'Rambunctious' IDLES set closes festival first night

Josh Collins  / Truck Festival Joe Talbot, the lead singer of IDLES, has his hands aloft on stage, one foot perched on a speaker. Hands are in the air in the foreground.Josh Collins / Truck Festival
IDLES headlined the first night of the 2024 Truck Festival

Headliners IDLES have brought the first day of Truck Festival 2024 to an exciting climax.

About 25,000 revellers are taking part in the four-day event at Hill Farm, in Steventon, Oxfordshire, with gates opening at 13:00 BST on Thursday.

Acts still to take to the stage include Jamie T, Wet Leg, The Streets, The Kooks, Declan McKenna, Yard Act, Willie J Healey, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and the now traditional annual appearance of The Oxford Symphony Orchestra.

"We can already feel that famous Truck atmosphere in the air," the festival's organisers said.

Josh Collins  / Truck Festival Lee Kiernan from IDLES is playing the guitar while crowdsurfing. Mr Kiernan has long dark hair and is playing a pink guitar. The crowd around him are smiling, their hands in the air.Josh Collins / Truck Festival
Lee Kiernan from IDLES took to surfing the crowd during an exciting headline slot

"We can’t believe it’s been a year already, but being back in the fields at Hill Farm is an amazing feeling," they said.

"This year’s Truck feels like a special one, whether it’s one of the most heavily requested headliners from fans in Jamie T finally topping the bill, or a historic first UK festival headline set from Wet Leg alongside some unmissable favourites across the weekend.

"We’ve worked year-round to make Truck 2024 one for the ages."

Izzy Challoner / Truck Festival Joe Talbot sings on stage, his eyes closed. Mr Talbot has pink hair and tattoos on his neck and shoulders.Izzy Challoner / Truck Festival
Joe Talbot described the crowd as their best audience in a long time
Josh Collins  / Truck Festival Crowds watch the main stage at Truck. Atmospheric smoke comes from the stage, and the crowds are pictured on the giant screens.Josh Collins / Truck Festival
The IDLES headline slot follows last month's Other Stage performance at Glastonbury

The event will also feature Katy B, Holly Humberstone, English Teacher, The Amazons, Bob Vylan, The Pigeon Detectives, Sundara Karma, Soft Play, The Snuts, The Royston Club, SOFY, Sea Girls, PEACE, and Black Honey.

Mr Motivator will make an appearance, as will Barrioke, which features EastEnders/Barry Evans actor Shaun Williamson singing karaoke classics.

Izzy Challoner / Truck Festival Campers in the campsite cheer, with their arms aloft. Two at the front are sat on camp chairs, the five behind are standing.Izzy Challoner / Truck Festival
About 25,000 revellers are taking part in the four-day event at Hill Farm

Slots have also been put aside for unsigned acts, who applied via the festival's band app.

Jonny Payne, who will perform with his band on the V&V stage on Friday evening, told the BBC he was "really, really excited".

Payne, who first came to Truck in 2005 to watch headliner Biffy Clyro, added: "It's a big, big thing to play Truck Festival as an Oxford band."

Truck Festival was founded by local musicians Robin and Joe Bennett, and has taken place at Hill Farm since 1998.

Izzy Challoner / Truck Festival Campers arrive at Truck Festival. Most wear rucksacks and carry bags. A man in front is pulling two wheeled suitcases.Izzy Challoner / Truck Festival
Gates opened at 13:00 BST on Thursday

At the scene

Alex West - BBC Introducing

Things kicked off last night in spectacular style. Fields of bucket hats and sunglasses, conspicuous fancy dress, and great music to cap it off.

The Mysterines’ set was a highlight; they took to the stage amidst a sudden downpour as the evening got into full swing, and kept a growing crowd dancing.

As the sun peeked its way back through the clouds, and then began to set, IDLES began their anticipated main stage headline slot.

They were on great form, with frontman Joe Talbot raving his way through their rambunctious setlist, at one point sitting a lucky festivalgoer on his shoulders, before telling the crowd that this had been their best audience in a long time.

IDLES’ extensive discography meant their hour-and-15 -minute set might have left the revellers wanting more, but ultimately their thirst was quenched by a set which combined festival favourites with forthright fan engagement.

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