Truck Festival 2013 Preview

England has long been known to be home of the massive music festivals (QRO U.K. Festival Guide), drenched in rain and mud, but it’s also home to some amazing smaller fests, which pick up all the great new sounds you used to hear on the radio when John Peel was DJing – and one of, if not the best is Truck. Head on up to Hill Farm in Steventon, Friday & Saturday, July 19th & 20th:

FRIDAY, JULY 19th

Truck Stage Spiritualized, 22:15 PM – 23:15 PM After the demise of the space-rock Spaceman 3, Jason Pierce stayed in the stratosphere (thanks to an inanimate carbon rod) as Spiritualized (QRO live review). He had been performing 1997’s Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space (NME’s Album of the Year) in full, but Spiritualized (QRO photos) comes to Truck (QRO photos at a festival) behind last year’s new Sweet Heart Sweet Light.

Ash, 20:45 PM – 21:30 PM Things have gone up, down, and out for Northern Ireland’s alt-rock outfit, Ash (QRO photos at a festival). After the success of 1996’s 1977, the band flopped commercial & critically with follow-up Nu-Clear Sounds and narrowly avoided bankruptcy. However, 2001’s Free All Angels was a great return to form, and more recently they’ve released 26 singles as ‘The A-Z Series’. So who knows what’s next for Ash (QRO photos).

The Joy Formidable, 19:30 PM – 20:15 PM Welsh powerhouse The Joy Formidable (QRO live review) has already taken Europe, Canada (QRO photos at a festival in Canada), Australia and even The States (QRO photos) by storm with expertly played opening slots alongside Passion Pit (QRO live review), Temper Trap (QRO live review) and Editors (QRO album review). The impressive trio (QRO photos) got a killer live show (QRO live review) to go with 2010’s killer The Big Roar (QRO review), and now they’ve got follow-up Wolf’s Law (QRO review) – so be ready for a jolly good time (QRO photos at a festival)! Be sure to catch killer frontwoman Ritzy Bryan as she rocks Truck (QRO photos at a festival) with bassist Rhydian Dafydd (QRO interview) and exuberant drummer Matt Thomas (QRO live review).

Frankie & The Heartstrings, 18:30 PM – 19:00 PM Sunderland’s Frankie & The Heartstrings (QRO photos at a festival) charted in 2011 in the U.K. with debut Hunger – and this year hit #1 at home with The Days Run Away. Also: Treetop Flyers, 17:30 PM – 18:00 PM The Family Rain, 16:30 PM – 17:00 PM Milo Greene, 15:30 PM – 16:00 PM – QRO photos Lillian Todd Jones, 14:30 PM – 15:00 PM Lost In the Riots, 13:30 PM – 14:00 PM Dingus Khan, 12:30 PM – 13:00 PM

The Market Stage Dry the River, 21:30 PM – 22:15 PM English folk rock outfit Dry the River (QRO photos) hit up a ton of festivals, both home & abroad, the last two years, and while they’re taking it easier this year, you’ve still got a chance to catch them (and maybe even their limited edition brew, ‘Mammoth’) at Truck ’13.

Patrick Wolf, 20:15 PM – 20:45 PM A singular composer, Patrick Wolf (QRO live review) ranges from romantic folk to techno-pop (QRO photos). He comes to Truck touring last year’s Sundark and Riverlight.

Public Service Broadcasting, 19:00 PM – 19:30 PM Not the BBC or PBS, Public Service Broadcasting (QRO photos at a festival) use samples from old public information films & propaganda material to, “Teach the lessons of the past through the music of the future.”

