Truck Festival Oxfordshire Friday & Saturday 20th-22nd July 2018

Truck Festival- Oxfordshire

 20th-22nd July 2018

Friday & Saturday's Line Up

 

Day One- Friday

 

I arrive in a scorching Hot  'Oxford' flustered, geographically I ballsed up my travel plans, I decided to arrive via 'Banbury' instead of 'Didcot' -Never Do This!!

 

I'm running an hour behind schedule to make the afternoon main stage entertainment I plan to see, as I frantically check in to my B&B after being stuck outside waiting for the owner to tell me, how to enter the building (it's a private property, she's out shopping).

 

I jump in a cab after throwing some things together in a bag  Suntan Lotion Umbrella and Wellies "You think I'm being over the top... don't you ha !!".

 

I've missed 'Pins' I Intended to see them too, the main stage is not too overcrowded so I get to the front and secure a spot it's around 3.45pm  we're all gearing up for 'Little Comets' who I seen here 4 years previously in the tent on the 'Market Stage', they had a buzz about them and have honed their art onstage today,with quite a few excitable fans joining the fun and singing along.

 

Next act 'Circa Waves' another band that played here 4 years ago in that tent,they've since toured the country and have acquired a big fan base. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They have a sound a bit like 'Two Door Cinema Club' and 'Vampire Weekend' but with a fresh UK edge, some over zealious fans are causing a Ruckous at front stage shoving people for no reason, the calm family atmosphere replaced with something else temporarily and atmosphere faltering under some unsupervised drunken teenagers going a bit crazy, but not too much to bother me ...yet. 

 

The weather has started to change , little did I know the excess of it to come, as 'De La Soul' the Old Skool Hip Hop act from late 80's and favs of mine from my academic days (cough).

 

I've actually broken Festival gig rules and resorted to putting up my Umbrella, yes on the barrier in front of the stage, the rain was incessant heavy rain and shows no sing of abaiting, I've never seen so much rain since ..well early spring at least 3 months ago. 

 

 

The Guys 'Pos D' 'Plug 1' 'Mase' do their best to play in the now drenched conditions, noticing people walking away at the back shouting "Hey Truck we not gonna let the rain get in the way, come and party with 'De La Soul' " the crowd gets into it bouncing about .

 

 

 

Its a trip back to the Old Skool Hip Hop era, behind me drenched people everywhere, and some girl who seems to be headbutting my back , even though my umbrella was still up no one was complaining, 2 festival goers seemed really happy I'd brought it as they sheltered under it,the conditions were un-relenting throughout the set.

 

 

 

So much so that 'De La Soul' decided it was time for a crowd competition, 'Mase' took the 'Right Side-East Side' and Pos took my side 'Left Side-West Side', we all had to do vocals back and whoever was the loudest won, so it went like this 'Pos' says "When I go Ah you go Ah" Repeat after me.. "Ah ,Ah (crowd) -Ah, Ah (crowd) -Ah, Ah (crowd)" it was great fun the conditions were getting worse still and persistant, although my head managed to stay dry, everything was soaking from shoulders down Thank god I brought the 'Wetgear'. 

 

 

 

As they played "Rollerskating Jam Called Saturdays" you could not see a thing through the rain, the headbutter behind me was getting on my nerves so I turned round and confronted her and her friend apologised telling her off,she was clearly drunk, at one point I thought she was going try and morph into me my patience snapped and there I was drenched 'De La Soul' hadn't even played 'Say No Go' or '3 Is The Magic Number' when we needed it most we did get "Me Myself & I" Thankfully. 

 

 

After their set the crowd vanished the whole lot behind us gone retreating to their tents I bet and the main acts stage was being prepared I counted 6 people at the barrier it was becoming a monsoon.

 

 

 

I hoped they wouldn't cancel our headliner, I was getting concerned, but I needn't of worried as by stage time the crowd had returned ready to see 'Friendly Fires' they arrived with their 'Hawaiian' themed stage and screen projections with singer 'Ed Mcfarlane' in summer/stage gear straight away taking the crowd on a colourful journey and he revelled about on stage through the back catalogue 'Jump In The Pool', 'Skeleton Boy' 'Paris'. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the crowd had come dressed in 'Hawaiian' Garlands and fluffy clothes it was a great crowd atmosphere and yes during their set I did not have my umbrella up I wanted to dance and enjoy the set,the band have just released a new album and have played a few tracks in between the classics. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They don't really talk much and the music does it all for them anyway ,he is the most animated dancer I've seen, they are very entertaining and an assault on the senses with colour and vibrance they engulfed the crowd with energy and euphoria, its not gonna rain on our parade.

 

 

 

Well after such a fantastic atmosphere on closing act it was time to get back to the B&B which was 10 miles away, yes I even did that wrong this time, I just wanted to get clean and dry but getting back was a nightmare I got back at 1am .

