W: Ben Murphy @benn.mphy
Inside the sweaty, four-day party that is Truck Festival, you would be hard-pressed to find
any justification to be idle. This year's lineup offers a strong balance of established icons and
emerging talent, with a mix of artists from across the UK and Ireland. You’ll be spoilt for
choice with anthems of the past mixed with a sprawling range of new and upcoming indie
rock. Here are some must-sees to look out for over the weekend.
Truck Festival takes place from Thursday, 23rd July to Sunday, 26th July 2026. Hill Farm in Steventon, Oxfordshire
Slag
Brighton-based band Slag tear up each performance with a calm frustration; math rock riffs,
huge choruses and driving beats designed to have you on your toes and reaching for more.
Constant surprises maintain an overwhelming sense of simultaneous danger and
excitement. If you’re still sleeping on them, this is your last chance! With a look reminiscent
of a grungy disco and a great reputation, the band are on the verge of outgrowing the
smaller stages. Slag’s set at Truck Festival will deliver a performance that confirms exactly
why they are becoming a favourite.
Westside Cowboy
It's been just over a year since Westside Cowboy were noticed by Black Country, New
Road’s Charlie Wayne, which led to the release of their debut single and already the band
has built a dedicated following off of their self-proclaimed new genre ‘Britainicca’, blending
tropes of American country with a distinct Indie rock sound. Fresh off touring with rock icons
Geese and fueled by their consistent growth, the band are at their most potent stage yet.
Westside Cowboy are an act you will kick yourself for missing.
Shale
Robert Spencer @robsp.media
Scruffy rock quartet Shale take each venue they play by the scruff of the neck and leave a
contagious, lively feel in the air. Having a driving distorted bass as one of the loudest
components of their band's mix is a bold choice that couldn’t work better with Shale's lineup.
They provide a necessary grit and a different kind of edge that’ll leave the audience
spinning, a feeling that’ll be craved for weeks to come.
Good Health Good Wealth (GHGW)
Pushed together by the seclusion of Lockdown in London, the dreamy storytelling of this
band is a nostalgic and rough trip into British life. They amplify and call for resonance with
experiences that many people live through. Echoing the spoken word style of Mike Skinner,
blended with beautiful melodic vocals and gentle but impactful electronic rock instrumentals,
GHGW create a world to get lost in that translates vigorously at their live shows.
Bleech 9:3
thomas bayliss @byls_media
Dublin-born 4-piece Bleech 9:3 weaponise intense, grungy frustration in their music and live
shows alike. Having formed through shared recovery, along with the clarity of sobriety, the
band creates a new path for themselves and shares their music with us along the way.
Seeing these guys before they get big is essential for your bragging rights.
Madra Salach
@hans_c_a_m
This Irish folk sextet creates a blend of fresh and atmospheric electronic-infused folk,
employing long drones and thick instrumentation that assists in pushing their political and
heartfelt undercurrent to the forefront. Speaking on and critiquing social and economic
issues, they channel raw emotion and hold on to authentic roots in their music. For a break
from the chaos, a quietly shattering perspective on society that will shift you into a different
headspace, you should check out Madra Salach.
The Cases
Meeting and forming in college in 2023, The Cases are already receiving rave reviews. Having signed to This Feeling Records last September, with 6 singles and a recent EP under their belt, the band has propelled itself into the indie landscape. Their playful and emotive tracks throw about hints of ‘The Kooks’ and ‘Arctic Monkeys’ with their own recognisable sound. Beginning as a word-of-mouth sensation, they are slowly growing to be one of the most talked about bands on the Indie circuit, a group you definitely don’t want to miss out on seeing this early on
Like any festival, Truck Festival isn’t nearly about catching the big names at the top of the
poster, so, before you’re too starstruck, make sure to check out the smaller names who have
the potential to make or break your weekend