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Fans rate Truck the best
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| From left, Robin Bennett with Brynmor Bennett, 'Hamu', Joe Bennett, Claire Bennett and Genevieve Willis, with Megan Bennett in the background |
A FAMILY-RUN music festival, set up to showcase Oxfordshire talent, has been named best independent event in the country.
Truck Festival which is held at Hill Farm, Steventon, is one of the county's best-loved summer gatherings, attracting thousands of fans and artists.
Now, it seems, the secret is out.
The two-day annual event, which last year celebrated its tenth anniversary, has been hailed Britain's best festival, in the national Indy Music Awards.
The awards, which celebrate the best grassroots bands and non-corporate events and venues, were presented at a celebrity-studded reception at London's Forum club.
Winners were chosen by music lovers across the country - with more than 70,000 votes cast.
Truck, which is run by musicians Robin and Joe Bennett, and their family, from Steventon, beat off competition for the Virtual Festivals Best Festival trophy from many bigger events.
Among the other shortlisted nominees were Secret Garden Party, in East Anglia; The Wickerman Festival, in Scotland; and Sunrise Festival, in Somerset.
Robin Bennett, who along with his brother Joe and sister Katie, is a member of the cult country-rock band Danny & The Champions of the World, said Truck's secret was "keeping close to its roots".
"Everyone respects Truck for being focused on music," he said. "A lot of festivals have other things going on, but we have no frills.
"It's all about the music. We are passionate about it, and that shows."
The award was collected by Joe Bennett and festival figurehead Richard 'Hamu' Hammerschmidt from Oxford, who celebrated by dancing to special guests, Manchester punk legends Buzzcocks. Also celebrating were Oxford band Little Fish, who won the award for Best Rock Act.
Truck faced financial problems last year after the Hill Farm site was flooded just hours before the event, forcing a postponement until September.
The rescheduled event and a weekend-long benefit concert at Oxford Brookes University were highly successful, however.
The head of Indy Music Awards, Jeremy Glover, said: "This was an incredible celebration of live music with well established and current artists joining the very best in emerging new talent.
"My thanks go to the all the immensely talented people who keep the live industry fresh and exciting."
This year's Truck Festival takes place on July 19-20. Acts include Morrison Steam Fayre, Maps, Camera Obscura, Noa and the Whale, The Television Personalities, Small Face legend Ian Maclagan, Martin Simpson, Little Fish, Richard Walters and The Winchell Riots.
A few tickets are still available. For details go to www.thisistruck.com
4:33pm Wednesday 30th April 2008
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