Truck Festival - Saturday (Day two)

After a morning watching some workshops and taking in the green fields I watch a band on the main stage called Alphabet Backwards who play quirky pop with great harmonies. It is a great way to start the second day of the festival.
4 stars

Poetry in Cabaret kicks off things in the Last fm stage but their discordant rock doesn’t really work and the guitarist breaks two strings early on and doesn’t seem to have a spare guitar. Needs some work but could be promising.
2 stars

Onto the main stage for 2 fingers of firewater who play a British take on Americana. Very heart felt and the small crowd seem to like it but surely Americana should stay in America? Controversial? Oh yes!
3 stars

Wandering over to the Cabaret tent to see Little fish I heard music coming from the merchandising tent and Deer Park were playing an impromptu set amongst the t-shirts and CD racks. They even did a fantastic cover of take the skinheads bowling. Brilliant!

When I finally get to the Cabaret tent, 2 members of Little Fish are just setting up for a stripped down performance. It’s just guitar and organ today and I am a bit concerned this might not work in this format. Despite breaking her guitar and having to borrow one, the short set was nothing less than amazing. Juju and Ben work together brilliantly delivering amazing vocal performances with a lot of humour. When they play a sad song the singer Juju sounds very much like Patti Smith, which is a good thing in my book! They are playing in the merchandise tent again tomorrow. I can’t wait
5 stars

Richmond Fontaine is next up on the main stage playing blues tinged country rock keeping the theme of the main stage alive! The played well and seemed to mean it but would probably be better off playing Memphis rather than in a field in Oxford
3 stars

After a beer or two and more curry I stay on the main stage for Roddy Woomble. This is Alternative Country folk at it’s best. The singer’s dry vocals are expertly delivered and his song writing has greatly improved since his days in Idlewild. Soaring violin and haunting backing vocals make this performance a treat
4 stars

Over to the Clash stage now for Sea of Bees. These guys are getting a lot of attention at the moment form the likes of Marc Riley on 6 music so I decided to see if they would live up to the hype and I am not disappointed. Their charming, spell binding folk rock is delivered with a warmth and compassion you can only dream of. The young crowd filled the tent and were loving every minute and so was I.
4 stars

Next up on the Clash stage is Cherry Ghost whose 80s style indie pop shows moments of brilliance, Fire Escape is a fantastically catchy song and the brass section adds a new dimension
3 stars

Running off to see the Young Knives I check my phone and there are many messages telling me about the demise of Amy Winehouse. It’s with a heavy heart I arrive at the main stage. Shocked as I am however I cannot help but be amazed by the thundering power pop that the Young knives produce. The sound comes at you like a powder keg. This Decision sounds as fresh as when I first heard it. The House of Lords on guitar is camp and witty in equal measures
5 stars

Gruff Rhys is up next on the main stage and is a man full of passion, anger and humour. Tonight we get all these qualities in abundance. He comes on in a woolly hat and proclaims they are going to play a country and western set. With his band he rips through all the hits including the wonderful Candylion. We are treated to lots of anecdotes along the way and a song about what goes wrong when a Welsh pasty falls in love with the truck festival. (You had to be there!). Gruff really entertained the audience tonight and has the largest crowd so far.
5 stars

Earlier on in the evening the Cabaret tent was hosting a Rockabilly night with various bands interspersed with burlesque performers, culminating with the Rabbit Foot Spasm Band who start off with a tribute to Amy Winehouse. They play a unique mix of Rockabilly, soul and New Orleans Jazz. If this isn’t weird enough for you the guitarist has a proper job. He is in Mogwai. This was a great end to the Saturday and the packed tent seemed to agree.
4 stars



Photos by Dave Thorpe