Truck News

Stornoway play Jools Holland and UNITRUCK!

11/3/2009 6:55:59 PM

Exciting times for Stornoway, following their sold out performance at Oxford's Sheldonian theatre (the first popular music group to play there, we think). They are on Jools tonight at 10pm - don't miss it, and watch out for our own Joe Bennett on Trumpet - and will be appearing at this year's UNITRUCK event on Thursday December 3rd.

The show is at Bucks University Student Union (High Wycombe) and is open to the public so well worth a trip down the M40. Tickets will be on sale from tomorrow, so watch this space.

Keep it local at our local...

10/28/2009 4:57:45 PM

Yes, it's that time of the month again: please join us for Dusty at The Rusty, where we're joined by Aiden Canaday. Then on Friday night, you have the choice of Stornoway at The Sheldonian (if you're a lucky ticket-holder - it's sold out!) or Fresh Out The Box vs Skylarkin’ Soundsystem
(The Nightmare Before Halloween) at The O2. Spoilt for choice, Oxfordians!

First ever OX4 a sellout!

10/11/2009 6:38:39 PM

Thanks to everyone who came to the first ever OX4 festival: those who helped us out on the day, all the bands and performers, and all the Oxfam volunteers painting faces blue. OX4 was a success and seemed to be greeted with great enthusiasm, and by late afternoon we'd sold out, so a big thank you to all who came along. There was a definite festival atmosphere on the Cowley Road yesterday...

MORNING HAS BROKEN!

10/10/2009 12:53:53 AM

Morning All,

Unless your an early bird and have caught tickets before 9am - the only way to get hold a wristband for OX4 is to buy one (in non-virtual - 1st life cash) from the East Oxford Community Centre - which is on the corner of Princess street (Cowley Road, Oxford, innit). Wristbands will be on sale from 10am - priced at £18.

If you've got one already (lucky thing) then head to the community centre to collect your wristbands, and get involved.

See you all there.

THE TRUCKERS

OX4 is TOMORROW!

10/9/2009 12:23:14 PM

Hi ho!

One last reminder: OX4 is TOMORROW! - Saturday 10th October

Come and join us for one last festival hurrah before hibernation time...

Bands - loads of 'em
Workshops - cool things to do
Buskers - raising funds for Oxfam
A seance (!?)

We're pleased to say that loads of folks already have their tickets - if you don't yet, you can still take advantage of the advance price until the end of play today, from our online outlets - click here, or one of our friendly DIY shops - Videosyncratic (both), Scribbler, Oxfam on the Cowley Road, or from the O2 Academy box office.

You then exchange your ticket for a lovely OX4 wristband at East Oxford Community Centre on the corner of Princes Street and the Cowley Road. Collection is any time between 10am and 9.30pm.

The E.O.C.C. is home to live music, workshops and Oxford's first ever Un-Convention:
All this is included with your ticket so come early to make the most of it - we're kicking off at midday.

We're also pleased to say our buddy Will from The Vaults will be running a special OX4 café at Community Centre - he's very much looking forward to feeding the truck monsters at OX4 with their needed healthy feed.

Will's menu will look like this:

-Espresso based coffees
-Chai Lattes & Teas
-Great Cakes
-Soup & rustic bread
-Coconut, Pea & Roasted Pumpkin Thai Herb Curry
-Homemade Burgers with porcini cream or tomato provencal sauces
-Morrocan Chicken Tagine
-All served with Potato wedges, Garlic bread, Rice or Salad

Hmmm, now I'm hungry!

Of course, what OX4 is really about is the music, man, and there's plenty for all tastes.
You can see the full running order here in a handy chart format.

If by any chance you don't manage to buy yours in advance, tickets will be available on the day from the Community Centre or from the O2 Academy Box Office, at the slightly higher price of £18.

Dates for your diary...

10/6/2009 4:25:29 PM

We've had lots of folks trying to book their weddings, holidays and bar mitzvahs around the dates for TRUCK and WOOD next year so we thought we'd better let you know when they'll be. Tickets aren't going on sale for a while yet, and you'll be the first to know when/how they do.

So: WOOD is Friday 21st - Sunday 23rd May 2010

TRUCK is the weekend of July 24th & 25th 2010

Scribble that in your diaries, but before that there's a very important date looming: 10/10/2009: the very first OX4 festival on the Cowley Road in Oxford.

If you haven't already done so, purchase your ticket right now from our online outlets, or one of our friendly DIY shops - Videosyncratic (both), Scribbler, Oxfam on the Cowley Road, or from the O2 Academy box office.

The grey drizzly days of autumn/winter are upon us (apparently we only have 2 seasons here now) so come and join us for one last festival hurrah before hibernation time...

Headliners are THE (mighty) BIG PINK, who are causing a stir with their new record A Brief History of Love, but there's loads more going on (more than a sensible person would try to do in one day, but hey). Recently added names include RALFE BAND and CHARLY COOMBES, joining the likes of JONQUIL, THIS TOWN NEEDS GUNS, BABY GRAVY, DANNY AND THE CHAMPS, STRICKEN CITY, UTE, DUSTY & THE DREAMING SPIRES and JALI FILY CISSOKHO.

Your wristband gets you all this (and more)-

Morning session: watch the Oxjam buskers (and throw them some silver), have a cuppa at the East Oxford Community Centre.

Afternoon: Oxford Folk Festival music in Café Tarifa, workshops at EOCC, the Un-Convention, bring your own music to Restore.

Evening: dash between gigs upstairs at The O2 Academy, The Bullingdon Arms, East Oxford Community Centre, Baby Simple/Lounge.

Night: Free entry to club nights at The Brickworks and The O2 Academy.

If you were one of those who were planning (gasp!) not to attend OX4 and going to the now-cancelled RZA show, we feel a dark dose of DALEK's avant-hip-hop will more than compensate - and your OX4 wristband also includes entry to the Trashy and Transformation nights at the O2 Academy...

Un-Convention at OX4

9/28/2009 4:13:36 PM

If you’re a musician, a promoter, a record label, or just nosey/interested in how things happen in the music business today, then you won’t want to miss the Un-Convention at OX4!

In the spirit of being UN-CONVENTIONAL proceedings will be hosted by legendary punk musician and author John Robb, (who has previously played solo and with his band Gold Blade at TRUCK).

The panels will include top musicians and industry professionals from Oxford and special guest panellists from around the country, and you lot will obviously get to have your say and ask questions afterwards.

There will also be the opportunity to mingle and enjoy a cup of coffee (or pint) and a lovely pie (yes, pies!) inbetween and after the sessions, before you head off to see THE BIG PINK, DALEK, JONQUIL and the rest…

Here's what the panels look like -

Panel 1: 12.30 – 2pm

Young & Talented; why that might not be enough to make a living out of music, and what else you might do.

Starting points:

Panel 2: 3pm – 4.30pm

Keep It Local / Made In OX4: how the future of the music industry could be in regional clusters. The potential for nurturing / recording / promoting talent at a regional level.

Starting points:

Outside The Box @ Un-Convention Salford 2009 by Un-Convention

TRUCK GOES INDOORS FOR OX4!

9/3/2009 3:57:31 PM

Well, the summer is nearly over – so we've teamed up our bestest barn buddies and local purveyors of quality new music YMD! to celebrate the postcode those of us who aren't in Steventon live in – OX4.

