Truck Festival returned to Oxfordshire this weekend, drawing crowds back to Hill Farm for another four days of live music and festival spirit.
Now a well-established staple of the UK’s summer music calendar, Truck once again showcased a vibrant lineup spanning indie rock, pop, and alternative genres. True to tradition, the British weather kept things unpredictable at times, but that didn’t stop festivalgoers, known affectionately as Truckers, from turning out in force for another memorable year of the beloved event.
The arena gates swung open at 4 pm as truckers triumphantly poured in, marking the start of what promised to be an unforgettable weekend and a thrilling opening night. Undeterred by the drizzle over the Oxfordshire countryside, spirits stayed high for June Holland, who delivered her mellow indie rock to a respectable crowd of early festivalgoers.
Fans were seen decked out in everything, spanning from band merchandise to classic UK festival gear, as they soaked in the sights and sounds of the 2025 arena for the first time. Over at the This Feeling stage, Better Heaven helped spark the evening’s energy ahead of a lively Thursday evening. Slate hit the Truck stage at 5:30 pm, jolting the crowd awake with a charged set that blended anthemic indie hooks with post-punk grit.
The Kites soon took over, their tight, groove-heavy indie outfit instantly getting bodies moving. Their dynamic variety and infectious connection with the audience became more apparent as the set progressed. Between performances, energy levels never dipped thanks to the Truck 2025 playlist that pumped through the speakers.
One of Manchester’s brightest rising stars, Corella, continued their ascent with a powerful appearance on the Truck Stage at 7:30 pm; the group wasted no time igniting the crowd into a frenzy. Frontman Joel Smith orchestrated waves of swaying, clapping, and spirited sing-alongs, with Lady Messiah proving a standout moment, marked by chants and even more mosh pits. The band closed with Come Around and Barcelona Girl, the latter ending with Smith buried in the crowd during a final mosh pit. With their set wrapped, many festivalgoers filtered out to refuel ahead of Thursday’s big hitters.
As dusk settled over Hill Farm, Bloc Party raised the curtain on Thursday’s headline slot with a pulsating dose of indie-rock nostalgia. The London-based quartet, led by the ever-commanding Kele Okereke, unleashed a high-energy set packed with tunes. Okereke’s distinct vocals cut through the air effortlessly, while rhythmic guitar lines in tracks like their opener So Here We Are and Hunting for Witches danced alongside a striking combination of strobe lighting. Celebrating 20 years since the release of their debut record, Silent Alarm, the band treated the crowd to eight tracks from the beloved 2005 album, including Banquet and Positive Tension. Unsurprisingly, Helicopter drew one of the loudest reactions of the night, sparking feverish chants before the encore. Flux and heartfelt closer This Modern Love, perfectly set the vibe for Truck Festival 2025, as Festivalgoers were sent into the night brimming with enthusiasm.
Truckers awoke to near-perfect weather conditions over Hill Farm on Friday morning, setting the scene for another full day of standout performances and nonstop music.
Friday afternoon at the festival buzzed with performances from rising stars across multiple stages. Genre-blending artist Jorge took to the Truck Stage, pop-rock trio Girl Like That energised the Market Stage, and Welsh alt-rockers Chroma played The Nest. Truckers embraced the diverse lineup as anticipation built for the evening’s headline acts.
Amid the heat of the sunshine, festivalgoers enjoyed a 30-minute set from singer-songwriter Polly Money. Her smooth, sweet vocals and laid-back indiepop tunes perfectly matched the relaxed vibe. Known for her onstage work with The 1975, including their recent Glastonbury headline slot, Money’s solo outing at Truck showcased her emerging identity as an artist.
Shortly after, Honeyglaze won over the crowd with sharp guitar riffs and a diverse setlist, while The Clause delivered a fierce, mosh-pit-fuelled set that blew the roof off the Market Stage.
Later, four-piece rock outfit The Big Moon brought renewed momentum to the Truck Stage, quickly getting the crowd moving. Their energetic set, highlighted by a well-received cover of Fatboy Slim’s Praise You, set the mood for an evening charged with adrenaline.
The Truck Stage soon awaited the arrival of The Reytons, who exploded onto the stage with Red Smoke, accompanied by towering flames and pyro. Red flares lit up the crowd, and mosh pits opened, adding to the high-impact spectacle. Lead singer Jonny Yerrell took full command of the stage, rallying fans with emphatic performances of hits like Addiction, Market Street, and Kids Off the Estate. After a performance of this calibre, The Reytons may well be poised for a future headline slot at the festival.
