Truck Festival has been a home from home for us at So Young for many a year now. Alongside the indie big-hitters that have claimed the top spot on the Truck Stage, Hill Farm has hosted the most exciting new bands at the earliest stages of their careers for over a decade.
With the festival now less than a week away, it feels like the right time to cross check your planners and help you fill in some gaps with our artist led guide to Truck Festival 2026. We reached out to some of those names on the rise to get their take on this years lineup, some reccomendations for next year’s headliners and their earliest festival memories.
An artist guide to Truck Festival 2026 from Madra Salach, Divorce, Theatre, Saint Clair, Bleech 9:3, Adult DVD, Silver Gore and Casual Smart.
Thanks for chatting to us ahead of Truck Festival 2026. Truck loves to support brand new artists and is often a first festival for many bands and attendees. Could you tell us about your first festival?
Madra Salach:
Jack M: My first festival was Electric Picnic, I think I was 11 or 12. I remember seeing Arctic Monkeys on the main stage and it rocked my little world.
Jack L: I was there too at the barrier. Alex Turner had a green velvet suit on (for Ireland).
Divorce: My first festival was The Big Chill in 2009. I remember that David Byrne played and I didn’t care because I was a kid with crass taste (still have). Basement Jaxx played and I cared a lot about that (still would). I met Noel Fielding and that was the most memorable thing because I was a huge mighty boosh fan as a kid, I spoke about that for years after!
Saint Clair: We played BunkFest in 2023. It was Lawrence’s first time with the band, and there must’ve been less than 5 people in attendance. We felt like we’d made it.
Silver Gore:
Ethan: I saw Empire of the Sun and Kanye at ‘The Big Chill’ with my friend Seb in like 2011 when we were both 12.
Bleech 9:3: Our first festival was Electric Picnic in Ireland and it was actually our first live performance with the name Bleech 9:3 so it was pretty important moment for us.
Adult DVD: I went to the Sunday of Leeds Festival 2007 with my dad. Paramore opened the main stage; my dad lost his mind at Eagles of Death Metal, and I sang every word to Red Hot Chilli Peppers. A good day.
Theatre: Our first festival was All Together Now last year! We played on Friday which was great because we just got to enjoy the festival for the rest of the weekend. I feel like we all discovered so many new bands last year at it. It was a great experience!
Casual Smart:
Peter: The first festival I went to was a festival in Liss Ard, West Cork where my Mum is from. It only happened once and Nile Rogers headlined!
Which artists have you discovered and fallen for at a festival?
Madra Salach:
Jack M: I saw Parquet Courts at Benicassim in 2016 by myself and I got bashed around and it was amazing.
Jack L: I saw them at Electric Picnic and crowd surfed and was crowd surfed on many times. It was amazing.
Divorce: I remember seeing Caroline Polachek at Glastonbury in 2022 on the Park Stage. She didn’t have a very big audience and I now know that’s classic Glastonbury because everyone plays it and normal hierarchy kind of goes out of the window (which is great really). But I remember she played her song Door and I was like what the hell is this. I was an instant fan.
Saint Clair: CMAT
Silver Gore:
Ava: Perfume Genius
Bleech 9:3: The Scratch at Beyond the Pale in Ireland. I had really liked their music before this but after seeing them play I really thought they were wicked.
Adult DVD: We saw Victoryland play at SXSW a few months ago; I’d never heard of them but loved it, and I’ve been hooked on their album ever since. Same for Truthpaste at Greenman last year; they were unreal.
Theatre: We saw Deary at Manchester psych fest last year. That was a standout at that festival for us for sure. There were so many good bands on that line up though.
There’s this incredible artist from Fermanagh in Ireland, Róis! We saw her live for the first time at All Together Now and it was completely spellbinding
Casual Smart:
Peter: I saw Black Country, New Road for the first time at Green Man and I truly don’t think anything else has inspired me that much since.
Who from the Truck 2026 lineup would you recommend to a friend?
Madra Salach: CMAT definitely. One of the best live acts around at the moment and arguably Ireland’s best songwriter currently.
Divorce: Catch me at the front for Rizzle Kicks.
Saint Clair: SLAG, we love their song “Heaven”.
Silver Gore:
Ava: The Rizzle kicks because they make us dance
Ethan: I love Westside Cowboy & Madra Salach
Bleech 9:3: Girl In The Year above – we played a festival with them in France a couple months ago and I thought they were great – the singer has a special voice. Would recommend.
Adult DVD: Gans. We have played with them a few times now; their live show just gets better and better. Go see them.
Theatre: First off definitely Bleech 9:3 & Brooki. They’re good friends of ours from home and they’re also just incredible bands.
Then we’d say Westside Cowboy. We’ve had the pleasure of playing with these guys a few times and we’ve been spinning their new singles a lot this year. We can’t wait for their album in August.
Casual Smart:
Rowan: I would recommend CMAT because she is the coolest girl in the world and her music makes me feel freer than a wild horse.
If you could choose the band or artist to warm up the crowd ahead of your performance, who would it be?
Madra Salach: Adele. Or The Beatles.
Divorce: Our friends Blood Wizard, they supported us on tour a couple of years ago and they freaking rock.
Saint Clair: PUNCHBAG
Silver Gore:
Ava: The white stripes
Ethan: a band who makes similar music to us but is slightly less popular.
Bleech 9:3: The Pogues would get the crowd going. But I wouldn’t want to follow them up.
Adult DVD: We had Silverwingkiller join us on our last tour; they know how to get a crowd riled up. I’d have them on every show. Also, somebody doing a cover of John Cage’s 4’33 would work; just to get the crowd tweaking out to some ambience before we start.
Theatre: She’s Green
Casual Smart: Tinie Tempah but he can only play ‘Pass Out’ for half an hour straight.
Finally, could you help Truck book next year’s headliners?
Starting with the Truck Main Stage?
Madra Salach: I would like to see Aphex Twin on the main stage please.
Divorce: Robbie Williams please.
Saint Clair: Florence Road
Silver Gore:
Ava: O.
Ethan: Silver Gore
Bleech 9:3: Billy Strings, Amyl and the Sniffers and Turnstile … idk
Adult DVD: Viagra Boys
Theatre: Gurriers, English Teacher, Gilla Band.
Casual Smart:
Emily: I would choose Dua Lipa to headline the main stage because anything smaller would be a complete disservice to the pop goddess that she is. I think also if you had Dua headlining then you’d get bands from all the world lining up just for the opportunity to be on the same bill as her and truck would probs sell out way quicker.
Who’s headlining The So Young Market Stage?
Madra Salach: Maybe YHWH Nailgun, would that work? (…Works for us)
Divorce: Wednesday
Saint Clair: Bleech 9:3
Silver Gore:
Ava: The White Stripes
Ethan: Silver Gore
Bleech 9:3: Bjork maybe?
Adult DVD: mary in the junkyard
Theatre: Mary in the Junkyard, Little Grandad, Esmeralda Road
Casual Smart:
Emily – mary in the junkyard. They just released an awesome album and they are in the So Young hall of fame.
And finally, who’s headlining The Nest?
Madra Salach: Mama Bird
Divorce: John Shuttleworth.
Saint Clair: Madra Salach
Silver Gore:
Ava: Magdalena bay
Ethan: Silver Gore
Bleech 9:3: Hayley Williams would be cool.
Adult DVD: Lip Critic
Theatre: Cabl, Martial Arts, Byro
Casual Smart:
Emily: I would pick us, Casual Smart. We all love Truck Festival a lot and why not aim high. Shoot for the stars and if you land short you can still end up on the moon.
Thanks for chatting with us. Have a great Truck!
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