On the 10th October we're heading indoors and taking over 10 venues on that unique part of the 'shire, Cowley Road in Oxford. OX4 will be showcasing the cream of local talent, as well as a spattering of great “out-of-towners”, and giving you the chance to take part in a whole range of creative activities.

It's all part of the OXJAM music festival - OX4 neighbours OXFAM will also be joining us to tell you all more about their climate change campaign and we're also fund-raising for them on the day.

We've still got loads more to confirm, but are so excited we had to tell everyone...

Headlining will be soon-to-be huge (we reckon anyway) THE BIG PINK, playing upstairs at the O2 Academy, supporting release of their debut album on 4AD.

From a bit further afield (the UsofA) comes alt-hiphop icons DALEK.

Of course, OX4 features established TRUCK favourites: STORNOWAY, JONQUIL, WITCHES, suitably armed THIS TOWN NEEDS GUNS, chav jazzters THE ORIGINAL RABBIT FOOT SPASM – and young'uns BABY GRAVY, rising stars UTE and DIAL F FRANKENSTEIN and our own brothers Bennett in DUSTY AND THE DREAMING SPIRES.

For the full line up so far – you know where to go.

You'll also get the chance to get inspired by taking part in creative workshops - MAKE A MUSIC VIDEO IN ONE AFTERNOON / DESIGN THE SLEEVE FOR THE MAGIC NUMBERS' NEW 12" / RECORD A HIT SINGLE IN OUR MOBILE STUDIO / WRITE A FILM SCRIPT, all held at East Oxford Community Centre.

We know you TRUCKERS are a vocal lot so OX4 will also play host to Oxford's first UN-CONVENTION, a new take on the traditional music conference, where our panel will be discussing "keeping it local" amongst other things, and you'll get to put your oar in too!

It's £15 for all that – 10 Venues, 20+ great band, a chance to get inspired and learn more as well as voice your opinions! Can't say fairer than that.

Early bird tickets are onsale on the interweb now and will be in shops next week. There's also a £12 ticket for Under 18's (remember, some venues are 18+)

Get your tickets NOW! before we tell everyone else about the event next week.

See you there,

PS- Can't wait til October 10th? Head down to ye olde JERICHO TAVERN this Saturday night (5th Sept) when blues afficionados the 22-20s will be headlining (under the pseudonym The Bitter Pills), with support from your very own DUSTY & THE DREAMING SPIRES and BBC Oxford/TRUCK Competition winners THE SCHOLARS, all for a fiver.

Doors 8pm, don't be late.

PPS- to recover from your subsequent hangovers, you can head to the free River Rat Pack show at the Isis on Sunday.

DUSTY at the RUSTY Thursday night!

8/26/2009 1:17:53 PM

It's last Thursday of the month tomorrow, which means that Dusty will be at his favourite local pub the Rusty Bicycle (on Magdalen Road, Oxford) from 8pm. Joining him will be Oxford's celebrated Dreaming Spires, and rumour has it a Champion guest too. FREE ENTRY!

It's oh so quiet...

8/21/2009 6:04:10 PM

So, presumably there's not much happening at Truck Towers...? well not quite, there will be an information explosion next week, so watch

this

space

Radio 4 at TRUCK, WOOD Podcasts, Damo in London!

8/6/2009 12:04:04 PM

There's been some great coverage of the event on the radio, in the press and online, but our favourite has to be this: a 22-minute episode of Radio 4's On Your Farm, in which Blur's Alex James interviews many of those involved in TRUCK festival. The farmer Alan Binning reveals priceless statistics about doughnut consumption and reminds us that what it's really about - spending time outdoors in the beautiful countryside surrounds of Hill Farm. The programme was originally on at 6am, but undoubtedly, like us, you were asleep- but you can listen again by going to the Radio 4 website.

Another budding radio presenter is our friend and fellow Champ Trevor Moss- he has appeared with Hannah-Lou at all our recent events and hosts London's fabulous Lantern Society club (which happens tonight - Thursday 6th August - at the Betsey Trotwood). Trevor and Hannah like to record proceedings to create the Lantern Society Radio Hour. At last year's WOOD festival they made so many recordings that they've now issued them as two very special Wood Festival episodes, to be found on itunes or at their website. Check them out!

One more thing, if you enjoyed the Damo Suzuki and friends mega-jam at TRUCK as much as we did then you'll want to head down to London's Hoxton Bar and Kitchen on the 11th of August, where Damo will be back, joined by Drum Eyes & Bo Ningen. Details here.

That's all for now, but keep your eyes peeled in the next few weeks for details of our new event OX4, to be held on Oxford's Cowley Road in support of Oxfam. Date for your diaries: October 10th.

Love from all at TRUCK HQ

Listen Again to the Radio 1 show...

7/30/2009 12:12:59 PM

Although it's Bethan presenting, the link is on the Huw Stephens page- click here to listen!

See you all tonight at the Rusty Bicycle!

Missing TRUCK already? things to do/see/hear!

7/29/2009 5:18:45 PM

DO: TRUCK AFTER-PARTY at THE RUSTY BICYCLE!

Come along to our TRUCK after-party at The Rusty Bicycle (Magdalen Road, Oxford) tomorrow night and have a pint with us - it's the last Thursday of the month, so time for Dusty at the Rusty!

We have the usual hosts Dusty and the Dreaming Spires plus one of the stars of TRUCK, Cat Martino, and her mesmerising looped folk and the swampy sounds of DJ Voodoo Androo (aka Mitchell from Ralfe Band). It's 8-11pm and it's FREE!! See you there!

LISTEN: TRUCK is on Radio 1 tonight-

We were very pleased to host Bethan Elfyn's BBC Wales Introducing stage this year - you probably saw Bethan and friends in the Village Pub on Saturday - and they brought their own sound truck to record proceedings. The good news for us non-Wales-dwellers is that tonight's show has been bumped up to national status - yes, we can all tune in from midnight-2am tonight on BBC Radio 1, or indeed Listen Again via the interweb at a later date. So tune in and truck out!

Also on the wireless, Alex James from Blur's interview with farmer Alan Binning and the organisers will be broadcast on Radio 4 on Sunday at 6.30am, when no doubt you will all be up and riding your tractors. I suspect we'll be hearing that one on Listen Again too!

SEE: TRUCK PHOTOBLOG on ARTROCKER
Louise Roberts was everywhere at the weekend taking pictures - and some of them are up already on our site and also on the Artrocker site.

Tired and happy

7/29/2009 11:14:19 AM

Ash and the Bennett brothers... is that a shining light in the background?

Thanks again from us to everyone who came to TRUCK this year. Since Joe and Robin sat round the kitchen table in 1998 and wrote our wishlist of bands (yes, it did include Ash) we've had many great festival times but this was the best yet. By the way, if you'd like to relive the moment further, Bethan Elfyn will be broadcasting on national Radio 1 tonight from Midnight to 2am, with lots of live tracks and interviews recorded in the Village Pub on Saturday.

More photos...

7/28/2009 5:07:17 PM

Well folks, we've nearly finished tidying up at the farm, and Louise has sent some more pictures for you to enjoy. As ever, the barn was a rustic-smelling punk rock heaven. Here are some shots of some of the artists who appeared on the barn stage: The Xcerts, Pulled Apart By Horses and Wild Beasts. All images © 2009 Louise Roberts. All rights reserved.

Some pics for starters...

