TRUCK FEST 2025 HIGHLIGHTS | GOD BLESS THE BANDS

At last this 2025 festival season I made it to Oxfordshire’s very own Truck Fest for the very first time, and it definitely won’t be my last. I’ve put together my favourite moments of the weekend, alongside Charlie’s incredible photography and top picks.

Bloc Party took the stage for early entry campers on Thursday night, playing their highly commended 2005 debut album in full. An iconic way to kick off the festival as we approach the 20th anniversary of the album. The band tore up their headline set with waves of nostalgia and a crowd of awe.

The sun started peeping through the overcast sky when Canned Pineapple strut onto stage on Saturday afternoon. Playing at a time of day where people are very much still nursing their hangovers, each consecutive song had a magnetism which attracted a packed crowd by the end of their set. The band are playfully working with their style and sound to capture the hearts of an audience that seemed to be made up of all ages. Notably lead singer Sean Drury‘s camp and effortless rendition of ‘Elvis’ had everyone grinning and rocking their hips. The Brighton based band are sure to add flare to any lineup.

I was keen to catch Dublin’s Basht after having them dotted around my socials over the last few months, and I was greeted by The Nest Stage being absolutely full with a cult following. Frontman Jack Leavey’s voice had no issue commanding his full crowd alongside the cohesive band behind him. Their short and sweet tune ‘Vain’ had me in one of the loudest crowds I’d experienced on Saturday. The band are young and fresh, but ooze confidence and ease as if they’ve been doing this for years.

Cliffords stood out with their glittering shoe-gaze riffs to ease us into the afternoon. The five-piece stood loud and proud on the Market Stage with the Palestine flag hanging from Locon O’Toole’s keys. ‘Sleeping with Ghosts’ proved as a fan favourite by entrancing the crowd with its irresistible chorus. Iona Lynch is a powerful front woman who has no issue ruling her stage. I caught up with both Iona and Locon after their set to speak more about their experience during festival season and the importance of artists using their platform to speak out for Palestine. Keep an eye out for the full interview soon!

Scouting for Girls had Hill Farm absolutely swarmed. Truck did well in balancing such class up-and-coming talents alongside nostalgic sets that will have anyone in the vicinity singing along to. ‘Heartbeat’ and of course the 2000’s hit ‘She’s so Lovely’ had the field bouncing under the heat that was blaring.

I crawled my way through the extensive Truck Stage crowd back to the Market Stage and caught the end of Cardinals – another band from the talent-riddled city of Cork. Melodic and rugged, the band are a kaleidoscope of sonic charm, and certainly stood to their hype.

At last I caught CMAT. The Dublin songstress was met by a crowd of young and old with cheeks of blush excitement. ‘Take A Sexy Picture Of Me’ enchanted her dancing crowd, and the inflatable unicorn in front of me seemed to nod when I wished her set could go on for longer. With the release of her new song ‘EURO-COUNTRY’ just four days prior, her success is spanning festivals up and down the country this summer.

I was beaming to make my way down to the Market Stage to catch Dublin’s Gurriers. The band met a sea of eager faces raring for their angst. Gurriers have a knack for sounding true to their recorded songs – frontman Dan Hoff’s vocals slide like butter over the band’s full and hearty instrumentals. The band are undeniably good at what they do and it’s impossible to doubt that they won’t soar. It was at this point in the day I started to realise how much talent Ireland is spilling into this lineup.

I’ve met Luvcat at my local in Liverpool, but until Truck was yet to catch one of her sets. I was late to the party – the crowd was spilling out beyond The Nest Stage, but I managed to weave my way through. Her unmistakable style and persona easily puts a spell over her large crowds. Saving her hit ‘He’s My Man‘ until last, the crowd echoed her velvety voice whilst her band stir and twirl their talent behind her.

I followed the winding river of campmates flooding their way down to Truck Stage for Wunderhorse. Every other t-shirt I had seen that day had the band’s name plastered in yellow. The crowd roared in anticipation, and rightly so. Jacob Slater owned his stage as he always does, and flares painted the sky purple for their biggest hit. Tears met grins at the band’s emotive nature, though we were caught off guard when the set abruptly ended 10 minutes early.

Falkirk’s finest Brògeal took The Nest at 7pm for the most lively set I’ve been part of this festival season. Their unique blend of trad, indie and rock was the heartbeat to a pulsating crowd. Newcomers were mesmerised as long-time fans sang their hearts out. Brògeal are a beautiful change of pace. Daniel Harkins and Aidan Callaghan have no issue piecing together modernity with tradition whilst taking centre stage. The five-piece are effortlessly dynamic and harmoniously swap between the accordion, banjo and mandolin to lift the crowd. Roars followed the reminder of their debut album on its way in October and the crowd lost its legs for their latest single ‘Tuesday Paper Club’.

The Last Dinner Party sang the blaring Saturday sun into dusk beginning with their spellbinding ‘Burn Alive’. The London five-piece conduct each stage theatrically as if on the West-End. They’re beautiful and novel. Abigail Morris as a front-woman put her audience in a trance, totally wrapping her massive crowd around her finger. The powerhouse of femininity captured the field and left spirits totally high for Saturday night’s headliner.

Kasabian finished Saturday off with the epitome of 2000s British indie-rock. A hefty set which seemed to have the entire crowd floating and stirring in mosh pits. Beers and bucket hats seem to make you fly when Kasabian’s jangly riffs are bouncing through the soundscape. Their all-time favourite tune ‘Fire’ really had no issue setting the crowd alight in roars and pure elation. An incredibly satisfying way to end a lineup built on this century’s pure talent.

Courteeners with their Sunday headline set captured the perfect feeling of bittersweet elation that engulfs you at the end of each festival season. God bless the band – ‘Not Nineteen Forever’ has no difficulty in making your heart pump sentimentality. Fireworks and flares lit up the pitch black sky and proudly drew the curtains for Truck 2025.

However! Truck Festival returns in 2026, taking place between the 23rd-26th July. Super Early Bird Tickets are on sale Friday 1st August with General Sale Tickets available from 11am. To gain presale access and the first chance to get tickets at the best price, sign up HERE.