16 July 2015 (gig)
22 July 2015
Cute little family-friendly festival with a distinct local and non-commercial feel. Featuring a not so little or local line-up. Truck dished up a special something for each and every music fan this year with especially rich pickings for young EMO fans and for those who love to discover new and exciting bands on the verge of breaking big.
Nothing but Thieves, the impossibly young five-piece Alt Rock group from our own fair shores of Southend-on-Sea took to the Main Truck stage early Friday afternoon, the sun was shining and they clearly struck a note for Generation Y, the party started here. Come 5 o'clock, and Glasgow’s HoneyBlood had them asking Why? And pointing fingers accusingly and screwing up their faces with sheer frustration - the Gritty Duo’s sharp slice of life lyrics propelling us all into the hopeless destructive cycle that is relationships Why Don’t You Just Grow UP?
6 o'clock and still at the Truck stage (the other stages suffered because the sun shined), Bedford’s Don Broco had them Moshing, at 7 o'clock New York’s indie rock band Augustines had them moshing more. But not anything quite like the monster mosh that was taking place in The Barn, meanwhile, where punk band Slaves was entertaining a whole other crowd - we suspect – we missed it – just saw the aftermath of everyone leaving, the venue never seemed to empty, we wondered “just how Big can this Barn possibly be?” and ‘What the hell just went down in there?” All of them bright red in the face and sweaty, a few folk grasping at body-parts and wincing, the crowd exiting the Slaves gig looked like they’d all just taken part in a massive fight, some seemed in shock, even - but most seemed totally exhilarated. I’m sorry we missed that (well, maybe.)
We’d just indulged in a steak sandwich, locally born and bred, griddled on the spot to medium rare perfection, expertly sliced and housed in a ciabatta roll no less, complete with rocket salad and some kick-ass horseradish. We were queuing to get in for the gig after Slaves - Fat White Family - lots of moshing prevailed here too, and topless crowd-surfing. We had a good time - hanging out near the back.
Back to that steak sandwich, it was well worth the fiver, my festival friends - and all in aid of charity too - SHOUT OUT to The Didcot Parkway Rotary Club Volunteer MASSIVE who worked so very very hard all weekend serving us up delicious food. We thank you and we high-five you.
Darkness fell and back at the Truck stage Sheffield’s indie pros, Friday night’s headliner’s The Charlatans sang the soundtrack to our lives - they undoubtedly drew a big crowd to this little festival and didn’t disappoint the more seasoned indie worshippers. Gen Y were no longer The Only Ones (I Know) having a good time. The rest of the night is a bit of a blur, it’s quite possible we settled for a cup of tea and an early night.
Saturday came with the sunshine again, oh soo very early. A bacon and double egg roll, coffee, frizzbee and fairground rides for the kids (others, not ours, we don’t have any thank goodness) and mohitos in the morning - which is allowed at festivals.
Lots of Santa’s appeared throughout the day on Saturday, which was a little surreal. At one point I found myself actually on the look-out for Santa’s, like I’d been caught up in a real-life game of ‘Where’s Wally’ or some-such. And elves popped up here and there too and oh I nearly forgot the full-on nativity scene. We’d heard a whisper of fancy dress but not all of us got the memo, Was the theme Christmas, anyone?
We need to skip to Saturday night so I can big up the two highlights of the weekend for us - At No1. At 10 o'clock (after a steaming hot steak and ale pie with cheesy mash and tasty tasty gravy for a stunning £4.50 - well worth the hour and half queuing, retrospectively) - We Got Involved - We got up front and down and dirty old skool rave style with Saturday’s headliners the ever-bombastic Basement Jaxx - whose set held equal appeal for Gen Y, who’d have thought it? Where’s your head at now? Where’s your head at?
And No. 2 highlight - battle of the silent disco - classic indie V Dance Anthems - which we happened across by accident at the main stage in the early hours on Sunday, cup of tea in hand (what else). We’d just cut some shapes at the Nelly B Page DJ set at the Market stage - My mate JC and I - and we were heading back to the tent having called it a night. I’ve never partaken in silent disco before, I’ve attempted at a few festivals but my timing’s always sucked, there were never enough headphones to go round - but there was this time at Truck - and it was special - the TUNES were massive and the banter from the Basement Jaxx ‘Rep’ siding with the dance classics DJ set, hilarious - We got on down till 3am. We still got it - and so have Truck - Thank you and Merry Christmas.
Words by Gen X (aka Nicky Kemp)
