Oxford Truckfest Day One

Well since last year's Truckfest went bankrupt without me (not I suspect solely down to my custom), I decided to return this year. Its under new management, but it appears they have very sensibly kept it very much the same as in previous years, thereby keeping its loyal following, while (I hope) doing it in a more business like way (eg, I am told, cutting down on the lighting of the roadways).


But Truck is not a very commercial music festival. Its more a DIY job. This is typified by the catering, which is carried out by three rival districts of the Rotary Club (got to have competition to keep up standards. So one has the choice of Pizza Palace, courtesy of Farringdon Rotary Club, Indian cuisine (lentil dahl, chapattis and rather doughy onion bhajis) from the Oxford District and straightforward burgers and bacon rolls prepared by the slick catering machine that is the Didcot Rotary Club. A couple of ales and a couple of ciders are on offer from from Butts organic Brewery (such a pleasant change from the piss poor Magners and Carling monopoly stranglehold at the bigger festivals) .

 It has three stages, a main stage at one end,

 the 2nd Stage (ie a big tent) at the other,

 and the Barn is the third venue. And yes the barn really is a barn. This is a working farm. At least this year the barn didn't smell like a working barn!

 
And praise be to God, it didn't rain. It only just held off on day one, although we would have been quite wet if we had arrived early.

The fact that its a smaller festival inevitably means it can't attract an array of star names. So its fair to say apart from the headliners it can be a hit nnd miss affair, which in a way adds to the interest value. Even with the aid of the programme notes you don't really know what you will get. You just have to go out and try something new. Its rather like a taster menu. And sometimes you are pleasantly surprised. And sometimes not. So here, for what its worth, were my impressions of day one. Will keep it short. Well, short-ish.

Federation of the Disco Pimp

You won't find this lot troubling the music charts, but a nice funk outfit. I doubt you would go to see them, but you would be quite content to find they were on. A nice break from more standard indie fare.

Josh Kumra

Here was one of those nice surprises. This young man was really good. Along the lines of Ed Sheeran I guess one might say if looking for a well-known comparator, but better looking with a better voice, which might suggest he could trouble the charts one day. Did a nice cover of a MGMT number as well as his own material.

The Fixers

One of the unpleasant surprises. This band sucked. Big time. Rare that I can find nothing positive to say about a band, but sorry. Nothing. Awful.

Spring Offensive

My one foray into the barn to see a band described in the programme as a "literary" band . Not sure what that meant before going and no wiser after. Earnest maybe, But nothing much to commend them.

 Clock opera
A late replacement for the better known Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly (yes they are better known - well he is rather, but was ill). Anyway, professional enough but not much more to say. Apart from a good shave would be in order.

 The Villagers

The first of what might be described as headline acts on the main stage, but the least known of the three. The lead singer was, we guessed, Irish, but we couldn't quite place him. No wow factor, but wistful and pleasant enough.

Tim Minchin

Now we were on surer ground. Tim had sold out Somerset House only a fortnight previously (see my Hampton Court entry). The vast majority of festival goers were crowded round the main stage for this one, but we had got pretty much to the front. On excellent form, really good fun, but with a distinct message to his satirical songs. Immensely likeable, great rapport with the audience, able musician. What's not to like? But not for those offended by blasphemy or bad language. But then if you are, you should probably avoid anything outdoors with young people.

Guillemots
Unfortunately the main stage was running late so even though we made a swift transit to to the second stage we still only caught the last 4 songs from the Guillemots. I have a couple of their albums, so was quite keen to hear some of their new stuff. They were once meant to be the next big thing after issuing "Red", but then didn't build on that so here they were on the 2nd stage a Truck. Didn't help that the lead singer was losing his voice, but what we heard wasn't bad.

Mystery Jets
Then back to the Main Stage for the day's headliners, the Mystery Jets. Don't know what's wrong with this lot. Maybe its just me and I need to listen to their stuff more. Nice enough indie guitar rock, but I think the problem is that none of their songs have a real hook. But not a bad end to the night, and we passed the massed ranks of tents of campers to drive home by midnight. To a nice real bed. With a warm shower in prospect next morning. So much better than camping.