Carry on Truckin’

Every summer for the past 10 years, musicians, artists, fans, party people and random fun-seekers trek down the A34 to Steventon for two days of music, dancing and good times - in a field.

For sure, it's changed over the years, morphing from a village fete with bands into one of the country's favourite gatherings, with awards to match.

And, crucially, it has kept that homegrown charm which first brought along a raggle-taggle bunch of music-lovers to watch local bands play on the iconic truck-bed stage.

On Saturday the 11th Truck Festival gets under way at Hill Farm. And with more than 50 acts, spanning everything from country-rock to rave, it looks like being a scorcher.

"It's as diverse a line-up as we've ever had," says Robin Bennett, who organises the festival with his brother Joe.

"It's really come together well. We wanted to push different areas as far as we could, and tried to choose the best exponents of different types of music."

They include early 90s club act Altern8; space-rocker Sonic Boom; singer-songwriter Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly; Scottish melodic pop act Camera Obscura; and US rock act The Lemonheads, performing album It's a Shame About Ray.

Add to that bands of the calibre of Maps, Noah & the Whale, Fighting with Wire, and the recently reformed Dodgy.

And there are also the usual Truck suspects, with appearances by the likes of Frank Turner, The Epstein, Fonda 500, Luke Smith, Winchell Riots, The Tamborines, Little Fish, Borderville, Tristan & The Troubadours, Robin and Joe's sister KTB, and Danny & The Champions of the World - which stars the three Bennett siblings.

It also includes a few 'wildcard' entries - including collaboration between Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. and Walter Schreifels, from Rival Schools, being dubbed Blimey & The Governors. There could also be interesting additions to sets by Danny & The Champions of the World and Youthmovies, he hints.

"We want to have lots of things happening that aren't going on anywhere else," Robin adds. "Having Altern8 play is very exciting as they haven't played any shows for a while."

This will be the first Truck since the festival was named Britain's best festival in the national Indy Music Awards.

Robin admits the "pressure is on".

"Sometimes expectations run away. But this year we have surpassed them. We've worked hard to make it good."

He admits, however, that he's keeping a close eye on the heavens. Last year's 10th anniversary bash had to be postponed this time last year, when torrential rain left the site under 2ft of water.

The last-minute cancellation was a disaster. With the entire festival infrastructure already in place, they had to pay for everything, including travel for artists - 20 of whom had come from the USA. It cost them £100,000.

About £10,000 was clawed back with a hastily arranged, but very successful weekend-long benefit gig at Oxford Brookes University, while Truck, staged in Sep- tember, put the festival back on to an even keel.

Tomorrow night there's a chance to get into the Truck spirit a day early, with a semi-secret set by The Lemonheads at the Bullingdon, on Cowley Road.

Does Robin have any more secrets up his sleeves?

"Well, there are always bands turning up who we've forgotten to put in the programme," he laughs. "One year we had Maximo Park turn up and play for 20 people in one of the tents. We had no idea who they were, but the next year they went big. We've also had Magic Numbers, Editors, Futureheads and The Cribbs.

"One thing we can say, is that a Thames Valley shoe-gazing band is coming together for a one-off show on the Sonic Cathedral Stage in the barn. But I can't say who it is!"

Turck Festival takes place Saturday and Sunday at Hill farm, Steventon. Tickets are £40 for a day, or £70 for the weekend, on the gate. But get there early. It is likely to sell out. The Truck Festival warm-up show, featuring the Lemonheads, takes place at the Bullingdon, Cowley Road, tommorrow night. Tickets are £10.