Truck Festival reveals star-studded line-up with Bombay Bicycle Club, The Kooks, IDLES and more

Truck Festival is set to go ahead at Hill Farm, Steventon, near Didcot, from July 22-25, headlined by Bombay Bicycle Club, The Kooks and Royal Blood. And tickets have already sold out.

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The festival ended months of speculation last night by revealing its first tranche of almost 70 bands and artists, and insisting the event would go ahead. This comes as other large events, including Glastonbury Festival and, locally, Cornbury and Riverside festivals and Cowley Road Carnival took the decision to call off their shows.

Truck, like all major events, was forced to cancel last year’s festival but gave fans the opportunity to roll over their tickets, meaning the event was already sold-out before last night’s announcement.

Ivor Novello-winning Bombay Bicycle Club had been due to headline last year and agreed to return when the festival was called off.

Also joining the fun on farmer Alan Binning’s land for the 23rd edition of the festival, are Blossoms, Fontaines D.C, IDLES, Tom Walker, Circa Waves, Sports Team, Shame, The Lathums, Squid, Pale Waves, Sundara Karma, The Big Moon, Lauran Hibberd, Little Simz, Chubby and the Gang and more.

Bombay Bicycle Club -Truck Festival 2020

Bombay Bicycle Club

The Oxford Symphony Orchestra are the first local act revealed.

Warming up the crowd will be exercise guru Mr Motivator – whose stretching sessions have become a popular Truck tradition.

Festival organiser Matt Harrap said: “It’s so good to be back and we’re over the moon to finally announce our first wave of artists!.

“After the 12 months we’ve all had, to have the likes of Bombay Bicycle Club, The Kooks, and Royal Blood to close off the Sunday night, Truck Festival 2021 is already proving to be one for the history books. We’re also thrilled to welcome back IDLES to the main stage sunset slot, Little Simz closing the Market Stage and, of course, personal favourites Chubby and the Gang.

Royal Blood. Picture by Emma Sheppard.

Royal Blood

“It’s humbling to see all tickets have already sold out and it’s going to be a weekend to remember. See you at the bar?”

The event has stressed it will be following government guidance on coronavirus. Marketing Manager Conor Burns said: “There may be bumps in the road ahead, but we’re doing absolutely everything we can to throw that much needed party at Hill Farm. We’ll be working with the local authorities and following all the latest guidance, but rest assured if we aren’t able to go ahead, all ticket holders will be able to rollover to Truck Festival 2022 or given the opportunity to claim a refund.”

Idles

IDLES

The Kooks frontman Luke Pritchard said: “We’re so excited to be playing Truck Festival this summer. After last year’s cancellation, we just can’t wait to get back on stage and celebrate properly. It’s gonna be the biggest party ever!”

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BRIT, NME and Q award winning rock duo Royal Blood will perform tracks from their third album. Emerging onto the scene in 2013, the have cultivated a reputation for outstanding live shows, complete with high volume, scuzzy riffs and blustering energy, with accolades from NME and Q to prove it. In January the pair announced the release of their third album, Typhoons, due next month as well as tunes dating back to their self-titled Mercury Prize nominated debut. They said: “We can’t wait to headline Truck Festival this summer. It’s been almost two years since we last played a festival, it’s going to be quite a show.”

* While tickets have sold out, there is a resale waiting list at truckfestival.com/2021-sold-out-ticket-resale/

Truck Festival. By Tim Hughes

The bands so far...

Bombay Bicycle Club, The Kooks, Royal Blood, Blossoms, Fontaines D.C., DMA’S, IDLES, Tom Walker, Little Simz, Circa Waves, Pale Waves, Sundara Karma, Sports Team, Shame, The Pigeon Detectives, The Lathums, The Big Moon, The Magic Gang, The Snuts, Dinosaur Pile Up, Black Honey, Squid, Biig Piig, Fickle Friends, Orla Gartland, Alfie Templeman, The Orielles, Porridge Radio, P7gs, Bad Sounds, Sorry, The Holloways, Vistas, Just Mustard, Kawala, The Mysterines, Lauran Hibberd, Baby Queen, Do Nothing, Bloxx, Talk Show, The Clockworks, Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard, Egyptian Blue, Chubby and the Gang, Deco, Abbie Ozard, Dream Nails, The Hara, Chappaqua Wrestling, Home Counties, Phoebe Green, The Winter Passing, Ditz, Honey Lung, Beach Riot, Orchards, The Goa Express, I Cried Wolf, Lime Garden, Folly Group, Jacquard Looms, Witch Fever, Deep Tan, Mr Motivator and The Oxford Symphony Orchestra.

More to follow – including local acts...