Truck Festival Review 2015 | Festival Reviews

Visiting a festival for the first time can always be a bit of a nerve-wracking experience, but as soon as we walked through the gates of Truck Festival we knew the weekend was going to be one to remember. From the smiles shared by attendees and staff, to the vibrant colour of the yet to be discovered market stage, it just seemed like such a friendly atmosphere from the word go.

Putting up the tent was a little harder than first expected; never borrow somebody else’s equipment before trying it out yourself first. Turns out the only spot of rain all weekend had to come as we were painstakingly trying to work out which pole went where. Once that was all taken care of we ventured straight over to the main arena as there really isn’t any time to lose when a festival takes place over the space of two days.

We were impressed by the little touches such as the descriptive booklet that comes with your festival lanyard and the variety of ales available at each bar. Although not difficult things to implement, they’re sure to put you in a more positive mood right before the bands begin. Even at midday on the Friday there were quite a few people sitting and waiting attentively for the show to start.

Spring King, a youthful band from Manchester, kicked things off with some down tempo rock that enticed the sunshine out further. A quick visit to the unique barn stage allowed us to catch a glimpse of The Bloody Knees before we explored the site, next heading off to see the Southend act on the main stage Nothing But Thieves.

Also from Essex were The Bohicas, a sassy four piece who displayed a great stage presence, playing groovier than usual rock and dealing commendably with the small matter of a power cut. Once everything was back up and running, they finished their set with the wonderfully infectious 'Swarm', which was when the first signs of movement appeared from the front dwelling members of the crowd.

It was evident so far of the direction the festival organisers had taken when selecting which bands to play on the main stage. Honeyblood stepped up next to show why they have been touted as the next big thing, playing plenty of brand new tracks and making quite a sound for a band with only two members. Don Broco displayed an insane amount of energy, leading us to calm things down a little with a visit to the Virgins stage to see acoustic singer songwriter Will Joseph Cook.

Earmarking festival acts as must see's can sometimes lead to disappointment, but there was no way Ghostpoet would step off that stage without pleasing all the fans jam packed into the market stage tent. Bringing a grimy London sound to the tranquil setting of Abingdon, Obaro Ejimiwe delivered a powerful set which delivered his latest track ‘Off Peak Dreams’ as the penultimate song.

Next it was time to get on our dancing shoes, heading straight back over to the main stage to enjoy Clean Bandit just as the sun was setting. The Cambridge four piece certainly brought a party vibe with them, playing songs that were both fun and catchy, slipping in a well received cover of ‘Show Me Love’ before ending the set with their most popular track ‘Rather Be’.

It was well and truly night time by this point and that excitable feeling started to kick in, you know, that feeling when the days headline act is about to set foot on stage. As the lights shone bright, Tim Burgess stepped out and soon confirmed why The Charlatans have been such a consistent band in recent years, playing track after track that you know you have heard before. It was great to be surrounded by such a broad demographic and I couldn’t help but smile when seeing those old-schoolers raising their pint in the air to the band they have listened to endlessly throughout their lives.

Although it had a been a long day for most, the audience seemed keen to continue partying, heading to see the various other offerings such as the silent disco and DJ sets hosted on the smaller stages of the site.

Saturday morning most definitely felt like a Sunday, with heads gradually peering bleary eyed out of the tents pitched such a short distance away from the arena. Being a two day festival means that there’s no excuse for not making the most of every minute. Preparing for what was to be another busy day came in the form of appreciating the various activities on offer, with diablos, hula-hoops and juggling balls sprawled across the field’s still remarkably clean floor.

On top of the main musical stages, there’s a cocktail bar, a saloon bar and also a food tent dedicated to charity run stalls selling a variety of food/drink including a delightful iced banana smoothie.

Just like the day before, the music started in strong fashion with the Lucy Rose recommended act Fox Chapel cementing their name in everyone’s memory. The lead guitarist even wore the Truck Festival t-shirt that you would go on to see most people wearing by the end of the weekend. New Desert Blues and Jake Isaac bolstered an already impressive main stage line-up, both showing why they are being touted as the most promising acts of the moment.

It’s hard sometimes to stray away from a stage packed with such talent throughout the day, but it was time to spread our allegiances far and wide when taking a much needed trip back over the Market Stage to see the youthfully aggressive Rat Boy. With much comparison made to Jamie T, he commanded an equally young crowd, championing an incredibly refined sound for someone who has only been around for what seems like a matter of months. The last two tracks ‘Sign On’and ‘Fake ID’ brought with them a request from the bassist for members of the crowd to invade the stage, and of course they happily obliged. Singer Jordan Cardy joked that they wouldn’t be asked back, but if that performance was anything to go by I’m pretty sure they will be.

Although we had already seen a number of acts by this point, the day seemed to only just be beginning. Summer Camp brought with them, as the name suggests, music perfect for a sunny afternoon. Elizabeth Sankey’s theatrical approach was powerful in its delivery, and it was nice to see a married couple bringing together the two most important things in their lives. Next on were All We Are, a trio who met whilst at the Liverpool Institute Of Preforming Arts and an act that specialise in producing groovy down tempo art-pop. Highlights of their set include their cover of Caribou’s ‘Can’t Do Without You’ and their popular song ‘Feel Safe’.

Photo: Truck Festival

Following on were Public Service Broadcasting, a concept band that have certainly propelled themselves into the big time, having headlined a number of renowned venues around the UK and Europe. Returning to the festival for the second year in a row, they came armed with a selection of brand new tracks from their latest album ‘The Race For Space’, perfectly mixing together older favourites such as ‘Signal 30’ and the suitably easy to sing along to ‘Go!’. Dancing astronauts and the well rehearsed brass section suggests they could well be asked back for a third year in a row. I was also lucky enough to have a quick chat with J Willgoose Esq. before the show, feel free to listen to the stream below.

Solid performers Lucy Rose and Temples provided the perfect build up to the last day headliners, with both delivering an easily appreciable form of mellow music that can calm any soul. Now, the moment everyone had been waiting for, the act that seems to have been around for more years than I’ve been listening to music.

Basement Jaxx the brainchild of Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe, two highly experienced producers who seem to be able to deliver hit after hit, year after year. You can tell every live member is an experienced veteran, commanding a crowd with their constant energy and spot on delivery of older favourites such as ‘Romeo’, ‘Good Luck’ and ‘Jump n’ Shout’. All dressed in outfits resembling rainbows and wearing a variety of different head pieces that seem to get wilder as the show went on, the set contained surprises such as light up drum sticks, dancing gorillas and an explosive shower of confetti that accompanied the closing track ‘Where’s Your Head At’. They left nobody behind and proved why they are the one of the finest headline acts around.

As you can probably tell, Truck Festival 2015 was a major success. The event provided everything you look for in a festival. The line-up had something for everyone and the atmosphere made you feel like you belong. In the words of Basement Jaxx, “everything is connected, we are one”.