Truck Festival 2019 - Saturday - Live Review

Saturday arrived at Truck Festival with a spot of rain overnight, but the festival team acted quickly to lay down hay and ensure the site remained in good condition. Trainers were still the footwear of choice, and the day’s lineup promised another round of incredible performances.

The Oxford Symphony Orchestra opened the main stage with a unique set that culminated in a circle pit - proving that you can mosh to anything if you try hard enough!

Saturday afternoon saw smaller bands like Vistas and Ten Tonnes deliver catchy sets that kept the growing crowd entertained. Their upbeat tunes were the perfect warm-up for the evening’s headliners.

Don Broco brought infectious energy to the Truck Stage, with Rob Damiani leading the crowd through hits like Come Out to LA and T-Shirt Song. Their rock sound and dynamic stage presence lifted the audience, setting the stage for what was to come.

Next up was Johnny Marr, the legendary guitarist from The Smiths, who delivered a set packed with classics. Opening with newer tracks like The Tracers and Armatopia, Marr seamlessly transitioned into Smiths favorites like Bigmouth Strikes Again and This Charming Man. The set ended with There Is a Light That Never Goes Out, leaving the crowd in awe of his talent.

The night’s headliner was local heroes Foals, returning to Truck Festival after a five-year absence. Yannis Philippakis and the band fired straight into On the Luna, immediately captivating the crowd. Their set blended tracks from their Mercury-nominated album Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost: Part 1 with classics like Spanish Sahara and Hummer. Yannis’ trademark crowd dive during What Went Down was a highlight, and the band closed with Two Steps, Twice, leaving the audience calling it one of the best Truck performances of all time.