Written by Lucy Fudge and Finn Delisle, Photos by Lucy Fudge
Following the success of the previous year, Truck Festival 2025 had a lot to live up to, but with a positive weather forecast and a jam-packed line-up of female and non-binary talent, things were looking promising. As anticipation for the most exciting weekend of the summer grew, the crowds began to arrive and tents went up, transforming a random farm in Oxfordshire into a haven for music fans.
After four days of incredible live music from a plethora of different artists, we sat down and reflected on some of the standout performances from female and non-binary artists from across the weekend.
THURSDAY
Alice SK: This Feeling Stage
Alice SK delivered a heartfelt, intimate set that blended soft vulnerability with confident charm. Her vocals carried a quiet strength, drawing the crowd into songs like the upcoming ‘Hollywood Sunset’ and ‘Lay Me Down’. Before the latter, she asked the audience to hold up their lighters, only for the request to be cut short in favour of safer, swaying arms, creating a moment that was just as touching. It was a tender performance that lingered long after, setting just the right tone for the weekend ahead.
FRIDAY
Girl Like That: Market Stage
Oxford-based band, Girl Like That look taken aback by the turnout as they step out onto the Market Stage – a big step up from the much smaller V&V stage they played last year. The atmosphere in the tent is electric as they launch into ‘Honey Trap’, any nerves dissipating instantly. Eagerly agreeing to be the band’s “guinea pigs”, the audience are rewarded with two unreleased tracks, before the band wrap up the set with ‘Miss Midnight’, a fan-favourite which leaves the crowd buzzing.
Cowz: Truck Stage
Brighton-based duo Cowz brought a lively and cheeky set packed with sharp lyrics and infectious energy, with songs like ‘ELEPHANT’, ‘Psychos’, and ‘Ur No Rockstar’, the latter going out to audience members who have “dated a man in a band”. They playfully called out the crowd for their energy levels being a “7/10”, urging them to “hype up a little bit”, and even spotted a group rather fittingly dressed as cows. Sharing a full-circle moment, remembering how a friend once manifested that they would play the main stage six years ago, it was clear that their set was just meant to be.
Ellur: Market Stage
Starting her set straight from soundcheck, Ellur paused to throw on her “really important” stage outfit, complete with a black and silver sequined jacket and sunglasses to set the tone. Her set featured the newly released ‘Missing Kid’ and the unreleased ‘The Wheel’, a song she wrote while pretending to be a pop star, though, as she put it, she truly “felt like a pop star” during her Truck performance. The crowd responded with growing energy, especially during the upbeat ‘Boys’, dancing along to a confident and feel-good set.
The Big Moon: Truck Stage
“In case you hadn’t noticed, I shouldn’t really be here”, Juliette Jackson states with a laugh, gesturing to her belly. To play guitar and sing on the main stage of a festival in 28 °C already sounds exhausting, but the frontwoman of indie alternative band The Big Moon proves that anything anyone else can do, she can do while pregnant. Playing a range of songs from their album Here Is Everything, The Big Moon takes the crowd on a dreamlike journey with their charming vocals and tender imagery.
Loose Articles: The Nest
Manchester’s Loose Articles kicked off with a mock-PSA and never looked back, delivering a punchy, tongue-in-cheek set packed with dance-punk energy that had the crowd moving from the start. The end of ‘Unpaid Intern’ saw Nat and Erin in the audience leading a limbo competition, while ‘Kick Like A Girl’ came with a proud shoutout to the women’s football team. They closed with ‘I’d Rather Have A Beer’, inviting both moshers and sideline dancers to join the chaos.
SATURDAY
Mackenzie: The Nest
Playing her first-ever Truck Festival, Mackenzie delivered a bright, heartfelt performance full of catchy hooks and powerful vocals. Her alt-pop set included ‘In My Head’, “about being a chronic overthinker”, and the unreleased ‘9-5’, a track about wanting to live for the “5-9, not the 9-5”. Having handmade 50 friendship bracelets to give away, she was stunned by the hundreds who gathered in front of her, even jokingly asking if it was raining outside the tent. With her debut EP, ‘Drama Queen’, set for release later this year, Mackenzie proved she’s one to watch.
The Pill: The Nest
Diving straight into their set with ‘Scaffolding man’, The Pill prove once again that they never fail to get a crowd moving. Lily Hutchings (guitar and vocals) describes their performance as “a bit of a pantomime”, referring to their tongue-in-cheek and often rather vulgar lyrics and jokes. Playing a combination of released and unreleased songs, the pair crack jokes throughout the set as the crowd grabs onto every word. A mosh pit consisting almost entirely of mullets breaks out during ‘Money Mullet’, causing a surge of energy through the crowd, which sustains itself long beyond the final song.