Also: Jack Martello, 18:00 PM – 18:30 PM The History of Apple Pie, 17:00 PM – 17:30 PM – QRO photos Thumpers, 16:00 PM – 16:30 PM Ady Suleiman, 15:00 PM – 15:30 PM Wild Swim, 14:00 PM – 14:30 PM

The Barn We Are the Ocean, 21:30 PM – 22:15 PM Bo Ningen, 20:15 PM – 20:45 PM The Computers, 19:00 PM – 19:30 PM Wet Nuns, 18:00 PM – 18:30 PM Arcane Roots, 17:00 PM – 17:30 PM Max Raptor, 16:00 PM – 16:30 PM The Physics House Band, 15:00 PM – 15:30 PM Wounds, 14:00 PM – 14:30 PM Dallas Don’t, 13:00 PM – 13:30 PM Fails, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM

The Veterans & Virgins Stage Beta Blocker & The Body Clock, 21:30 PM – 22:10 PM Grudle Bay, 20:40 PM – 21:20 PM Elephant Shampoo, 19:50 PM – 20:20 PM King of Cats, 19:00 PM – 19:30 PM Von Braun, 18:10 PM – 18:40 PM Duchess, 17:20 PM – 17:50 PM Ages Connolly, 16:30 PM – 17:00 PM Traps, 15:40 PM – 16:10 PM Jordan O’Shea, 14:50 PM – 15:20 PM Truly Ford, 14:00 PM – 14:30 PM

The Saloon The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band, 22:30 PM – 23:10 PM The Dreaming Spires, 21:30 PM – 22:10 PM Danny George Wilson, 19:30 PM – 20:10 PM Case Hardin, 18:30 PM – 19:10 PM The Shapes, 17:40 PM – 18:20 PM Paul Mclure, 16:50 PM – 17:20 PM Stevie Ray Latham, 16:00 PM – 16:30 PM Empty White Circles, 15:10 PM – 15:40 PM Sam Green & The Midnight Heist, 14:20 PM – 14:50 PM The Spare Room, 13:30 PM – 14:00 PM

Kingdom of Jamalot SRS, 23:55 PM – 00:35 PM Simple, 23:30 PM – 23:40 PM The Positive Vibes Crew, 22:30 PM – 23:30 PM The Fridge and Bungle Experience, 21:30 PM – 22:30 PM The Gees, 20:00 PM – 21:30 PM Spaceface, 17:00 PM – 20:00 PM Boogie Bros, 14:00 PM – 17:00 PM

SATURDAY, JULY 20th

Truck Stage The Horrors, 22:15 PM – 23:15 PM Southend’s The Horrors followed up 2007 debut Strange House with 2009’s Primary Colours (QRO review) and last year’s Skying (QRO review), as their once-called ‘zombie death punk’ brings new power live (QRO live review). They come to Truck ’13 behind a new album set to be released in the fall.

The Subways, 20:45 PM – 21:30 PM Indie rock trio The Subways dubbed their first record Young For Eternity, and that’s held true. Admittedly, there’s only been two more LPs since then, most recently 2011’s Money and Celebrity – and while they’re not quite that rich and famous yet, The Subways are a strong act for Truck.

Gaz Coombes, 18:30 PM – 19:00 PM In 2010, beloved English rock outfit Supergrass (QRO photos) called it quits after seventeen years & six album together (closing with Diamond Hoo Ha – QRO review), but singer/guitarist Gaz Coombes has kept on going solo, with last year’s solo debut, Here Come the Bombs.

Also: And So I Watch You From Afar, 17:30 PM – 18:00 PM – QRO photos Sam Duckworth with Rumour Cubes & The Barry Horns, 17:30 PM – 18:00 PM Royal Republic, 16:30 PM – 17:00 PM Ultrasound, 15:30 PM – 16:00 PM Pylo, 14:30 PM – 15:00 PM Arrows of Love, 13:30 PM – 14:00 PM Candice Garden, 12:30 PM – 13:00 PM

The Market Stage Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip, 21:30 PM – 22:15 PM Lewis Watson, 20:15 PM – 20:45 PM Foy Vance, 19:00 PM – 19:30 PM The Bots, 18:00 PM – 18:30 PM Alessi’s Ark, 17:00 PM – 17:30 PM Brothers and Bones, 16:00 PM – 16:30 PM TOY, 15:00 PM – 15:30 PM – QRO photos Kimberly Anne, 14:00 PM – 14:30 PM bentcousin, 13:00 PM – 13:30 PM Marvelous Medicine, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM

The Barn Rolo Tomassi, 21:30 PM – 22:15 PM Awesomely taking their name from the made-up name for a bad guy in L.A. Confidential, Rolo Tomassi (QRO photos at a festival) have stretched their ‘mathcore’ to the limits of many genres.