7/27/2009 8:20:18 PM

We're always running around so much at the festival that we forget to take photos - so special thanks to ace photographer Louise Roberts who has captured loads of memorable images of this year's TRUCK. More to follow, and Louise will also be posting shots on the Clash and Artrocker websites in the next week or so so check them too. All images © 2009 Louise Roberts. All rights reserved.

Pictured: Gaz Coombes playing in The Hot Rats, one of Skylarkin, and one of Supergrass on the back of a truck. Thanks again everyone, it was the best one ever! All shots copyright Louise Roberts 2009.

Thanks Everyone!

7/27/2009 12:51:29 PM

We had a great time at TRUCK 12, we hope you did too. We'll be posting some pictures here later today. If you're in the area the Oxford Mail today has a nice photo spread... So much great music - the general consensus is it was the best TRUCK ever! Drop us an email to let us know what you thought. Until next year... love from all at Hill Farm.x

TRUCK is tomorrow! tickets available on the gate.

7/24/2009 9:42:08 AM

Advance tickets are offsale in most outlets - day and weekend tickets will be available on the gate.

Doors open Saturday at 9am.

Door prices are as follows:

WEEKEND PASS - £80

SATURDAY - £50

SUNDAY - £45

PARKING - £10

See you at the weekend!

TRUCK is THIS WEEKEND! have you got your ticket?

7/23/2009 3:24:50 PM

The truck is in place, the marquees are up, the programmes and CDs are arriving at the office and there's a heady scent of excitement in the air!

We're all looking forward to seeing Ash, Supergrass and everyone else at Hill Farm this weekend, and hope you'll be joining us.

Today, believe it or not, Alex James from Blur was onsite interviewing the farmer for Radio 4. Have you got your ticket yet? Alex has got his!

Some weekend and day tickets are still available- they will be available on the gate but you can still buy tickets at the advance price until 9am tomorrow (Friday) morning from any of the following outlets:
Buy online from:

wegottickets

theticketsellers
Telephone: 0844 870 0000 (24 hrs)

gigantic

seetickets

ticketline
Ticketline Sales Hotline: 0844 888 9991

...and from the following shop outlets:

OXFORD
Scribbler
Videosyncratic (Cowley Rd & Summertown)
Music Box

ABINGDON
Local Roots

WITNEY
Rapture

DIDCOT
Baby John's Guitar World

WALLINGFORD
Toby English Books

READING
Guitar Works

HIGH WYCOMBE
Counter Culture

LONDON
Rough Trade East / Rough Trade Notting Hill

Tubelord and Crystal Fighters added!

7/21/2009 3:39:52 PM

Yes, it's true, The bad news is, neither Grammatics or Colour are able to appear. The good news is we've got two worthy replacements. Check out all the Barn acts here, and a lot more descriptions are still being added! here to play us out for now are Crystal Fighters, with their song 'Xtatic Truth':

Here's a field...

7/20/2009 6:44:31 PM

all it needs is: a truck, some bands, and most of all....

YOU!

Five days to go- have you got your ticket yet? Weekend and Day tickets are still available.

Friday's 5-a-day, and the bands are warming up!

7/17/2009 2:39:17 PM

If you're stuck for something to do tonight- why not head down to The Windmill, Brixton, where Danny & the Champions of the World, Dusty & the Dreaming Spires, Y, Trevor Moss & Hannah Lou and Cat Martino are all warming up for Truck! or if you're in Oxford, head to the Cellar where This Town Needs Guns are doing the same.

Right, here are some more artist profiles from the pens of Plan B Mag...

This Town Needs Guns
Village Pub, Sunday 18:40-19:15

This Town Needs Guns have been hailed as champions of a new breed of British indie bands and they’ve cut their teeth touring with the likes of Rolo Tomassi and I Was A Cub Scout (not literally, of course, the dentistry bills would be astronomical). Sounding not entirely unlike their Oxford counterparts Foals, TTNG tread a more intricate path, through polyrhythms and jazzy bass lines. The band released their debut album Animals in 2008, on the equally ambitiously-named Big Scary Monsters Recording Company.

Grandmaster ‘Tache
Barn, Sunday 20:30-21:00

We’ve heard conflicting rumours about this guy. Some say he’s got the most unbelievable moustache this side of Wyatt Earp. Some say he’s just a prepubescent pugilist with ideas above his station. Some say the music he plays could never live up to the impressive growth on his top lip, others maintain it’s the source of his uncanny powers. There’s only one place to find out, see you there.

Sky Larkin
Barn, Sunday15:50-16:20

If female-fronted, credible, garage-come-C86 rock bands, citing influences like The Breeders and Violent Femmes aren’t your thing, well that’s just too bad for you. Sky Larkin clearly move in the same musical circles as contemporaries such as Johnny Foreigner, Los Campesinos! And Dananananaykroyd, though – not being quite so twee - I dare say there are far fewer butterflies and a lot more fire in their bellies.

A Place To Bury Strangers
Barn, Saturday 20:00-20:45

Tripartite Brooklyn noiseniks turn things up to 11 with their scuzzy dirges, shoegazey vocals and tar-thick feedback – yeah, you can almost smell the bike-oil and scorched leather. They make no secret of their (obvious) influences: The Jesus and Mary Chain, Suicide, Mazzy Star. This is damaged, grubby music with its heart in the gutter and its dreams looking skyward.

Farmer Jason
Kids' Tent, Sunday at around about 5pm.

Farmer Jason was born when Jason Ringenberg, formerly of fiery country punk veterans Jason And The Scorchers, decided he wanted to make some music his kids could listen to when he was away on tour. The result was kooky concept masterpiece A Day On The Farm where Jason positioned himself as the Pixar of children’s singers, reviving weary parents and captivating the kids equally with stirring songs about barnyard animals such as ‘Guitar Pickin’ Chicken’. Fingers crossed he plays ‘Punk Rock Skunk’ from second album Rockin’ In The Forrest, too.

TRUCKERS GET WARMED UP

7/16/2009 9:55:56 AM

It's well known that some of us at TRUCK towers like to play a tune or two- so we're taking a break from festival practicalities to warm up our pickin' fingers and vocal chords in Cardiff, Brixton and Oxford. Why not join us as we get in the mood to TRUCK?

First up: TONIGHT! - Cardiff Buffalo Bar with Bethan Elfyn and friends.
Dusty & the Dreaming Spires will be playing alongside Wales' own Blue Wall and Fredrick Stanley Star, and of course Bethan herself on the wheels of steel - all are also joining us for Bethan's BBC Wales Introducing stage at the festival. Doors 8pm, entry £3.

Tomorrow - Friday 17th - Brixton Windmill. Danny the Champ's Still Believe Club (last time the Magic Numbers appeared, this time it's Willie Vlautin of Richmond Fontaine) plus-in the words of Danny-
"All the way from outer space via Los Angeles and fresh from his latest adventures in Will Ferrell's 'Land Of The Lost' we have the living legend that is 'Y'!!... Brooklyn's Cat Martino - she's recently toured with the Likes of Rufus Wainwright and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club ... Oxford's 'Dusty and The Dreaming Spires' is the new project from the brothers Bennett and friends, formerly of the wonderful 'Goldrush' ... our favourite husband and wife duo 'Trevor Moss and Hannah Lou' ....and of course Danny and The Champions Of The World!! Let's just set the controls for the heart of the sun and see where we end up!"
Doors 7.30pm, entry £5.

