Saturday begins with the best of Truck’s traditions, the Oxford Symphony Orchestra, leading the way with classical takes on all sorts of movie and modern songs - this year with the added excitement of being joined by local legend Gaz Coombes of Supergrass fame singing a couple of numbers.
Unfortunately, today is where I see most clashes across the stages, but I’m glad to catch Brooki over on the Market stage, before heading back to see The Lottery Winners on the main stage. Thom, always full of energy, was relentless during their 45 minute show, part comedy, mainly music, making a joke to us photographers about getting a photo of his Gucci (Ali Express) loafers, before later on in the show joking about writing a new song which begins ‘Hey Jude’, and then for one of the weekend's most standout moments, bringing young Layla on stage to sing the Frank Turner duet ‘Letter to Myself’, which meant so much it brought her (and me) to tears!
Back over on the Market stage, the one I had been looking forward to all weekend, and they didn’t disappoint. Bleech 9:3 came out with Barry the front man looking like he was preparing for battle, pacing the stage, and you could feel the tension building. Straight into Jacky with Barry down at the barrier encouraging the large circle pit that had opened. They were everything I wanted and I can’t wait to see them again. Later on in here was a great run of Adult DVD, Arkayla, Radio Free Alice and The Royston Club, who had assembled quite the crowd. Finishing on ‘Cariad’ with people on shoulders the Welsh outfit surely get a bigger slot on the main stage next year…
Back over on the mainstage we had an afternoon of indie royalty with singalong hit after hit with Friendly Fires frontman Ed Macfarlane throwing moves like his life depended on it, and it was great to hear tracks like ‘Jump in the pool’ and ‘Hawaiian air’ again after so long. Next up were The Vaccines, celebrating 15 years since ‘What did you expect from The Vaccines?’ album. Justin Hayward-Young knows how to command a stage, and delivers the tracks exuding confidence.
Kaiser Chiefs were up next, with frontman Ricky Wilson confident as ever, with songs like ‘I Predict a Riot’ and ‘Ruby’ getting huge singalongs from the ever growing crowd.
But the day belonged to Two Door Cinema Club on the mainstage. Three years since they last headlined this stage, and celebrating 15 years of ‘Tourist History’ had the crowd loving every minute. That was such a great album, it’s so good to see them again bringing the younger generation along with them.
Check out our other reviews of Thursday, Friday, Sunday.
Photo Credit: Russ Fujak