Tall Ships, 20:20 PM – 20:50 PM The three-piece Tall Ships (QRO photos at a festival) is Brit-folk rock at its best. Pleasing vocal harmonies, rattling bass, and immense distortion easily describe their performances (QRO photos).

Fight Like Apes, 19:20 PM – 19:50 PM Dublin’s Fight Like Apes have earned much love in their native Eire, mixing shoegaze and New Wave with comedy (album titles have included How Am I Supposed to Kill You If You Have All the Guns? and The Body of Christ and the Legs of Tina Turner…).

Gunning For Tamar, 18:30 PM – 19:00 PM This four-piece band has a smart sound – raw enough to sound well live but tight enough to sound intricate and clear. Their experimental music riddled with frenetic drums and in your face guitar riffs has a dark side to them unlike other Oxford bands. They come to Truck for their second year in a row.

Crash of Rhinos, 17:40 PM – 18:10 PM Crash of Rhinos is hard to classify. They’re raucous and rebellious like punk but too smart for it, and experimental like math rock but too catchy for it. Crash of Rhinos doesn’t wholly embrace a genre but it works for them. The five-piece band comes to Truck for their second year in a row.

Also: Stagecoach, 17:00 PM – 17:30 PM Axes, 16:00 PM – 16:30 PM The Social Club, 15:00 PM – 15:30 PM Salvation Bill, 14:00 PM – 14:30 PM Freeze the Atlantic, 13:00 PM – 13:30 PM Her Parents, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM

The Veterans & Virgins Stage Fonda 500, 22:15 PM – 23:15 PM From Kingston upon Hull, Fonda 500 have built up a cult following with their spastic, crazy sounds.

The Electric Soft Parade, 21:90 PM – 21:50 PM Brothers Alex and Thomas White form The Electric Soft Parade, a cheery psych-pop outfit that did fairly well on 2007’s No Need To Be Downhearted (QRO review), but this year’s return from hiatus IDIOTS hasn’t impressed.

Also: Thomas Truax, 19:50 PM – 20:40 PM – QRO photos at a festival Co-Pilgrim, 18:50 PM – 19:30 PM Rachael Dadd with Ichi, 17:30 PM – 18:30 PM Luke Smith & The Feelings, 16:30 PM – 17:10 PM Katy Rose & The Cavalry Parade, 15:30 PM – 16:10 PM Edible 5 featuring Smiths, 14:30 PM – 15:10 PM Interlocutor, 13:40 PM – 14:10 PM Le Emu Tavern, 12:50 PM – 13:20 PM The Holy Orders, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM

The Saloon The Epstein, 22:30 PM – 23:10 PM Jason Serious, 21:30 PM – 22:10 PM Redlands Palomino Co., 19:40 PM – 20:10 PM Society, 18:50 PM – 19:20 PM Troubadour Rose, 18:00 PM – 18:30 PM Huck, 17:10 PM – 17:40 PM Swindlestock, 16:20 PM – 16:50 PM Ramshackle Union Band, 15:30 PM – 16:00 PM Pete Kosanovich, 14:40 PM – 15:10 PM The Yarns, 13:50 PM – 14:20 PM Siblings, 13:00 PM – 13:30 PM

Kingdom of Jamalot Knights of Jamalot, 22:30 PM – 01:30 PM ShaoDow, 21:30 PM – 22:30 PM Rip/Rhymeskeemz, 20:30 PM – 21:30 PM Pieman, 20:00 PM – 20:30 PM Firelodica featuring King Bracket, 19:00 PM – 20:00 PM The Dublings, 17:00 PM – 18:00 PM Sensible Dancehall, 15:00 PM – 17:00 PM The Heavy Dexters, 14:00 PM – 15:00 PM Nairobi, 13:00 PM – 14:00 PM Boogie Bros, 12:00 PM – 13:00 PM