Truck Festival is a music festival in the beautiful surrounds of Steventon, near Oxford. Rumoured to be named Truck Festival because the stage at the first festival was constructed from a flatbed truck, founder Robin Bennett is on record saying it's actually from a compilation album he was listening to at the time called "Ten Trucking Greats".
I first went to Truck Festival in 2006 for Truck Nine. I remember really enjoying Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly and The Electric Soft Parade. I've been every year since.
Over the years the festival has grown in size, and organisationally has become more professional, but it's never lost it's feel of a small, village fete with bands. You can still stand in the middle of the festival and almost hear all the different stages at the same time.
Because of it's smaller size, in comparison to the large festivals, Truck's afternoon and early evening schedules are full of up and coming bands. Every year I disover new favourite bands, some who go on to bigger and greater things and become well known, and some who continue to plough their own furrow. Some of my favourite finds over the years include Stornoway, Fur, Spring Offensive, Temples, Courting, Alphabet Backwards and this year I really enjoyed Salisbury's finest, Carsick.
Not afraid to deviate from the normal festival template for last few years the Oxford Symphony Orchestra has played on Saturday lunchtime to a full field, which has led to a tradition of moshing to classical music. And on Sunday lunchtimes Mr Motivator has led a huge crowd through brushing off the night before's cobwebs with his postivity and enthusiasm. There's also a healthy late night choice in the arena after the bands have finished with well establised Drum N Bass and indie disco options.
The food is well thought out with a central food tent offereing a variety of stalls and options run by local community groups and charities, the steak sandwiches being a personal favourtie. And there's the more traditional festival food trucks dotted around the festival stages as well.
There's even fantastic family provision with a Kid's Tent with circus skills, live performances and other activities where I spent time when my son was younger (he's now old enough to be making his first tentavie forays into the mosh pits).
But the best thing about Truck is the atmosphere. Everyone is there for music and friendly and having fun. And now I'm older I've noticed there are plenty from my middle aged years jostling along with younger festival goers with no tribalism or sneering.
I can't wait for next summer's Truck Festival.