c o m i n g y o u r w a y

July 00

TRUCK FESTIVAL Saturday 22nd / Sunday 23rd Hill Farm, Steventon Last year’s Truck Festival was one of those special weekends where everything was just right; from the blazing hot sun and attendant laid-back atmosphere to the extraordinarily reasonable beer prices and never ending supply of fresh doughnuts. Now firmly established as Oxfordshire’s premier live music event, Truck 2000 promises to be even bigger and better than before, with the line-up expanding to include even more name bands whilst keeping its local flavour. The biggest coup of the year is getting 80s guitar-pop legends The Blue Aeroplanes to play; their appearances have been limited to extremely select gigs since they reformed recently. Anyone who remembers their packed gigs at the old Jericho Tavern will tell you they’re worth the ticket price alone. They play on the main Truck stage on the Sunday where they’ll be joined by headliners Unbelievable Truth (who got very drunk at last year’s festival when they were mere spectators) and Bedford’s jazz-punk weirdos the Pecadilloes. There’s also a chance to see former Inspiral Carpets singer, and Abingdon boy, Tom Hingley, who now plies a more gentle singer/songwriter trade. His recent debut album was even described by one reviewer as the album that Paul Weller wouldn’t quite dare to make. Which we think was meant as a compliment. Saturday’s main attractions are headliners Seafood, whose high-octane take on The Pixies and Sonic Youth has catapulted them into the indie rock elite; their sold-out gig at the Point a few months ago was possibly the hottest gig ever in Oxford and they’ve just released their first proper album on Fierce Panda. Before them there’s Aberystwyth’s Murry The Hump, who have spent most of this year being touted as the best unsigned band in the country by Blur and assorted others. They were special guests at last year’s Truck, and one of its highlights, managing to be both funny and brilliant at the same time. They’ve got even better since then, of course. Another out-of-town act well worth catching are John Robb’s Gold Blade, the veteran rocker and journalist’s attempt to capture the spirit of Motown and early rock’n’roll, all spliced with a hefty dose of gospel and old-fashioned showmanship. And if that’s not exotic enough for ya, why not try the Avalonian State Choir whydontcha? continued ----->