On Sunday we return tired but excited to a muddy festival site, looking forward to the last day of surprises. We arrive early in the afternoon and catch the last bit of today’s showers. It’s still a challenge to get from one stage to the other but the weather starts to get better and the soil starts to dry again. The Market Stage isn’t just a safe haven protecting from the weather and the mud, it’s also where the best bands seem to have been programmed. So Young magazine have curated this stage and they’ve done a cracking job. First up is Kanadia, who most stand out due to their singers incredible voice. Their sound is an upbeat and energetic rock one, and their show at TRUCK has turned us into fans.
Next up we enjoy a softer indie pop sound from overpass, and get absolutely blown away by the most powerful live performance of our weekend, performed by The Last Dinner Party . A party it sure is with a singer that seems to have a neverending amount of energy and a crystal clear voice we could listen to for a very long time. This band of incredibly talented musicians garnered lots of attention ahead of their first few singles and their live show shows us why that is; because they’re very fucking memorable.
With so many bands to choose from you never know who you end up in front of, which is what we’re at Truck for! We end up at the This Feeling stage where we catch Harri Larkin, not a band we’d heard of before. The band from Sheffield mixes indie pop with bits of punk, funk, soul and jazz. Harri Larkin consists of a very passionate singer, great bass player and backing vocals but all credits go out to their amazing drummer Danton Laromani.
We stay to catch north east-based outfit bigfatbig, who deliver a great and energetic live show, after which we head to the mainstage to sing along to Cian Ducrot‘s ‘I’ll Be Waiting’, and for a powerful and passionate performance from Pale Waves with who we celebrate the queer community, there’s no space for exclusion at TRUCK Festival! It is the rocking and energetic sound of the Manchester four-piece that gets us all dancing. A hit for fans of Garbage and Paramore. We then catch the tail end of Slow Time Mondays set who bring a very enjoyable ska rock – if that wasn’t a genre yet, it now is! – set fueled by delicious guitar licks.
A band that was on our wishlist to check out was She’s In Parties, who play in an already packed and warm The Nest. She’s In Parties created a mix of indie, alternative, and shoegaze songs which often sounded like 80’s new wavers Cocteau Twins. The only difference with Cocteau Twins is that we can actually understand what She’s In Parties are singing… During their instrumental parts we end up shoegazing at our muddy shoes and are reminded of their likeness Ride and Slowdive.
Fast-risers The Lathums became popular within no time and it’s therefore no surprise that Truck programmed them on their main stage. The band from Wigan already got two albums out and have curated the perfect setlist for their performance at Truck!
There’s not a chance we’re missing out on a vivacious and banging set from rock duo Royal Blood, who start with hits and end with hits and play all of our favourites, from ‘Loose Change’, past ‘Little Monster’, to end in ‘Ten Tonne Skeleton’. While we walk back to our tent, on the last few tones of ‘Ten Tonne Skeleton’, fireworks erupt and colour the star and we simply have to smile and stare in awe while zooming back through the memories we’ve made this past weekend. It was a first Truck for us, but will definitely not be our last! From getting in easily, to feeling safe and protected by security, to barely ever having to queue throughout the entire festival, the organisation of Truck gets a ten out of ten from us.
Tickets for 2024 are now on sale and for an incredible price so make sure to get yours before these early birds are sold out!
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