Truck Festival 2008 - best of the bands

United Kingdom | | 23 July 2008

Now in its 11th year, Truck has grown from just 24 bands in its first year to over 100 bands across six stages.  The idyllic setting on Hill Farm in the tiny village of Steventon, Oxfordshire has a capacity for 5,000 and no corporate sponsorship, relying on an army of volunteers to make it work.  There is no VIP area on the compact site, so fans and musicians all have the same experience in an incredibly relaxed environment.

Saturday’s Barn Stage line up sees Lovvers early afternoon set wake everyone up with their 80’s influence garage punk, before Post War Years, who haven’t had the luck that Foals have with their math-rock style, put in a promising performance which hints towards that changing soon.

Rolo Tomassi won’t be remembered for their undecipherable lyrics from screaming banshee lead singer, Eva Spence, but they will be remembered for their unfeasible tight punk rock. In a moment fitting of Truck's DIY spirit, members of the band make time for a quick collaboration with underground darlings Youthmovies before the latter take the stage for their full set.

The small Market Stage tent is over flowing for Brit Pop veterans Dodgy and then again for Noah And The Whale with fans queuing up for their indie folk sound of the moment. The Beat Hive tent, meanwhile, plays host to the dapper dressed DJ extraordinaire Daedelus (aka Alfred Darlington) for an early evening mini-rave.

Over on the Truck Stage, Danny And The Champions Of The World are joined on stage by several special guests for an uplifting folk country jam session.  Magic Numbers, Romeo Stodart, joins on guitar, while festival organisers Robin Bennett is also on guitar and Joe Bennett joins on trumpet.

Austin, Texas lo-fi indie rockers Okkervil River follow with their cinematic tunes of pain-filled lyrics set to uplifting melodies which is a joy to witness.  They even throw in a Beach Boys cover of ‘Sloop John B’ from Pet Sounds.

The Truck Stage headliners, early 90’s seminal band The Lemonheads, arrive for their highly anticipated set and perform their classic album ‘It’s A Shame About Ray’ in its entirety.  Evan Dando doesn’t engage with the crowd during the set, but it’s wonderful to hear these songs live again and still sounding as good as they did 15 years ago.

Saturday late night at Truck becomes an entirely different festival all together.  The Pavillion Stage plays host to DJ Lady Genevieve’s Rock n Roll Party for an indie-disco dance session, while the Barn Stage comes to life for a full on old skool rave, complete with lasers and day-glo decorations, with original 90’s act Altern8 playing classic happy house music into the small hours.

Sunday and day two of Truck.  Brazilian born, London based The Tamborines bring their stylish pysch-rock to the Barn Stage for an ear splitting set.  Neil Halstead, Spectrum and the quite brilliant Maps also pull in large crowds in the Barn while special guests Chapter House headline.

The Village Pub tent overflows for SixNationState and their raucous reggae infused rock.  Singer, Gerry del-Guercio leads the up-for-it crowd in a sing-a-long and dancing. Next up at the Village Pub are local Oxford boys, The Epstein, who pack even more into the tent.

The Market Stage plays host to Stornaway, The Coal Porters and soon to be a household name, young Laura Marling, who has an overwhelming crowd for her headline set. 

The Truck Stage sees sets from more Oxford local rockers The Winchell Riots then a folk session from Birmingham four-piece Little Sister.  Northern Ireland’s, Fighting With Wire step it up a notch with their Fugazi-inspired hard rock. Singer/guitarist Cahir O’Doherty’s banter is almost as entertaining as their set.

Former Million Dead singer, Frank Turner also brings his ambient folk to the Truck stage followed by Rival School’s singer, Walter Schreifels who performs a solo acoustic set.

Sunday’s headliner Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly (aka Sam Duckworth) proves what a great festival performer he is.  Full interaction with the crowd throughout his set leads to sing-a-long’s to ‘I Spy’ and ‘Call Me Ishmael’. Having spent the entire weekend at Truck before his set, Duckworth tells us how much he loves this festival and is honoured to headline.  He is then joined on stage by festival organisers Robin and Joe Bennett for a brilliant cover of The Flaming Lips ‘Race For The Prize.’

“I’ll be down at the Drum n Bass tent after this if you all want to come down for a beer,” Duckworth tells us…and he does.  The Drum n Bass tent is run by a bicycle powered sound system in the camping field which goes on as long as people are willing to cycle. Even Walter Schreifels has a go on a bike to keep the music pumping.

The Truck Festival organisers have ignored pleas to increase the size as it’s not what they’re all about.  They have created the perfect atmosphere and in doing so the perfect setting to discover music.  With all profits from the festival going to charity, you can also feel good knowing all money spent has gone to a good cause instead of lining a promoter’s pocket.  It’s no wonder why they won Best Independent Festival at this year’s Indy Music Awards.

Truck feels like this is how Glastonbury must have been 25 years ago.  Book early for next year as the secret of Truck Festival is well and truly out.

by Alison Kerry