Truck Festival 2025

As July comes to a close once again, Truck festival is back. Beth Coldwell reports.

If you’re even slightly indie-inclined, chances are you’ve heard whispers (or shouts) of Truck Festival, one of the UK’s most beloved indie/rock events nestled in the stunning countryside of Oxfordshire. Truck 2025 offered a glorious weekend of music, sunshine, and more baked potatoes and beans than you could shake a biodegradable fork at.

Thursday evening began with slightly less ease and cheer than we were hoping, after an unusually hot start to the summer. We kicked things off with the classic festival struggle: pitching tents into ground so dry it could’ve doubled as a concrete slab after a (seemingly bittersweet) lack of rain. But once the campsite was conquered, it was straight to the main stage for Bloc Party, a band that’s been tugging heartstrings and shaking speakers for years, and even more this summer than I’ve seen before, following their recent performance at Splendour Festival in Nottingham. Their live set was a rare treat, packed with those unapologetically overplayed anthems that somehow never lose their magic, with the crowd loving favourites from This Modern Love to Banquet. It was the perfect start to a weekend that promised (and delivered) musical gold.

The sun emerged on Friday morning bright and beaming, setting the tone for a day of delightful indie goodness. Alfie Templeman brought his signature charm, while The Clause and The Guestlist kept the energy high with their modern rock sound. Blossoms were, in a word. Their newest album Gary has a distinct, core essence of ‘Blossoms’, but with a funky, elevated difference to their earlier work- many say their best music so far!

Nothing prepared me for the closing act of the night, albeit I had seen them a couple of weeks prior at Rock Werchter 2025, where they took to the stage mere hours after finding out about their slot, following poorly Sam Fender AND Kings of Leon (who were sorely missed). Nothing But Thieves, playing their final UK show for the foreseeable future, left everything on the stage. Connor Mason’s vocals, powerful yet tender, and full of raw emotion and unarguable talent, cut through the crowd like a sonic hug, their sound enough to make the hairs on your arms stand up and maybe a little tear fall from your eye too if you’re feeling particularly emotional (or have had one too many tinnies). If they’re on hiatus, they’ve left us with one heck of a summer send-off.

"Connor Mason’s vocals, powerful yet tender, and full of raw emotion and unarguable talent, cut through the crowd like a sonic hug"

Saturday followed and was just as sunny and spirited. Gurriers kicked things off, followed by Wunderhorse, whose set was heartbreakingly short but still packed a punch, with crowds exploding for rampantly increasingly known tunes like Teal and Midas, yet evidently still left with a craving for more, particularly after such a successful second album release semi-recently, with Midas. Scouting for Girls brought the nostalgia (and yes, a touch of cheesiness), but the crowd lapped it up with love. You have to give it to them, they can appeal to a range of ages, and the diversity of the crowd, from teenagers to families, joyfully received the likes of Elvis Ain’t Dead and She’s So Lovely, which will obviously never get old.

"Her authenticity and soul are so raw and admirable."

There is no doubt that CMAT was amongst my favourite artists of the festival, and honestly the summer, the year... my life!?!? I was speechless. She’s the kind of artist who makes you want to dance, cry, and belt out lyrics you didn’t know you knew, all at the same time. Her new album EURO-COUNTRY is out now, and if you haven’t listened yet… what are you doing? CMAT brings her whole self to her performance; her authenticity and soul are so raw and admirable, and she is blessed with such a beautiful voice. It makes her music loveable, relatable and her performance just completely moreish. I want more. Immediately. My life has a CMAT shaped hole in it until we meet again.

And if CMAT wasn’t enough for powerful women for the weekend, Truck delivered The Last Dinner Party, who gave a set so theatrical and ethereal it felt like stepping into a dream. Abigail’s stage presence? Magical. They seem to know exactly who they are- every outfit and interaction, every note of every voice and instrument is so authentically them. Nobody is doing it like them, and that’s what makes them stand out so much as relatively new artists on the scene. They deserve every ounce of attention they are getting, particularly with their forthcoming their new album ‘From The Pyre’, which showcases some seriously catchy, funky, and different (in the best way) tunes like This Is The Killer Speaking, which much of the crowd already knew! Abigail's energy as lead vocalist is second to none, it is theatrical and confident. Closing the day of music were Kasabian, offering a couple of hours of proper rock swagger, their timeless classics from You're In Love With A Psycho to Fire were just phenomenal, and it seems no wonder their music is so timeless, with full energy from both the band and the crowd.

Sunday leaned into the family-friendly feel of Truck, with trolleys full of toddlers rolling past mosh pits- quite a sight to behold. Regrettably, I feel as though my much beloved Courteeners may not have been at their peak, but they still brought big energy and a crowd who heard big tune after big tune. Franz Ferdinand surprised me; I only knew a few tracks, but they were absolutely brilliant. Maximo Park and Natasha Bedingfield added to the 90s nostalgia, while Cassia brought the summer vibes, with some of their newer music offering a rockier twist compared to their more chilled out and beachy old stuff, but this totally worked.

Now, I’ll admit- I’m a shamefully accidental morning person, so the evening DJ sets were a no-go for me. But my night-owl friends raved about Fish56Octagon, who seems to be popping up at every festival this summer. Apparently, he was electric. Although, I was dragged to the dance floor of a smaller tent on a couple of occasions; alongside late night EDM sets, the festival showcased a variety of evening guilty pleasures and eclectic electronic remixes of indie favourites, offering everyone the opportunity to use up any energy they had left from the day.

One of my favourite non-musical moments? The charity food tent: wholesome, delicious, and a lovely touch, with much more affordable prices than normal festival food. The whole festival had a super safe, family-friendly vibe. Big enough to feel exciting, small enough to avoid that overwhelming crowd crush. Only downside? The toilets. I won’t go into detail, but let’s just say… it was a bonding experience.

I loved the community and family feel of this festival. There were people of all ages soaking up the sunshine and listening to the music. I also went for many trips to the Ronald McDonald charity tent to be met with cheap coffee and smiling faces. And, after three days of music, minimal signal, and a long drive home, I’m left with sunburnt shoulders and a heart full of indie joy. Truck Festival 2025 was my first and definitely not my last. Until next time, Truck. You were a dream.

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Edited by Bethany Coldwell

Images courtesy of Josh Collins, Izzy Challoner and Chloe Hashemi