• With the lovely Cornbury Festival done and dusted for another year, attention turns to the county’s next big gathering – Truck.

As reported, this year’s incarnation of the popular rock, pop, folk and country shin-dig at Hill Farm, Steventon, will see a few tantalising new developments — with a new Veterans and Virgins tent, showcasing the best of Truck’s past and present) and a Saloon, which will host live Americana and blues in an impressively authentic custom-built structure (squint a bit, we are told, and you can imagine yourself in Tennessee — particularly in this heat).

Regular punters will also be delighted to see more choice of food with the addition of a new Food Hall serving everything from steak to sushi (with, we anticipate, shorter queues, meaning you don’t miss any of your favourite bands). Fear not though, Truckers, the gallant lads and lasses of Didcot Rotary will still be there, doing what they have always done — filling the bellies of hungry punters with good, honest burgers and chips, while raising funds for good causes.

Truck Festival takes place at Hill Farm, Steventon, running from July 19-20. For tickets and further details, visit truckfestival.com

  • Getting into the mood for Truck are festival-founders Robin and Joe Bennett, who this weekend play their first ever amphitheatre gig.

You don’t have to go all the way to Rome, Orange or the Hollywood Bowl to see them, though. The brothers’ band Dreaming Spires headline the rather more intimate, forum on the roof of Oxford University’s Said Business School. “We are going to have to get working on some suitable stadium outfits and moves!” joked Robin.

They are joined by Mike Gale’s atmospheric Americana project Co-Pilgrim, The Long Insiders, Olly Wills from The Epstein and five other acts. The night is in aid of Oxford Children’s Hospital. Click here for more details.

  • Also practicing their stadium moves this month, were Rock Choir members from Oxford, Bicester and Banbury, who joined 12,000 fellow ‘rockies’ for a show at London’s O2 Arena.

Singers spent months planning the Rock Choir Live! concert, which brought together members from across the South, each of whom participate in weekly singing sessions. The sing-along was a record for a contemporary choir at the venue. We can only imagine the sound as they struck-up for their mega-gig.

To book a free taster session with a local Rock Choir, or to find out more, visit rockchoir.com or call 01252 714 276.

  • Another festival which has done sterling work for a great cause is Witney’s Battstock. Organisers of last month’s event raised £4,000 for The Batt School, which hosted it. Acts included Danny & The Champions of The World, The Epstein, The Scholars and Jess Hall.