few more people head over to the 'Truck Stage' to see whats happening, next band 'As Elephants Are' have an E.P. out at the moment and radio stations have shown interest in the band they sound a bit like 'You Me At Six' with guitar based indie anthem so it's exciting for them to play on the main Festival stage today, lead singer wears a Boy London sweat top bet he wishes he didn't in this weather as the sun is back out its about 26c.
Then another band for more older folks and families a country folk band 'Danny The Champions Of The World', didn't know any of the songs at all the weren't my cup of tea but played to a appreciative audience, next up the new 'Blur' and 'Kula Shaker' a band from 'Birmingham' causing quite a scene of course it's 'Superfood' with their really catchy breezy pop indie vibe,then back to another new band doing well 'Swim Deep' both bands are getting heavy rotation on MTV Rocks,the guy on Bass looks like a young thin 'Matt Bellamy' from post 'Muse' era Rocket Baby Dolls' ,lead singer decides to go bare chested mid set as temperature outside rises and the clouds change (we just dodge a storm apparently I hadn't noticed any changes in weather so all went well).
The next band no stranger to Festivals in the 90's 'Dodgy' with their radio friend hits 'Good Enough' and the apt 'Staying Out For The Summer' they have just released their latest album in more than a decade, I'm not keen on the new sound but the classics deserved a sing along and the crowd obliged, this is followed by 'Twilight Sad' a atmospheric post punk band from 'Scotland' who only days previously had some of their eqpt stolen from their lock up, the posted a plea on Twitter to catch the "Bastards" who did it, so to the rescue 'Kids In Glass Houses' who due to split ,played their last set yesterday (which I'm now aware of and annoyed I missed it) they offered the use of their instruments to enable the band to play here today.
Singer is really captivating to watch as he sings with passion and meaning but at the same time erratic jerky dancing and screaming in between the set though not down the mic leaves you more interested in what they have to offer and put me in mind of 'Ian Curtis' moody stage presence, one to watch folks , if all the post punk angst didn't float your boat their was more in form of 'Gang Of 4' a great Punk band with edgey,brash stage presence I'm quite sure that 'Bloc Party' must have been heavily influenced by them,the guy on guitar with dreds particularly interesting to watch knocking over mic stands ,although the older guitar player dropping his guitar in a weird manner wasn't that impressive ,but the singer had charisma and stage presence to carry the whole set to the end.
Approaching Main Acts closing tonight's 'Truck Stage' the rains starts at around 9pm its not quite heavy but enough for people to put kagouls on and hoods, 'Stornoway' take to the stage sort of like 'Mumford & Sons' but with more folk acoustics and different chilled out vibe the crowd is massive for them and I'd never heard anything they done but they were popular here some lads at he front said they were better than 'Radiohead' so I thought 'sheesh they must be good',they provoked a singalong as they were just finishing rain stopped Yes!!!
'Truck' organisers get us to all sing a rendition of 'Queens 'Bohemian Rhapsody' it was awesome the atmosphere electric it was just going dark and finally they emerge to close the Festival, 'London's 'White Lies' whom I regard of as friends these days, I met some fantastic New fans here both Girls and Boys enthusiastic of the band always nice to hear as well as the reunions with familiar faces.
The band looked really happy with the turnout,they took to the stage and began with 'There Goes Our Love Again' I was thrilled to hear the audience all knew the words and responded well to it as the starting song ,already the crowd were lively and hungry for more, it was ,clearly an awesome and proud moment, 'Harry' looked his best in white t-shirt and trousers and freshly shaven from the beard he was growing over the last year he looked clean cut and was beaming at the crowd during 'Farewell To The Fairground' he's possibly quite pleased to playing/headlining the town where he was born in 'Oxfordshire', as they play favs like ' To Lose My Life', 'Unfinished Business' , and the reaction the 'Big TV' stuff will stay with me as it's usually a slow start at shows but this crowd knew all the songs well impressed was I.
They played my fav songs from that album 'Getting Even' and 'Be Your Man', 'Charles' on Bass watches the crowds response with excitement and appreciation impressed by the many people on shoulders and happy smiling face's this is what a musician live's for to get that reaction and it was here tonight !!!
They had the crowd in the palm of their hands,I honestly think it's the best Festival show I've seen them play.
I managed to catch up with 'Jack Lawrence Brown' with some friends after the show and everyone had left the site and I asked him "Will there be any more shows in the U.K.?" as they just came back from a European and U.S. Festival Tour before heading back out for a few more, he also said of tonight's show "Its one of the best up there with the Glastonbury performance a great family vibe , we really enjoyed it" he said "This year we'll be writing songs so I don't think there will be time to do any shows we've certainly none planned yet after, but possibly next year" I said to him that "People want to see you Tour because there are places not been visited" and now they're so popular again we need a Tour well I can try we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed.
The band however have worked on a soundtrack score for 'Peterman' which is like a Guy Ritchie film gritty London drama, Charles wrote the music for it so there's something whet your appetite fans,another exciting year for the band !!
Well that's all from 'Truck' my memories will live on even down to that lovable 'Truck Monster' throwing my hat off and ruffling my newly styled hair, and fairground at night Goodbye Truck be back soon hopefully best festival experience I've had.
Gallery of Photos to follow shortly via a link on both usual sites and social media links.
See you soon Festival Goers !!!
LMi x