See You Monday - 20th July - Oxford Cellar (Frewin Court off Cornmarket Street)
This is Robin's Birthday Bash - with Dusty, Danny, Y, Cat and special guest DJs playing Ash and Supergrass tunes so we can BIRTHDAY PARTY LIKE IT'S 1999! Doors 8pm, entry £4

So please come and join us at one or all of these and get warm for the farm!

Speaking of which- TRUCK FESTIVAL is NEXT WEEKEND! July 25th & 26th at Hill Farm, Steventon. It's headlined by Ash and Supergrass, in case you're living under a rock, and the build-up has already started down on the farm.
Some weekend and day tickets are still available- check our website for the latest. You can buy them from the places listed below - there is also a very limited stock of daytickets at Videosyncratic (both), Scribbler and Local Roots. PS- don't do this with your ticket:

Buy online from:

wegottickets

theticketsellers
Telephone: 0844 870 0000 (24 hrs)

gigantic

seetickets

ticketline
Ticketline Sales Hotline: 0844 888 9991

...and from the following shop outlets:

OXFORD
Scribbler
Videosyncratic (Cowley Rd & Summertown)
Music Box

ABINGDON
Local Roots

WITNEY
Rapture

DIDCOT
Baby John's Guitar World

WALLINGFORD
Toby English Books

READING
Guitar Works

HIGH WYCOMBE
Counter Culture

LONDON
Rough Trade East / Rough Trade Notting Hill

Parking will be charged at £7 in advance (£10 on the gate), for which you'll receive a nice green TRUCK monster window cling for your car!

That's all for now- join in the exciting build-up by following us on twitter or joining our Facebook group and fanpage.

And keep an eye out for the TRUCK monster/beast on a street near you!

Truck Monsters sighted in Iceland..

7/14/2009 5:13:55 PM

Yes, our Icelandic friends Hjaltalin have (possibly) sent us this picture of Truck Monsters marauding across the fjords. Don't fear, they are friendly!

Meanwhile here are todays 5 nuggets:

Damo Suzuki
Truck Stage, 20:45-22:00

Japanese-born Damo Suzuki first tasted fame and notoriety through his vocals for seminal ’70s krautrockers Can, after the band discovered him busking on a street in Berlin. He’s known for improvising his whole set, so the only thing you can really predict is that, well...it’ll be unpredictable, reinventing language and sound. And that you’re in for a treat.

Dear Reader
The Barn, 14:30-15:00 Saturday

Johannesburg’s Dear Reader have come a long way to be with you and, boy, are you lucky. Wilting piano, sultry vocals, acoustic twangling – think Imogen Heap, Regina Spektor – a band with one damned impressive batch of softly sultry beckoning songs.

Hot Club Of Cowtown
Market, 19:40-20:30 Saturday

Old-time polka pop from Austin! Via The Grand Ol’ Opry and A Prairie Home Companion! These guys were immense fun headling last years HARVEST.
Bob says: ”I first saw them at SXSW in 1999, continuing the tradition of the great Texan Western bands. Their recent session on ‘Bob Harris Country’ was a sensation.”

Wild Beasts
Barn, 20:00-20:50 Saturday

In a time when schlockwaved careerists spend more time analysing radical demographics than deranging anyone's senses, this already-lauded menagerie's peerless eccentrica is all the more giddy and precious. Each falsetto swoop or formation gallop carries us closer to streamlined operetta than dullard sports montage, for which we are grateful. Hopes thought dashed are coming back.

Disasteradio
Beat Hive,14:50-15:20 Saturday

Pop goes one man and his videogame-warped orchestrations of computers, keyboards and effects units. With press attention peaking back home in New Zealand, Truck flew him halfway around the globe to you. Let's get it pixelating.

Monday's Perfect Ten

7/13/2009 12:05:24 PM

Not long now! Hope you've got your tickets- if not, head down to one of our lovely local shops or click here for online purchase.

We didn't manage to post any previews on Sunday as we were at another festival, which was fun, so today we have ten of the best:

The Hot Rats
Y’know, it’s all very good being two thirds of a creative, questing, alternative rock trio, but sometimes ya just wanna rock. Get me? Ask Gaz and Dan from Supergrass, paying homage to idol Frank Zappa at his most unapologetically Teen Age along with their pal Nigel Godrich (Radiohead producer) and a bunch of classic tunes borrowed from the likes of The Kinks, Gang Of Four, Sex Pistols, and, errr...Syd Barrett.

Dive Dive
Love Idlewild? Got it hard for At The Drive In? Ever thought what they’d sound like spliced together? No need to try, least not now. Get. Into. My. Head. Now. That’s what you’ll be saying after hearing Dive Dive’s aural onslaught. If you haven’t heard it already, cos if you have that’s what you’re saying right now. Right?

Wintersleep
Now three albums deep, and with a 2008 Juno Award for Best New Band nestled safely wherever it provides them most pleasure, these five brave Canadians arrive at Truck on a mission to make your extremities tremble. Consenting parties should arrive promptly, station themselves optimally, and open all available chakra for high-contrast indie rock weaving through drive-in atmospherics. An expressive haze you may struggle to verbalise will be your reward.

Euros Childs
Four albums in three years from the former Gorky's Zygotic Mynci frontman show the gold in this river isn't due to slow any time soon. It's proudly homemade, richly melodic stuff, but rarely so obvious that songs give their all on the first listen.

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
The band pparently have one of every breed of dinosaur ever to have lived amongst their number. We reckon their hands would be too clunky to produce dance that’s this glitchy, bombastic and about as a la mode as it’s possible to be. Like Hot Chip stripping Justice of their cool façade.

Manana
Swiss and epic, and probably best experienced at sunset on top of a glacier waving your cigarette lighter and wondering how they manage to sound so much like U2 at the exact point they got massive. But they’ll no doubt be mighty effective early Saturday afternoon in Oxfordshire, too.

Nervous Testpilot
Game developer and bedroom trance mogul Nervous Testpilot – AKA Oxford's Paul Taylor - returns to Truck with his brand of insistent dark trance. Blending game music, Eurotrance and darkwave, Taylor's live performances often involve the torture and destruction of self-designed machines.

The Xcerts
Misanthropists take note: despite the angsty lyrics, The Xcerts are ridiculously joyful sounding. They sound like they, you know, enjoy life or something. Jeez! Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly’s Sam Duckworth was so enthused by Aberdeen’s exports that he released two singles by them on his Mannequin Republic label. They’re equal parts pop and rock, have excellent fringes and even better spectacles and they have just released their debut album on Xtra Mile Records.

Ute
Ute are comprised of Ollie (on guitar), Joe (he bangs the drums) and Michael (bass and vocals). They hail play some rather heart-warming and grandiose folk rock. Or, to give them a far more indulgent description, they are a “free-wheeling textural psych folk trio with spiky guitar bravado.” I’m not sure that it’s safe to wield anything too spiky at a festival, so I’d be sure to carry a shield when you go to see them play.

Andrew Ferris
Formerly of Jetplane Landing, Ferris 'ere will be going it solo with an acoustic and a tidy jumper this weekend. The Smalltown America label's right hand man will be playing Jetplane favourites and unexpected covers, as well as waving across the field at friends from labelmate bands And So I Watch You From Afar and Calories.

2 weeks today it'll all be starting right about now..

7/11/2009 11:22:23 AM

Here are your 5 profiles for today, picked from all over the globe, in particular Wales, the home of cricket.