As a golden sunset descended over the arena, the unmistakable tap tap of a cowbell marked the arrival of indie-rock royalty, Blossoms. The crowd roared to life as Your Girlfriend opened the set. The Stockport five-piece brought their distinctive stage flair, complete with an intricate golden stage design to reflect their chart-topping album, Gary, which defined last year. Sing-alongs echoed during hits like If You Think This Is Real Life and The Keeper, while The Nightclub gave each member a moment in the spotlight as they paraded the stage. A poignant highlight came with a mass chorus of Charlemagne, a true staple of indie music, followed by the closing number, Gary, in which an 8-foot fibreglass gorilla statue, appropriately named as the song suggests, joined the band onstage onto the stage to rapturous applause. With their set wrapped, Truckers turned their attention to the night’s headlining act.
Eleven years after their first appearance on one of Truck Festival’s smaller stages, Nothing But Thieves returned on Friday night with a commanding presence, cementing their status as a formidable powerhouse in rock & roll, even during a year off from touring. Taking to the stage at 9:30 pm, the Essex-based quintet launched into their set with Welcome to the DCC with confetti erupting during the final chorus; it set the tone for a truly electrifying performance. The atmosphere only intensified as they transitioned into Is Everybody Going Crazy? sending fans into a delirium. In their exclusive UK festival headline slot, the band delivered a powerful set of heavy rock staples like City Haunts, which was seamlessly paired alongside Futureproof in a mosh-pit-ready combination. Frontman Conor Mason’s signature soaring vocals excelled throughout, especially on emotional tracks like Impossible and Sorry, where his effortless high notes captivated everyone. The night closed with a breathtaking rendition of Amsterdam and an equally special version of Overcome, capped with another wave of confetti that brought the Friday night frenzy to a spectacular close. As the crowd spilled into the night, it was clear that this performance was a standout moment of the weekend.
Saturday kicked off with high spirits as crowds gathered at The Truck Stage for the annual ‘wake & shake’ session led by fitness icon Mr Motivator, marking the start of another packed day of live music.
One of the day’s opening highlights was Mackenzie, this year’s Road to Victorious Festival winner, who made The Nest stage her own and performed to a packed tent.
Saturday afternoon saw the arena come alive, as acts including Canned Pineapple and The Pill fired up the crowd. Midafternoon, Reading-based indie rockers Only the Poets took the Truck Stage by storm with a spirited set that quickly had the crowd bouncing along.
Scouting for Girls delivered one of the weekend’s most entertaining and interactive sets, treating the Truck Stage as an honorary fifth member of the band. Their set was a joyful ride through iconic hits on the lead up to She’s So Lovely, with singer Roy Stride charismatically guiding the crowd through clapping, crouching, and sing-alongs.
The vigorous atmosphere carried through the site; as Cardinals closed their melodic set on the Market Stage, Irish sensation CMAT and her “Super Sexy CMAT Band” burst into Jamie Oliver Petrol Station on the Truck Stage. Her brief but vibrant set under the sun saw favourites like I Wanna Be a Cowboy Baby performed, which was complete with a trademark two-step routine. Though her time onstage was short, the response was huge, hinting at even bigger things to come.
As the evening wore on, the Market Stage exploded with raw energy as Gurriers tore through a deafening punk rock set; mosh pits that grew so intense, even the band couldn’t resist jumping in.
Their set left a trail of adrenaline as fans shifted towards the Truck Stage, where a headline-worthy crowd had already gathered for Wunderhorse. The quartet wasted no time and dived into a sharp, no-nonsense performance; they charged through with minimal crowd interaction. Lead singer Jacob Slater’s soaring vocals on standout tracks like Midas, Leader of the Pack, and fan-favourite Purple made it a moment to remember. Their performance underscored a band on the rise, with momentum only building.
Saturday at the festival was a whirlwind of live music, with fans dashing between the Truck and Market Stages to catch standout acts all afternoon. As Fat Dog ended their frantic set on the Market Stage, Mercury-prize-nominated ensemble The Last Dinner Party entered the Truck Stage, shifting the atmosphere with a dreamy, theatrical flair. Set against a design of pillars and cloud-like props onstage, the six-piece delved into their genre-blending mix, including Burn Alive, This is the Killer Speaking, and My Lady of Mercy, each delivered with a sense of drama and passion. Singer Abigail Morris captivated the crowd, her vocals both haunting and heavenly, while the band’s tight harmonies kept their performance alive. Their medieval chapter reached a majestic peak with Nothing Matters, a fan favourite that closed the show as the sun dipped behind the clouds. Festivalgoers soon turned their attention to Saturday’s headliners.