 

 

Day 2  Saturday

 

 

Forecast today is for sunshine no rain after 6 hours of it, this time I meet up with fellow gigger who kindly offers me a lift to the site, not a lot I can do with my clothes that were wet and threatening to stink me out of my room, which was lovely and relaxing but haven't had time to appreciate it, I did however appreciate the English Breakfast with Eggs Fried Mushrooms and beans and toast it was lush. 

 

We head back to site with me still in wellies in case the mud is bad , but there is a movie theme today so I dress in black sequinned jacket as 'Susan' from 'Desperately Seeking Susan' well I'm wearing the Movie T-shirt.

 

 

 

'The Seagulls' are on the main stage as we arrive they sound great but for the moment we're catching rays, I notice to my horror my Haribo's have melted and why I bothered bringing a chocolate bar in this heat I'll never know. 

 

 

 

Around 4pm my relaxing was over when it was time for the first of 3 'Brighton' Bands, 'Anteros' yes you have heard me mention them before as they were on tour with 'White Lies' last year on 'Friends Tour'. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'Laura' the charistmatic singer is not one to disappoint in a Satin Silver Catsuit, always a glamour puss in stage wear, she has cut her hair into a short bob style do. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Sun shines brightly and they begin their set with songs 'Love', 'Drunk', 'On The Moon' 'Bonnie' all of which gave 'Blondie' a run for their money I often thought 'Laura' and the band were the new 'Blondie' and now its confirmed as she even joins the crowd singing to them up close with the mic. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The band sound amazing today I have to move quick soon after as I notice the festival paint fight is now at the main stage and about to start so I dash for cover as I don't want my clothes ruined.

 

 

By 5.30pm I've had to leave my fellow gig buddy and go over to the 'Market Stage' to see another 'Brighton' act 'Dream Wife' who now reside in 'London'. 

 

 

Last seen on tour with 'The Vaccines' earlier this year 'Dream Wife' are 'Rakel', 'Bella', ' Alice     ' and the outspoken frontwoman hails from 'Iceland' she's very polarising on stage towards young women they are empowering the next generation of young girls. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They begin with 'Hey Heartbreaker', 'Somebody' which has a hook in the line "I am not my body I am somebody", the last song in the set 'FUU' (Fxxk You Up) they are the new generation of 'Riot Girl Punk'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So naturally I dashed over with my setlist and met them they signed it for me and seemed to like my 'Bitch I'm Madonna'  'Desperately Seeking Susan' design t-shirt, they should be on tour later this year so hope to see them play again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next up I'll keep this brief as they've constantly popped up in gigs this year yes 'Black Honey' another Brighton band playing to another absolutely packed tent , I fought my way to the front,it was after their set I noticed my setlist that was signed had been swiped.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I asked people nearby me if they seen a setlist and it wasn't a 'Black Honey' setlist some blank looks greeted me and they shook their heads but someone swiped it ,minutes after I came back again to the tent I bumped into 'Izzy Baxter' of 'Black Honey' I explained who I was and how many shows I'd seen them play this year she gave me a 'Black Honey' badge.

 

 

 We were posing for photos when this young girl came running over to me saying "Is this yours ?? clutching my setlist "Yes it is, Thank you" I said I looked shocked she hugged me and said "Have a great festival" to which I was stunned, there are good people in the world. 

 

 

What a nice end to the first part of the day I was now of course 15 minutes late for 'Everything Everything' over at the main stage, I still managed to squeeze on to the barrier they are a 'Manchester' band gotta put in an appearance haven't I ?, their lyrics are very witty and dry like 'Pulp' really.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 7.30pm and it's still not dark and time for 'Nottingham's 'Jake Bugg' to join the party he came on stage with his country style Black shirt in the sunshine, he promised to play us  both Acoustic and Electric, he was fantastic he sang songs off all 3 albums including his new acoustic album he was promoting but he played 'Taste It' ,'Two Fingers' , 'Slumville Sunrise' and ended with 'Lightning Bolt'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The crowd were in full song and 'Jake' was overwhelmed by the crowds response it still remained a relaxed  atmosphere no pushing and more importantly no rain in sight. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Almost time for 'Saturday's Main Act to close the days entertainment and another Male Vocalist and festival favourite 'George Ezra' with his large band of musicians as they took to the stage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 He talks a lot telling us about his travels he seems happy to do that nearly every song, again the crowd are singing in unison to almost every word particularly 'Listen To The Man' and 'Blame It On Me', 'Barcelona' and 'Budapest' my fav and 'Cassie O' he got everyone singing and ended with his new no1 of this year 'Shotgun' , everyone was in the moment and happy to be there as the sun set on another warm day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Me and my fellow gigger then met up again and headed back in the car without stress of waiting on cabs, it was a superb experience and it remains my favourite festival Goodbye again #Truck see you soon. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LMi xo