Heidi Talbot – Wood Stage – Saturday - 21:30
After spending the first part of a decade as part of New York-based ‘Cherish The Ladies’, Irish singer-songwriter Heidi Talbot’s made her solo breakthrough with 2008′s “In Love + Light”, recorded with acclaimed violinist (and husband) John McCusker. Its artfully-chosen mix of traditional and contemporary material, with Heidi’s's achingly bittersweet spun-gold voice, picked up glowing reviews and award nominations all over the world.
Holton’s Opulent Oog – Wood Stage – Friday - 18:00
Nick Holton brings his Opulent Oog to the Wood stage, and anybody who’s been to the Wood festival will be familiar with the understated, smoky brilliance of his tranquilized alt-country. He doesn’t do a lot of gigs, but when he does, they’re special occasions.
Islet – Last.FM Stage – Sunday - 17:40
Little is known about Cardiff experimental four piece Islet. They have no web presence and their music can only be found via YouTube. Their unique blend of chaotic, melodic vocals is one of many facets that set them apart from most bands around today. Currently they have strong backing from BBC’s Bethan Elfyn and BBC Introducing.
James Walbourne – Clash Stage – Saturday - 14:30
In his short career, this London based singer-songwriter already possesses an impressive musical CV. As well as playing in The Pretenders, Walbourne has also graced the stage with genuine rock’n'roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis. His current album ‘The Hill’ was released earlier this year, receiving wide critical acclaim for its delicious country-rock, and bluegrass sound.
John Grant – Clash Stage - Sunday - 20:45
Since the split of his former band The Czars, John Grant has established himself as a first class solo musician. In the summer of last year Grant released his debut solo album ‘Queen of Denmark’ was ranked as the album of 2010 by Mojo magazine, and as “One of the most deeply satisfying albums of recent times” by BBC Music Review. John Grant is set to be one of many highlights for Truck 2011.
Johnny Flynn – Clash Tent – Friday - 21:30
Already with two critically-acclaimed albums under his belt, Johnny Flynn is considered one of the UK’s best contemporary folk. His debut album ‘A Larum’ was an instant hit, with perfectly-formed folk-rock ditties like ‘Tickle Me Pink’ and ‘Leftovers’. He has also collaborated with Laura Marling, creating some of the most beautifully crafted folk around. “A poster-boy of the nu-folk scene”
Jonny –Main Stage – Sunday - 17:15
Teenage Fanclub frontman Norman Blake and ex-Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci singer Euros Childs have kept themselves busy, since coming together last year. After a few tentative shows, they’ve taken the material for their delightful self-titled album out on the road, and the results are as charming and catchy as you would expect from the songwriters responsible for ‘Patio Song’, ‘Sparky’s Dream’, and myriad other.
Jonquil – Last.FM Stage – Saturday 17:40
Jonquil is barely recognisable from the bedroom project of a teenaged Hugo Manuel, apart from the consistent quality of the group’s output. First mutating into ‘Lions” six-piece accordion-led Beirut-inflected folk, they are now a four-piece (Manuel, Sam Scott, Robin McDarmuid, and Dom Hand) following the departure of three members to form Trophy Wife. the sunny guitars of ‘One Hundred Suns’ mark another step in this band’s constant progression.
Juice Vocal Ensemble – Wood Stage – Friday - NA
Juice are at the forefront of the UK’s experimental/classical scene, performing new vocal music which draws on classical, world music, jazz, folk, pop, improvisation and theatre. They have featured on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM and have performed at both the Wigmore Hall and the South Bank to excellent reviews.
Justin Robertson– Clash Tent – Saturday - 00:30
Mentor to The Chemical Brothers, Justin Robertson, first made his name DJing on the Manchester club scene, happy to play northern soul, tech-house, dancehall, or anything else, as long as it worked. As well as forming a few bands (Lionrock, and now The Deadstock 33s), he’s spent the past 20 years remixing artists as diverse as Mystery Jets, Bjork, and Felix Da Housekat. We doff our hats to him!
Justin Townes Earle – Main Stage - Sunday - 16:15
Son of American singer songwriter Steve Earle and named after country legend Townes Van Zandt, Justin is recognised as an outstanding songwriter in his own right. In 2009 he received an Americana Music Award for ‘Emerging Artist of the Year’, a testament to his enormous talent. Third album ‘Harlem River Blues’ was released this year to great acclaim.
Katy Rose & the Cavalry Parade – Wood Stage – Saturday - 18:30
Possibly related to a few other artists here, Katy Rose Bennett (formerly KTB) has enjoyed success on her own terms over the years. Her intensely emotive songwriting, equal parts ecstatic and desperate, has been known to reduce people to tears in the audience at past festivals. Particularly affecting was her September 2007 performance, where she debuted a song about the floods that had wrecked the village in July. With all the bias imaginable, if there’s one artist you should see at Truck, make it this one.
Kris Drever – Wood Stage – Saturday - 20:30
Son of a famous folk-musician, Kris Drever made his name with Lau, as a solo artist (his album ‘Mark the Hard Earth’ saw him nominated for a BBC folk award), and in collaboration with John McCusker and Roddy Woomble for 2008′s gorgeous ‘Before The Ruin. Performing solo, his intuitive blend of traditional folk with more modern inflections is sure to be a big draw this weekend.
Lanterns on the Lake – Clash Stage – Sunday - 13:30
Geordie six-piece Lanterns on the Lake have been making a name for themselves in 2011. Since signing to Bella Union records, the band have been entertaining crowds on both sides of the Atlantic, playing at SXSW this March. The kind of band that people discover and instantly fall for, Lanterns On The Lake take the soft-focus ambience of ‘Ágætis Byrjun’-era Sigur Rós, and curve it into concise, delicate shapes.
Liam Finn - Clash Stage - Friday - 20:10
Son of the “best songwriter in New Zealand”, psychedelically-inclined rocker Liam Finn has continued his father’s musical tradition: a keen ear for melody, and a dedication to the craft of musicianship that enables him to record all the instruments himself. Add to that an intense live set-up of looped instruments and impassioned vocals, and you’ve got one hell of a show!
Listing Ships - Last.fm - Friday - 18:45
A band as much influenced by the likes of Holy Truck and Tortoise as they are by said bands’ source material, Listing Ships take a meandering route around the Krautrock template. Given the members’ previous bands (The Evenings, Witches, Sunnyvale Noise Sub-Element), it’s hardly surprising that they’ve already been asked onto BBC Oxford Introducing’s showcase after only a few months’ existence.