The Joy Formidable
The Barn, 17:40-18:20 Sunday

Effusive, melodious, shot through with teen adrenaline and cooing choruses: yeah, The Joy Formidable are a summery, sugary thrill. In fact, they bear more than a little resemblance – in their energy and pure pop guitar sound – to this year’s heroes, Ash.

We Are Enfant Terrible
The Beat Hive, 17:40-18:10 Sunday

France's recent re-emergence as a first world pop state can only be welcomed by all lovers of chansons and arch-yet-triumphant electro-pop. In this case, the template is the hyperglobal pop/dance channelled by CSS from net cafes in the same way Blondie had earlier with discos. You may have noticed I've written 'pop' three times (OK, pedants – four) but if that bothers you, blankly-delivered lyrics like “I cry inside you” evil up the fun.

Army Navy
Village Pub, 12:10-12:40 Saturday

Shamelessly infectious power pop, jangling mightily in the tradition of Teenage Fanclub and The Apples In Stereo. The band’s party starting credentials are sealed by a loving cover of Maxine Nightingale’s disco era classic ‘Right Back Where We Started From’ that slots in perfectly with their well crafted originals.

Captain Wonk Beat Hive, 23:30-01:15 Saturday

Is it a bird, is it a plane? No, it's the wonktastic, spleen-tingling, booty-twisting Captain Wonk! Playing a diverse mix of full-on, mind-blending quirktronica and driving night time funk, Captain Wonk is here to take you on a journey to the outer reaches of your brainius maximus.

Sweet Baboo The Village Pub, 15:15-15:45 Saturday

From the mountains of North Wales, the man behind the moniker is a now-Cardiff-based soloist who keeps it slow and sweet. More proof, if it were needed, that the UK's byways branch into as many alternatives as its high streets.

Friday's 5-a-day

7/10/2009 3:05:57 PM

YACHT
Barn, 21:00-22:00 Sunday

>'A yacht is a recreational boat' says Wikipedia. Seriously – who writes this stuff? Cut to: the living wiki I like to call L.I.F.E. where Portland's girl/boy new DFA-signees throw DIY dance jams for us to origamise to. Crane! Kitty! Hipster! No, but really. Love. Hugs. R&B. Video art. Street magic. And now they've added a bass the size of as a perspiring stallion, any considered opinion is kind of redundant – your hips will betray you.

Little Sister
Village Pub, 17:40-18:20 Sunday

These four ladies of folk, led by one Katy Bennett, spin enchanting stories from harp, accordian, woodwind, vocals and strings. Always one of the highlights of Truck, a Little Sister performance is homely and warm, like Christmas spice.

Nick Cope
Kids' Tent, 5pm Sunday

Candyskins lead singer and all-round charming bloke brings his gift for a tune to bear on universal small and big kid music. Songs about moving around like a spider and how walking’s good for the brain will have an irresistible appeal to any member of the family who’s held on to their sense of wonder.

Andy Hankdog
Village Pub, 14.10-14.40 Sunday

That’s Andy of the venerable British country-folk group Hank Dogs. Together they’ve run Easycome, London’s longest running acoustic night, for over seventeen years, putting in a fair claim to having kickstarted nu-acoustica with unamplified appearances from the likes of David Gray and Mystery Jets. Solo his nimble picking skills and rugged but warm vocal tones can only soar. Fun fact: Andy briefly played bass in a late incarnation of the Sex Pistols, appearing on their number 6 chart hit ‘Silly Thing’ in 1979.

And So I Watch You From Afar
Barn Stage, 14:00-14:30 Sunday

These four guys make dramatic soundscapes in the vein of Explosions In The Sky, Mogwai et al, inspired by the North Coast of Ireland, vanquished heroes and apocalyptic thoughts. But while the word 'prog' generally makes us squirm, we mean it here in truly epic terms; these dudes are loud, urgent and thirsty – try the sprawling, tectonic 'Set Guitars To Kill' for bloodstained evidence.

Thursday's 5-a-day

7/9/2009 12:11:28 PM

OK Truckers, just to remind you again- Supergrass are headlining Oxford day (Sunday 26th July), with Ash topping the bill on Saturday 25th. Weekend and Day tickets are still available, just head to our ticket page.

Here are today's 5 profiles from Plan B....

Supergrass

Truck Stage, 20.15 - close Sunday

Right then, cave dwellers, am I really to explain to you who the – perhaps not grandfathers, but definitely inappropriate uncles – of indie-rock are? Perhaps you’ve never heard ‘Richard III’, never cut some Jagger-esque rug to ‘Pumping On Your Stereo’ or had ‘Alright’ played at you from every radio, TV, boombox and unguarded nook or crevice conceivable? So, how are you enjoying staggering, blinking into the blinding sunlight for the first time, flat-headed festivalgoers? What is it like living under a rock? Erm… No offence.

The Ghost Of A Thousand

The Barn, 19:50-20:30 Sunday

As helpfully illustrated by the recent heavy rock festivals’ semi-ironic bills of aged hair-rockers and faded luminaries from the Eighties and Nineties scenes, Metal has been something of a worm-riddled corpse (note suitably satanic metaphor) of a music scene lately. Ghost Of A Thousand come to invigorate and re-animate like the proverbial shot in the arm with their modern take on metal mayhem that, for once, isn’t just a re-hashing of an equally moribund hardcore scene. Let’s rock! (JC)

Sad Day For Puppets

Village Pub, 22:00-22:40 Saturday

It’s not just their Swedish nationality that’ll have you thinking of unfairly forgotten pop maestros The Cardigans. This band have got the same way with a bouncy tune, though Sad Day For Puppets opt for a side serving of grit where Nina Persson and company would prefer polish. Swedeophobes may prefer to think of them as sort of like Lush if they’d invited J Mascis to guest on lead and stunt guitar.

Fredrick Stanley Star

Village Pub, 17.00-17.40 Saturday

Hailing from Loughborough but now based in Cardiff, Frederick Stanley Starr are either a five-piece experimental ‘progressive shanty’ folk band or a mysterious eponymous figure with multiple personas, depending on who you believe. Their debut album uses field recordings of a typewriter and a creaking gate, and the sonic experiments continue with live shows known for free improvisation, five-part harmonies and the frankly underused percussive effects of large wooden spoons.

Chew Lips

Beat Hive, 19:20-20:00 Sunday

Two boys, one girl. Lonely blips and one hella pair o' lungs. Chew Lips are a painfully hip London trio, but in the best possible sense: recent single 'Solo' is a dizzy digi-pop singalong touched by the magic of Kitsune Records and fresh with the vertigo of NOW. Titchy frontgirl Tigs has the nihilistic vocals of Karen O back when she was still fierce; keep two eyes on these kids.

Countdown to TRUCK! - Get your 5-a-day band previews

7/8/2009 1:11:28 PM

Just over 2 weeks to go! There are so many people playing it's hard to know where to begin, so we thought we'd preview 5 artists a day in the run-up, based on a random automated pic'n'mix process. These profiles are written by contributors from Plan B magazine. Remember, weekend and day tickets are still onsale in shops and online. The cuddly Truck monsters pictured will be available at the festival but you'll have to hurry to the Truck Shop to get one- there are only 40 of them!

