Bands head down to the farm for the biggest and best Truck fest yet

For 51 weeks of the year, Hill Farm is a typical corner of Oxfordshire, remarkable only for its well-fed cattle and rolling acres of wheat and barley.

But for one weekend each July, the scene is transformed – with thousands of music-lovers and more than 150 bands and artists descending on farmer Alan Binning’s lush pastureland on the edge of Steventon, for one of the country’s freshest and best-loved festivals – Truck.

This will be the 17th instalment of the festival, which was set up by musician brothers Robin and Joe Bennett, who lived in the village, as a way of celebrating Robin’s birthday.

Since then it has been transformed from a gathering of largely local bands using the flat bed of a truck as a stage, into one of the county’s largest music events.

And, says organiser Ralph Broadbent, it’s about to get even bigger.

“This is the largest yet,” he said, talking from the site – which is rapidly being transformed with tents, stages and lights. “We are selling 2,000 more tickets – taking us up to 6,000 people. And with more budget to play around with, there’ll be bigger bands, more things going on and more variety. It’s the biggest line-up ever with an amazing range of bands.

The two-day event, which starts tomorrow, will be headlined by indie-rockers The Charlatans and electronic-dance act Basement Jaxx. They will be joined by an eclectic line-up including Clean Bandit, Temples, Augustines, Public Service Broadcasting, Darwin Deez, New Order’s Peter Hook, Ghostpoet, Lucy Rose, Pulled Apart By Horses, The Fat White Family, Bo Ningen and Slaves.

New and largely local talent comes in the shape of Maiians, Polly & The Billets Doux, Balloon Ascents, Little Brother Eli, Rainbow Reservoir, Will Joseph Cook, Orange Vision, Death of Hi Fi, and Truck veterans Piney Gir, The Epstein, The Loose Salute, Co – Pilgrim, Alphabet Backwards, Trevor Moss & Hannah Lou, Flowers Of Hell, Shape and Decovo.

“Robin and Joe are great – and are very talented musicians,” said Ralph. “They know a lot about music and their stage is always packed because the bands they put on are so well-chosen. They are a massive part of Truck – both historically and in what they offer now.”

Also playing will be festival-founders Robin and Joe Bennett’s band The Dreaming Spires. The pair handed over control of the event in 2012 to Ralph and the team from the award-winning Y Not festival in Derbyshire but remain closely involved, programming its Veterans and Virgins stage.

Among the quirkier offerings are a bar themed as a Wild West saloon, reggae aerobics, a paint fight and a Christmas grotto hosting a programme of rock music.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” said Ralph. “I love the saloon and the grotto will also be a nice surprise for people. It will be cool. I hope people bring their cheesy Christmas jumpers!”

And what are his tips? “Well, I’m a big Basement Jaxx fan so I’m looking forward to that. There are loads of massive hits and their live shows are a big production. They put a lot into their show – and it’s always surprising how many of their hits you know. Public Service Broadcasting are great and are hugely popular and Pulled Apart By Horses will be absolutely epic. Their live show is also amazing and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the highlight of the weekend.

“A lot of people are also looking forward to The Charlatans. We pick the bands everyone wants to see – not just because we want to see them. Having said that, I’ve never seen The Charlatans live so I am excited about that.

He added: “Truck has really got the wind in its sails at the moment. We have got lots of new ideas and it’s going to get bigger and bigger. I hope to go to 10,000 next year.”

Truck bound: The Charlatans

But he assured fans the festival would not lose its independent spirit. “We are not planning to go down the corporate route,” he said. “It is never going to be a major festival with 40,000 people and our independent identity is really important to us, and that comes across in our passion and planning – and into making sure everyone enjoys themselves.

“Truck couldn’t get further from the corporate world. We love Truck being what it is and wouldn’t change it in a hurry. Ultimately, all we care about is our customers having a good time.”

* Truck Festival runs tomorrow and Saturday at Hill Farm, Steventon. Tickets from truckfestival.com

* Basement Jaxx can't wait to get some country air at Truck. Exclusive interview here....

* Full Truck line-up here...

Never upstaged: Basement Jaxx