No opening could rival the sheer togetherness of thousands roaring along to Hey Jude as Kasabian charged the stage to a rapturous welcome on Saturday night. Wasting no time, the Leicester rock veterans tore into a mighty one-two of Call and Club Foot, starting a wild frenzy that saw mosh pits rip open, flares unleashed, and the air filled with a flurry of flying projectiles in a whirlwind scene. Frontman Serge Pizzorno oozed a cool confidence, owning the stage with swagger as he led the crowd through best-loved hits like You’re in Love With a Psycho and Underdog, the latter dedicated to the late Ozzy Osbourne. Their set flowed seamlessly; Treat melted into a surprise nod to Faithless’ Insomnia, before continuing into the fierce Vlad the Impaler with ease. The addition of the trumpet during L.S.F (Lost Souls Forever), dedicated to England’s Lionesses, elevated their performance even higher. After a brief exit, the band returned for a victorious encore; Bless This Acid House reignited the field, before they closed with the timeless anthem Fire. Pizzorno made it clear: he wanted this to be a defining moment in Truck Festival’s history, and boy, they delivered. Fans left breathless and buzzing with the thrill of an unforgettable Saturday night.
All too soon was it Sunday, marking the final day of Truck 2025, and one last chance for festivalgoers to take in the atmosphere. Thousands gathered early for the beloved annual performance by the Oxford Symphony Orchestra. Their sweeping, cinematic arrangements sparked everything from moshes and crowd surfing to spontaneous ballet dancing, setting the tone for the day ahead.
Sunday afternoon was bursting with activity across the festival, and while many recharged with food & drinks, others dove straight into the music. To name a few, Esme Emerson treated The Nest, National Playboy amped things up on the Market Stage, and Lime Garden drew a large, enthused crowd to the Truck Stage.
Midafternoon, Better Joy took over the Market Stage with an upbeat indie-pop set; Lead vocalist Bria Keely danced across the stage, energising enthusiastic chants during What a Day and their cover of New Radicals’ Get What You Give. Following that, Seb Lowe stepped up on the Truck Stage with a politically charged rock performance that kept the lively atmosphere going strong.
The afternoon kept its momentum as Natasha Bedingfield lit up the Truck Stage with an uplifting 45 minutes of nostalgia that brought everyone together. She danced her way through a lineup of feel-good anthems like Pocketful of Sunshine and These Words, each garnering feverish responses and loud singing. The highlight came with Unwritten, one of 2024’s defining songs, which generated a sheer togetherness amid a sea of voices.
As the evening settled in, Newcastle-based Maximo Park took over, delivering their alternative spin on indie rock. Despite the overcast skies, the group kept the atmosphere lively with a mix of driving baselines and heartfelt ballads; their popular tunes like Versions of You and Apply Some Pressure kept the crowd primed for more.
The evening’s Truck Stage entertainment would be provided by Franz Ferdinand and Courteeners, to cap off this year’s festival in style.
Ahead of Franz Ferdinand’s set at 7:30 pm, many people were gathered at the Tipsy Cow and The Rockin’ Chair, caught up in the excitement of the Women’s Euros Final. When the Scottish rock outfit took to the Truck Stage and announced England’s victory a few songs in, the crowd went wild in a jubilant celebration. Feeding off the electric atmosphere, the band revelled in their performance with their set reeling off classics like Night and Day and No You Girls. Alex Kapranos had a cool, confident presence, keeping the crowd engaged as the show built up to Take Me Out towards the end; the crowd entered a total hysteria as it hit. It was the perfect set to precede the headliners.
A cornerstone of the indie rock scene, Courteeners, brought their staggering catalogue to life on Sunday night in unforgettable fashion. Fans were thrown into a longed delirium with the opening notes of Are You In Love With a Notion?; the group would be on fine form for their Truck takeover. With energy to spare, fans were arduously loud in response to their bangers, whether timeless classics like No You Didn’t, No You Don’t, or newer offerings like Pink Cactus Cafe, pouring every last ounce of enthusiasm into the night. The pace briefly softened as frontman Liam Fray delivered two stripped-back songs, including a heartfelt cover of Madness’ It Must Be Love. Arms wrapped around friends and family, the crowd swayed in a moving moment of togetherness. That emotion built into a defining peak of Truck 2025: the eruption of Not Nineteen Forever, a true festival anthem that sent the crowd into a euphoric frenzy once more. The night and the festival closed with What Took You So Long, capped by a stunning fireworks display that lit up the sky over Hill Farm. It was a powerful and fitting finale to another unforgettable year. God bless the band.
Truck Festival was over for another year, having once again delivered an exhilarating weekend of top-tier live music and talent. From remarkable performances to entertainment that offered something for everyone, the festival proved why it remains a firm favourite on the UK’s music calendar. Truck continues to strengthen its status as one of the country’s best-loved festivals, and we’re already looking forward to what next year has in store.
Truck Festival returns in 2026, taking place between the 23rd-26th July. Super Early Bird Tickets are on sale this Friday (1st August) with General Sale Tickets available from 11am. To gain presale access and the first chance to get tickets at the best price, sign up now at https://truckfestival.com/2026-super-early-bird-ticket-launch/