THE FIRST FIVE:

Two Door Cinema Club

Beat Hive, 15:40 - 16:15 Saturday

The Two Door Cinema Club may not be the first society that you sign up to in Fresher’s Week, but now that this lot have started huddling under the Kitsune umbrella, you may as well put pen to paper. Unashamedly POPPY (capitals essential), they’re fun and clever sorts who noticed ‘an obvious absence in the rhythm department’ and stuck a laptop where the less imaginative would settle for a stick-wielder. Hurrah!

Luke Smith

Village Pub Stage, 16:40 - 17:20 Sunday

Canterbury-based Smith makes honky-tonk tinged odd pop; a little bit bar-room jazz, a little bit cabaret and a little bit geeky. He seems to be almost always pictured with a mug, so p’raps you should all turn up with cups of tea.

Digital Donkey

Beat Hive, 01:15 - 02:30 Saturday

Jason Rook has been unleashing his brand of psychedelia since his involvement with the early days of Liquid Connective in 2001. Digital Donkey uses his full spectrum of musical influences from electro through to hip-hop to create a truly original sound One of the finest eclectic DJ’s in the scene playing some full on night time flavour.

The XX

Beat Hive, 18:30 - 19:10 Saturday

Soulful and pure, as raw as a fresh wound and every bit as hard to take your mind off. If they play their laid back, new-wave-as-hell cover of Womack & Womack’s ‘Teardrops’, we may as well all pack up our tents and leave, because it surely can’t get a whole lot better than that.

Jason Sebastian Russo

Beat Hive, 15:40 - 16:20 Sunday

Brooklynite Jason Russo's alt-psych pedigree is impeccable. Former guitarist for mesmeric soft-psych legends Mercury Rev, Russo toured the world as a teenager but has remained resolutely unjaded, instead drawing his micronarratives from imaginary, self-directed movies. Located somewhere between The Microphones and Feist, Russo's new solo material retains the lyrical swagger and bite of his teenage band Hopewell, but marries it with a balmy lightness of touch that promises the perfect Truck sunset. Or would do, if he were playing a bit later.

TRUCK full line-up announced, and the beer's cheap!

7/3/2009 3:11:28 PM

It's the month of July, which means it's the month of TRUCK!

We think we've just about finished fiddling around with the line-up and times- see the line-up page of our website - so start planning your itinerary (to be abandoned after a few pints of perry)...

If you've already got your ticket, you might like to think about booking our bus service from London, Didcot or Oxford, provided by Festival Coaches- it drops you off right at the main entrance to the site.

And don't forget to remind your friends that tickets ARE still available (contrary to the rumour we keep hearing that TRUCK is sold out) - we have added 700 to the licence capacity this year so you can still buy Weekend and Day tickets, either online or from our trusty shop outlets.

As Truck 12 rumbles ever nearer Truck Bar have contacted us with some very good news indeed- they have informed us that they will be holding the prices of lager, cider and delicious perry at £3 a pint for the FOURTH year on the trot!! A decision that is worth toasting we think........... Andy Roo from Truck Bar said "We like to think that we offer a unique experience for people who come to visit our quaint little watering hole, the staff are all volunteers and work without any payment, allowing us to maximise the amount of money we are able to pass on to Truck to support their valuable charity work." Great stuff, Truck Bar.

That's all for now- join in the exciting build-up by following us on twitter or joining our Facebook group and fanpage.

And keep an eye out for the TRUCK monster/beast on a street near you!

MONSTER GOES SHOPPING...

7/1/2009 4:11:28 PM

We're in to the final month countdown to TRUCK, and we're hearing reports of sightings of the famed TRUCK beast...

If you're not already signed up, don't forget to follow us on Twitter, for all the latest news and monster sightings!

You can also join our Facebook group and become a fan.

Or in the real world of flesh and fur, why not come and say hello in Abingdon Town Square (Saturday) or the Carnival in South Park, Oxford (on Sunday).

Don't forget, we've released additional weekend and day tickets so there are plenty available- HERE.

MY OTHER CAR IS A TRUCK...

6/29/2009 12:11:28 AM

If you ordered a car park pass online, you're about to get one of these - if you bought one in a shop, you'll already have one. Why not stick it on your windscreen now to let the world know you're a TRUCKER!- don't worry, the stick pretty well, we've had ours on our window for months already... if you don't have yours yet, additional Day and Weekend Tickets are available now- CLICK HERE to buy yours.

I SHOULD COCO!

6/27/2009 12:11:28 AM

Head down the Cowley Road and check out this monstrous billboard... and enjoy a mojito while you're at it!

Only 4 weeks to go til Supergrass and co in a field, have you got your ticket yet?

Available from all the usual outlets. Limited day tickets available online.

RIP MJ

6/26/2009 12:11:28 AM

Here he is as we'd prefer to remember him...

Dusty at the Rusty TONIGHT!

6/25/2009 12:11:28 AM

Additional tickets released for TRUCK festival 2009

6/25/2009 12:11:28 AM

After lengthy negotiations with the council, we've completed our licence amendment for this year. This means we are able to increase our site capacity from 5000 to 6000 -
After taking into account the 100 bands, and various stewards, crew, Rotary Club members, vicars, etc, we are able to release a further

700 weekend tickets
300 dayTrucker tickets (for each day).

The festival takes place in one month – on July 26th & 26th – at Hill Farm, Steventon.
These additional tickets are going on sale immediately through the following outlets:

wegottickets
theticketsellers - Telephone [0844 870 0000 24 hours]
gigantic
seetickets
ticketline

and from bricks & mortar establishments including Rough Trade Shops

+++ NEW ADDITIONS TO OXFORD DAY-

We’ve got a pretty definitive spread of Oxford music history now- new additions:

THE HOT RATS, Gaz and Dan from Supergrass’ new side-project with Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich – one of their first ever gigs and it’s in the cowshed!

STARS OF TRUCK AND FIELD- a one-off local supergroup with Mark Gardener of Ride joining together with Robin and Joe of Goldrush (yes, that's us, the festival organizers..)

STORNOWAY – Oxford’s hottest new band, fresh from Single of the Week on Drowned in Sound for Zorbing , and performing 5 times at Glasto this weekend…

Here’s what else you can expect at TRUCK…
Ash, Damo Suzuki, Red Light Company, Vieux Farka Touré, Y!M!D! day in the barn with Wild Beasts, A Place To Bury Strangers, Fresh Out The Box cowshed rave with Total Science, DJ Food, Oxford Day with Supergrass, the Candyskins Yacht, Bob Harris Presents... Gary Louris & Mark Olson, Hot Club of Cowtown, Rock Sound day in the barn with Ghost of a Thousand…

For the most up to date news and general musings join our Twitter feed-

PS- don't miss Dusty at the Rusty , at the Rusty Bicycle pub on Magdalen Road this Thursday (25th June) from 8-11pm, with Dusty & the Dreaming Spires plus special guests Mark Gardener and Will Phipps. FREE ENTRY- Facebook event HERE.

Here's the flyer:

One Trucker made his own poster...

6/19/2009 12:11:28 AM

A certain Daniel James Quanstrom did this one for his own amusement. Thanks Daniel.

TRUCK is on the way!

6/18/2009 12:11:28 AM

It's that festivalmania time of year when the world goes Glasto-mad. It's also just over a month until TRUCK festival, so if you haven't got your ticket yet, it's time to make that change! (click here to head to our ticket page)

If a whole weekend sounds like hard work, we now also have Daytrucker tickets on sale for Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th.

