Tomorrow sees the start of the marvellous Truck Festival near Oxford. We went last year and had a brilliant time and are thoroughly looking forward to this year’s event where the line-up includes Gruff Rhys, Graham Coxon, Saint Etienne, John Grant, The Young Knives, Edwyn Collins, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, The Duke & The King, Tunng, Justin Townes Earle, Alessi’s Ark, Sea Of Bees, Pete & The Pirates, Caitlin Rose, Lanterns On The Lake, Cashier No. 9 and (as the cliché goes) many, many more.
There will also be another Truck America this year in New York state in September, featuring none less than The Felice Brothers, Vetiver, Wye Oak, The Hold Steady and the Low Anthem amongst others.
To celebrate the festival we’ve put together a mix-tape of 15 great tracks for you. Also look out for a couple more Truck related posts tomorrow and Saturday.
Tickets and information can still be got here – you won’t be disappointed!
For Truck America click here.
Enjoy the mix…
Download Cashier No. 9 – Lost At Sea mp3 (from To The Death Of Fun)
Download Lanterns On The Lake – You’re Almost There mp3 (from Gracious Tide, Take Me Home)
Download Caitlin Rose – Shotgun Wedding mp3 (from Dead Flowers EP)
Download Justin Townes Earle – Harlem River Blues mp3 (from Harlem River Blues)
Download Sea of Bees – The Woods mp3 (from The Woods EP)
Download The Duke & The King – If You Ever Get Famous mp3 (from Nothing Gold Can Stay)
Download John Grant – I Wanna Go To Marz mp3 (from Queen Of Denmark)
Download Alessi’s Ark – Shovelling mp3 (from Soul Proprietor EP)
Download Chad Valley – Ensoniq Funk mp3 (from Chad Valley EP)
Download Admiral Fallow – Squealing Pigs mp3 (from Boots Met My Face)
Download Tunng – Don’t Look Down Or Back mp3 (from …And Then We Saw Land)
Download Jonquil – Get Up mp3 (from One Hundred Suns EP)
Download Johnny Flynn – Kentucky Pill mp3 (from Been Listening)
Download The Young Knives – Walking On The Autobahn mp3 (from The Young Knives…Are Dead)
Download Dry The River – New Ceremony mp3 (from New Ceremony Single)
The Mad Mackerel 
I went to see Jonquil and thought they were a pretty cool live band. They had some great tunes and the most un-frontman ever (who was brilliant). Plus there Bass player looked like a young Boris Johnson. Sold to me!