Cliffords: Market Stage
Hailing from Cork, Ireland, Cliffords delivered a compelling set that fused introspective indie-rock with piquant pop sensibilities through tracks such as ‘Bittersweet’ and ‘Sleeping with Ghosts’ which channelled heartbreak in the most cathartic way possible. Before playing ‘Feels Like A Man’, a song about “power and falling in love”, they paused to declare their commitment to using their platform, leading the crowd in a powerful “Free Palestine” chant that created a shared, poignant moment felt throughout the tent.
CMAT: Truck Stage
With her third album coming in August, Irish singer-songwriter CMAT is a force to be reckoned with. After uniting the crowd in choreographed harmony for her viral hit ‘Take A Sexy Picture Of Me’, she takes a moment to remind everyone of the importance of sun cream and gives “The Very Sexy CMAT Band” a hug and a kiss. The dancing continues through the set, as CMAT leads the crowd in a two-step during ‘I Wanna Be a Cowboy, Baby!’, before closing the performance with ‘Stay For Something’, a powerfully introspective song about reflecting on unhealthy relationships.
Luvcat: The Nest
Luvcat charmed The Nest tent with a theatrical and genre-blurring set that celebrated misfits, mischief, and messy love. Kicking off with ‘Matador’, she welcomed an unexpectedly packed crowd to her first Truck Festival. Treating us to a number of tracks off of her upcoming debut album ‘Vicious Delicious’, including the title track and the murder ballad ‘He’s my Man’, she held the audience fully mesmerised by her magnetic stage presence, alluring vocals, and flair for storytelling.
The Last Dinner Party: Truck Stage
Renowned for their ethereal vocals and dramatic performances, The Last Dinner Party captivate the audience for the entirety of their 60-minute set. Moulding people’s perspective of what live music can be, the performance is elevated by the theatrical atmosphere that the group bring onto the stage, temporarily transporting them to a world where all that exists are intricate instrumentals and the bewitching movements of the band on stage.
SUNDAY
Bo Bardot: This Feeling Stage
Bo Bardot delivered a spellbinding set at the This Feeling tent, highlighting the duality of her sound, blending soulful pop with an alternative, singer-songwriter edge. At just 18, her thoughtful lyrics and distinctive vocals shone in tracks like her first release and personal favourite, ‘For No Good Reason’, and the unreleased ‘Fond Of You’, a tender reflection on one-sided friendship. Poised and emotionally resonant, Bardot held the crowd in quiet captivation, showing wisdom far beyond her years.
Esme Emerson: The Nest
Esme Emerson brought simmering indie-pop and disarming charm to their first-ever Truck Festival, drawing in the crowd with thoughtful lyricism and gentle confidence. The duo’s set moved between vulnerability and playfulness, from the warm opener ‘Together’ to ‘Centipede’, dedicated to the “gay people in the crowd”. Closing with the rather fitting ‘Truck Song’, and the beautifully synergetic ‘Too Far Gone’, the pair proved their ability to balance sincerity and levity with ease, creating introspective tracks that drift on well beyond the final note.
Better Joy: Market Stage
Meandering through a myriad of emotions, alternative pop artist Better Joy takes the crowd on a rollercoaster during her set, jumping from gentle optimism in ‘Quiet Thing’ to untamed anger in ‘Steamroller’. She candidly explores generational trauma in ‘What A Day’, getting the audience involved in the chorus, before pivoting to a cover of ‘You Get What You Give’ by New Radicals. Meeting the expectations that come with the name Better Joy, her colourful vocals and positive energy bring smiles and lift spirits all through the tent.
Chloe Slater: Market Stage
After being caught off guard by her own song during soundcheck, Chloe Slater returns to the stage confidently, brandishing a Plastinian flag as her voice asks, “How does it feel to know your millions could feed a ton?” through the speakers. She invites the crowd to scream with her before ‘Price On Fun’, saying “No one here is too cool to do it”, uniting the tent in a cathartic release of pent-up frustration. Before wrapping up her set with her punchy yet vulnerable track ‘Fig Tree’.
Eighty Eight Miles: This Feeling Stage
Eighty Eight Miles took to the stage with an infectious energy and earnest moments, opening with the newly released ‘Always On The Run’ before diving into the crowd-favourite ‘Sophie’. They shared their disbelief and excitement at headlining, even performing a rare track, ‘The Thought of Losing You’, while warmly connecting with the audience by reminiscing about the stress of watching the women’s football earlier in the day. The end of their set saw a memorable cover of ‘(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life’, featuring an electrifying guitar solo from Max. Having just dedicated the night as their most special gig yet, it felt like a perfect close to an unforgettable week.
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 here.
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