There are so many great artists appearing at TRUCK we don't know where to start- some of them were all over the radio last night on the BBC, so if you're quick you can listen again to the various shows:

Wintersleep - in session with Zane Lowe

The Joy Formidable - in session with Radcliffe & Maconie

Stornoway - interviewed by Huw Stephens

The line-up is on our website, with additions being added as they are confirmed.
You can also follow us on twitter or join our facebook group to stay in the loop.

One just in- in addition to their headline appearance, Gaz and Danny from Supergrass will be playing one of their first ever shows as The Hot Rats, in the Barn on the Sunday. They've just been recording with Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich. Alright!

We're looking forward to recent 4AD signings Broken Records too- their Oxford show was amazing!

PS.... If you're going to Glasto, check out Stornoway at one of their many performances, and don't miss Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen, of course.

If you're not going, head down to the Windmill, Brixton tomorrow night (Friday) for a dose of Tramps Like Us- Songs by the Boss covered by everyone from Danny & the Champions of the World to Jersey Budd.
Then, next Thursday (25th June) head over to the Rusty Bicycle in Oxford for Dusty at the Rusty with special guest Mark Gardener. It's free!

ASH headlining TRUCK FESTIVAL!

6/15/2009 12:11:28 AM

In case you missed our previous announcement... Some of us recently saw Ash, now back to the original 3-piece, at Bloomsbury Ballroom. They played all the hits from right across their career, including this one. There won't be a dry eye in the field. TRUCK tickets are available now from our tickets page. OH YEAH, it's the start of the summer!

SUPERGRASS headlining TRUCK FESTIVAL!

6/10/2009 12:11:28 AM

I know, we've already announced this, but... they really are! In case you've forgotten the glory of the 'Grass, here's a nostalgia-tinged promo clip for Caught By The Fuzz.. we've all been there. haven't we? Only a month and a bit to go. TRUCK tickets are still onsale from your usual outlets:

wegottickets.com,
gigantic.com,

seetickets.com

OXFORD
Scribbler
Videosyncratic (Cowley Rd & Summertown)
Music Box

ABINGDON
Mostly Books
Local Roots

WITNEY
Rapture

DIDCOT
Baby John's Guitar World

WALLINGFORD
Toby English Books

READING
Guitar works

HIGH WYCOMBE
Counter Culture

LONDON
Rough Trade East / Rough Trade Notting Hill

HOT CLUB OF COWTOWN join the fun at TRUCK!

6/5/2009 12:11:28 AM

We're delighted that the stars of last year's Harvest festival, Hot Club of Cowtown, are joining the bill for Bob Harris Presents... at TRUCK festival. Bob is a big fan of the band, as are we. He'll be introducing and interviewing all the artists on the Sunday afternoon on the Market stage. The Line-up already includes Gary Louris & Mark Olson of the Jayhawks, Mike Heron (Incredible String Band) with Georgia Seddon, Pete Molinari, Eliza Gilkyson and band, Danny & the Champions of the World, and Angie Palmer. If you like any kind of folk, roots or americana music, you won't find a better bill anywhere this summer. Festival tickets are available now from our ticket page.

TRUCK: THE 2ND DELIVERY

5/29/2009 12:11:28 AM

Someone once said 'Life is like a box of chocolates'. And so is the next delivery of artists from TRUCK. But it's not a box of identical indie band Ferrero Rochers, it's more of a hand-crafted case of artisan swiss chocolates for everyone to enjoy. Ambassador, we're really spoiling you.

In today's delivery:

A sprinkling of the best guitar bands: the already mentioned WILD BEASTS, WINTERSLEEP, THE JOY FORMIDABLE, WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS, WHITE BELT YELLOW TAG
Mali music star (and son of Ali) VIEUX FARKA TOURE and his band.
A 90-minute improvised set from DAMO SUZUKI of CAN and an all-star cast of 'sound-carriers'. Shoegazetronics from A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS and SAD DAY FOR PUPPETS. South Africans DEAR READER. Some glacial Icelandic soundscapes from HJALTALIN. Welsh goodness from EUROS CHILDS and THE TRUCKERS OF HUSK.
TRUCK is here to support the local music scene so has dedicated the whole of Sunday's mainstage to Oxford based bands, 'Oxford Day' will include legend's like THE CANDYSKINS, DIVE DIVE, all topped off by by Oxford other brother's SUPERGRASS.
The now infamous Cowshed Rave returns with DJ FOOD and DK, TOTAL SCIENCE, LEE MORTIMER & FOAMO and Oxford's own TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS.
We have new stages from: NONCLASSICAL, BBC INTRODUCING with Bethan Elfyn, and ROCK SOUND MAGAZINE.

Check the lineup page on the website (here) for the full list of confirmed artists, and don't forget to follow us on twitter.

TRUCK tickets are available now, from shop outlets or online from wegottickets, gigantic or seetickets.
2 months to go and two thirds of the tickets are gone already...

Wild Beasts to play at TRUCK 12!

5/27/2009 12:11:28 AM

We're excited that recent Domino signings Wild Beasts will be joining the bill at TRUCK 12, headlining the barn on Saturday 25th July. Other recent additions include Oxford's rising stars Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, playing the barn for the second year in a row, and Vieux Farka Touré, son of Ali and a Mali music legend in his own right. We've been supporting locally-based charity Mali Development Group for a number for years, and have recently committed to a further 3 years' support for their AIDS education work in Bamako, capital of Mali, so we're especially pleased to establish a musical link too. Tickets for TRUCK are available NOW- head to our tickets page to see where.

Thanks Everyone!

5/21/2009 12:11:28 AM

WOOD was a great success so thanks to everyone who braved the slightly British weather. We'll see you all in a couple of months for TRUCK!

....YEEEHHHAAA! We've got ourselves a CONVOY-starting tomorrow!

5/1/2009 12:11:28 AM

Braker!Braker! This is You!Me!Dancing! come in please TRUCK...What's your twenty? Oxford's own small-but-perfectly-formed summer festival (that's us) have joined forces with You! Me! Dancing! Oxford's own small- but- perfectly- formed promoters to present an amazing series of gigs over the May bank holiday weekend, giving you all the taste for Truck, so when July comes round you'll all be begging for another hit.

We will be taking over the venues, and as Sarah Beaney would say 'bringing the outdoors indoors' so expect hay bales, bunting and plenty more surprises, and TRUCKING treats for anyone that comes wearing wellys.

Curious? Want to hear more? The weekend shapes up a little bit likes this:

THE XCERTS + DUSTY & THE DREAMING SPIRES + UTE
Saturday 2 May 2009, The Jericho Tavern – 18+ £6 adv

"Nothing short of ashtonishing" Kerrang! And for once Kerrang, we agree. Biffy for those of you that werent lucky enough to be party of the Zodiac generation.

THE TRUCK STOP BBQ
Sunday 3 May 2009 from 1pm, The Jericho Tavern Garden
feat. Burgers + Beers + Sunshine & Acoustic Loveliness till 7pm. Artists TBC.

THE JOY FORMIDABLE + DARTZ!+ CALORIES
Sunday 3 May 2009, The Jericho Tavern – 18+ £6 adv

Welsh born, London bred The Joy Formidable bring their dreamy-indie, perfect-pop for their first Oxford headline show. Don’t get us started on our love for Dartz, we’d be here for pages.. Drowned in sound say its “the best underground party you were never invited to”, Music week call it “Super-smart, magnificently melodic and overtly original pop.”We think it’s simply the best clash of Minus The Bear, Bloc-Party, Q and Not U and Fugazi you’ll probably ever hear. Joined by Calories, last seen supporting Dananananakroyd. Featuring former members of the late-great Distophia, it’s Les Savy Fav, it’s The Shins, its R.E.M, its hugely clever pop and you need to get here early to catch it.

