Just up the A34, Truck is heading this way
Newburytoday’s CAMERON BLACKSHAW is heading to Hill Farm, Steventon, to report on the big little festival ‘in all its weird and wonderful glory’. But time at a festival is always valuable so here’s his take on who to see between Thursday, July 21 and Sunday 24 .
Three years since pint-carrying punters last descended on Hill Farm and 25 years since the festival’s first edition, Truck Festival returns next weekend in all its weird and wonderful glory.
Located just up the A34 in Steventon and described as “The godfather of small music festivals” by The Guardian, Truck has become an Oxfordshire haven for indie rock lovers, with recent line-ups featuring some of the best new and established bands from around the country.
In recent years, line-ups have expanded to include iconic pop acts, dance DJ titans, and comedy kings and queens to expand its entertaining repertoire.
It will be my second time attending the festival after I first travelled to Truck in 2019.
Witnessing Foals’ explosive headline set was purely joyous; the smallish and intimate Truck main stage becoming a bona fide rock arena for the Oxford guitar giants’ hometown return.
My first Truck experience was fantastic, and I can’t wait to return to Hill Farm.
But who should I see this year? Time at a festival is always valuable, and deciding on which act to see and which one to skip at any given time can be a very tough decision.
It’s a dilemma everyone who’s attended a festival will know about, so I’ve decided to go through Truck’s impeccable 2022 line-up to highlight some of the best things it has to offer.
First off, the headliners. They’re all pretty great and solid picks for your evening slots. Bombay Bicycle Club’s dreamy feel-good brand of alternative rock will take to the airwaves on Friday, while the Geordie indie prince Sam Fender will be a Saturday highlight, and Leicester legends Kasabian will bring the festival to a bombastic close on Sunday.
Other great Main Stage acts include American singer Kelis, whose milkshakes will bring many to her set, guitar pop icons The Kooks, and a Saturday lunchtime set from the Oxford Symphony Orchestra.
Truck’s second biggest stage, the Market Stage, showcases some of the best British bands around right now.
Yard Act, political rockers hailing from Leeds, have a special guest afternoon slot on Friday, while the South London post-punk outfit shame headline the Market on Saturday.
Moving away from guitars, the Market Stage transforms into a dance music disco by night, becoming the tropically-infused Palm City.
Bassline MC Bru-C will bring his infectious raps on Friday, while drum and bass trailblazer Wilkinson will take to the decks on Saturday and Scottish techno DJ Ewan McVicar will close out the stage on Sunday.
New for 2022 is the Rockin Chair Comedy stage which will feature some of the country’s funniest comedy talents such as Mock the Week alumni Angela Barnes, Ed Byrne and Milton Jones.
This is just the tip of the iceberg with Truck this year. There are a whole host of other great bands, singers, DJs, comedians and so much more at the festival just waiting to be discovered. Just remember to pack your wellies and several loo rolls!
