Truck Festival 2025 - Thursday - Live Review

Thursday: Bloc Party ignite Truck Festival 2025 with a thunderous opening night

There is something almost electric about the first few hours of a festival. The sense of anticipation, the collective exhale as thousands leave their everyday lives behind, is unmistakable. At Truck Festival 2025, this energy was impossible to miss. Early arrivals streamed onto the lush fields of Hill Farm, and the festival’s 2025 edition kicked off not with a slow build, but with a vibrant, infectious buzz that swept through the crowd.

What began decades ago as a gathering around a few literal trucks has blossomed into a 25,000-strong celebration. Yet, Truck has never lost its close-knit, welcoming spirit. For some, it is a rite of passage; for others, a much-anticipated annual reunion. Festivalgoers, adorned in everything from vintage band tees to outlandish fancy dress, pitched their tents as a brief spell of rain only seemed to heighten the sense of camaraderie. The festival’s reputation as the UK’s most exuberant indie-rock gathering was immediately on display, promising a weekend to remember.

The Truck Stage’s Thursday line-up wasted no time in setting the tone. Cardiff’s Slate opened proceedings, their urgent post-punk sound drawing festivalgoers out of their tents and into the heart of the action.

Next up, The Kites delivered a set brimming with tight rhythms and infectious hooks. Their rapport with the audience was immediate, and by the time they launched into ‘Comeback Kid’, the crowd was already in full voice, singing along.

Momentum continued to build with Manchester’s Corella, who made a triumphant return to Truck after last year’s Market Stage appearance. Elevated to the main stage, they played with the swagger of seasoned headliners. Standouts like Lady Messiah and Barcelona Girl had the crowd in a frenzy, with frontman Joel Smith diving headlong into the audience for a raucous finale. Their set was a clear signal that Corella’s rise is only just beginning.

As twilight settled over the farm, anticipation reached its peak for the night’s headliners. Marking two decades since the release of their iconic debut, Bloc Party took to the stage and delivered a set that was both a celebration of their legacy and a showcase of their enduring energy. Kele Okereke, ever the charismatic frontman, led the charge with vocals that soared across the fields, undiminished by years of touring. The band tore through classics like So Here We Are, Banquet, and the frenetic Helicopter, each met with a tidal wave of cheers from a crowd eager to relive every note. For a moment, I was transported back to my university days, MiniDisc player in hand, soundtracking my own coming-of-age.

Eight tracks from Silent Alarm made the setlist, each one a reminder of why that album remains a touchstone for indie fans. The raw urgency of Positive Tension felt as vital as ever, while a surprise mid-set detour into the dancefloor pulse of One More Chance had the entire field moving. The encore was pure euphoria. Flux shimmered with synth-driven energy, and This Modern Love closed the night on a note of heartfelt nostalgia.

It was a launch night that set the bar sky-high for the rest of the weekend. An exhilarating, expertly curated start to Truck Festival 2025. As some festivalgoers drifted towards the silent disco, I opted for a well-earned rest, knowing that the next three days promised even more musical discovery and festival magic.