ROLO TOMASSI + GRAMMATICS + PULLED APART BY HORSES
Monday 4 May 2009, O2 Academy Oxford, All Ages £7 adv

Rock Sound cover stars, Rolo Tomassi have been storming all over the UK recently with F*cked Up, The Bronx and Gallows and are set to round it all up with us, at the O2 Academy Oxford. Support comes from hotly tipped ones-to-watch, and Y!M!D! favourites, Pulled Apart By Horses and Grammatics.

So if you haven't broken your leg on a shopping trolley whilst jumping off the Magadalen bridge – we'll see you at the front!

Summer loving, Y!M!D! & Truck

Tickets are available now from www.wegottickets.com/youmedancing

Limited vintage Truck' Weekender' wristbands priced at £15 are available.

WOOD warm-up at Barracks Lane this Sunday..

4/21/2009 12:11:28 AM

Only a month to go until WOOD, and we're getting the mood with some warm-up activities: We'll be at the lovely Barracks Lane Community Garden in Oxford this Sunday from 2pm, so do come and join us for music and activities on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Entry is free.

Also, on Thursday evening the Wood Festival All-Stars and friends will be appearing at the Oakford Social Club in Reading, entry also free.

Tickets for WOOD, May 15th-17th at Braziers Park, are on sale now.

Have you seen these men?

4/20/2009 12:11:28 AM

It is believed that they are responsible for such hits as Girl from Mars, Shining Light, Envy and even that one from that Ewan MacGregor movie. Their only known location in England this summer is at a small Oxfordshire village known as 'Steventon'. Oh Yeah: it's the start of the summer. Time to cast off those winter gowns and frowns and purchase your TRUCK ticket.

Not got yours yet? Jump to the TICKET page >>

DJ Food to headline the Cowshed Rave at TRUCK...

4/16/2009 12:11:28 AM

Never let it be said that Truck is purely an indie guitar festival... there has always been a dance element to our music. More often than not it has been provided by our friends from Fresh Out The Box, who have ridden in the can with us since the dawn of time in 1998. This year they are bringing DJ Food & DK's audio-visual extravaganza to the barn, as well as Oxford's Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs and several more names to be announced. The Fresh Out The Box Box will also be making it's first appearance outdoors, hosting DJs in a faraway field all through the day for those whose blood runs on beats not guitars. TRUCK tickets are available now- for outlets see the

Tickets

page.

ASH and SUPERGRASS at TRUCK! plus loads more...

4/6/2009 12:11:28 AM

We thought it was time for the first delivery of bands that are all confirmed to play at TRUCK 12 on 25/26th July. Sorry, no Megadeth! but we are pleased to announce some of our all-time favourite bands will be appearing at Hill Farm, Steventon:

Local heroes SUPERGRASS will headline on the Sunday night, while ASH shine a light and bring the hits to the Truck Stage on the Saturday.

Joined by the best new bands on the back of a truck, including RED LIGHT COMPANY and DETROIT SOCIAL CLUB.

Last year's favourites YACHT will play the Barn Stage in their only UK festival appearance. Sunday is Rock-day in the barn, with AND SO I WATCH YOU FROM AFAR, PULLED APART BY HORSES and CALORIES already confirmed; DATA SELECT PARTY and many more will appear on the Saturday. Over in the Beat Hive ERRORS, HELOISE AND THE SAVOIR FAIRE, CHEW LIPS, SPORTSDAY MEGAPHONE and NERVOUS TESTPILOT are all confirmed.

Inspired by our succesful experiment at WOOD last year, The Market stage will be run on solar power this year. It will feature new 4AD signings BROKEN RECORDS on the Saturday, and on Sunday will be curated by Steventon’s own Bob Harris, presenting GARY LOURIS & MARK OLSON (The Jayhawks), PETE MOLINARI and MIKE HERON and GEORGIA SEDDON (Incredible String Band songwriter performing with his daughter) with more great names to come.

Tickets costing £70 for the whole weekend are on sale from:

wegottickets
gigantic
seetickets

and these shop outlets:
OXFORD: Scribbler, Videosyncratic (Cowley Rd & Summertown), Music Box
ABINGDON: Mostly Books, Local Roots
WITNEY: Rapture
DIDCOT: Baby John's Guitar World
WALLINGFORD: Toby English Books
READING: Guitar works
HIGH WYCOMBE: Counter Culture
LONDON: Rough Trade East

Keep your eyes peeled for more announcements over the coming weeks.
We've worked out how to use Twitter so come join us – here.
Or visit our website.

TRUCK is an independent, family-run festival founded in 1998.
The local Rotary Club provide the food and the vicar sells ice-cream.
In 2008 truckers helped raise over £50,000 for charities and good causes.

WOOD:

We also run WOOD, a smaller event which runs entirely on renewable power, at Braziers Park, Oxfordshire on May 15th-17th. The line-up for WOOD includes Brakes, Karine Polwart, Spiers & Boden, Po' Girl and Meic Stevens, as well as a host of workshops and activities. The Supertrucker ticket will get you access to both events at a discount.

Happy Monday from all at Truck HQ

Greetings to you all this Martin Luther King day...

1/19/2009 12:11:28 AM

No doubt MLK would feel most vindicated that in a few hours, Barack Obama will be inaugurated as President of the USA. These are heady days and times we live in. Words like Change and Hope are in the air and what's more, even we 'Brits' have caught on. But we can't rely on the new president, inspiring though he is, to bring about all that change on our behalf. Most of us don't live in America, for one thing and making real changes is down to us - "be the change that you want to see in the world", said Gandhi. But it's hard to be like that all the time. We all try to do our best, but wouldn't it be exciting if in this year of 2009 we do a little more of what we dream of.

Being in the USA on this day 3 years ago left a big impression on me. If only we had a similar occasion over here. Here's a clip of a song my friend Danny and I wrote whilst we printed T shirts for Truck in summer 2006. (Click here to watch it on Youtube)
We'll be letting you know about Truck's dreams for 2009 shortly - but here's some dates for your diary.....
WOOD - 15th-17th May
TRUCK Twelve - 25th & 26th July
The event that tells you it's 6 months to go, EquiTruck, is at The Jericho on January 31st.
TRUCK ARTS weekly workshops for age 8-14 continue today at Fusion on the Cowley Road today, 4-6pm.
Visit the TRUCK website for all the latest.

All the best for 2009 and good luck Barack Obama, from Dusty & all at TRUCK.

PS- I've printed the words to the song below as my mother in law claims she can't hear them properly...

"It was Martin Luther King day, I was trying to remember what did Martin Luther King say, but his words get lost along the crowded airwaves. The Pope and all his cardinals were counting out the days and nights in roman numerals, keeping note of all the weddings and the funerals.. but that's a hard hard road to follow,

that's a hard hard light to see, if you see me here tomorrow, don't follow me.

The angels in the fables, keeping watch on all the shepherds in their stables, don't you think they wish that they could turn the tables? Well, I had a dream that one day we won't get stuck up like traffic on the highway and we'll live up to the finer things that we say..."