More decorated than Audie Murphy, Bellowhead have been selfishly hogging the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards for six years. They have been named Best Group twice (2011, 2007) and Best Live Act five times (2011, 2010, 2008, 2007, 2005). So it is with great pleasure that Truck Festival welcomes them back by popular demand after last year’s rip-roaring set.
When we asked all the Truckers what you’d most like to see at Truck 14, there was a resounding call for Bellowhead to headline, and eager not to disappoint, we gladly obliged. Founded by contemporary folkies John Spiers and Jon Boden, Bellowhead now exists as a mighty eleven-piece ensemble with an equally gigantic capacity to captivate audiences with their energetic and eclectic live performances.
So what exactly can you expect from a Bellowhead live show that makes it so special? Well, let’s go through some of the instruments on show shall we: guitar, fiddle, tambourine, kazoo, mandolin, banjo, cello, slide whistle, bagpipes, trombone, trumpet, glockenspiel, everything except the kitchen sink it seems (although they have been known to implement kitchen pots and pans as percussion).
Combining traditional folk, gypsy jazz, feel-good swing, modern pop and acoustic rock the band put on one hell of a show. Bellowhead are the prefect band to sip cold cider and dance like crazy too. Come wind or rain, nothing shall dowse the party atmosphere when they take to the stage as headliners at this year’s Truck Festival.
