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Tomorrow (Saturday) night sees Goldrush joined by former Ride frontman Mark Gardener (didn't he go out with Nicole from the 'Papa! Nicole!' Renault ads? hmm, I wonder if he still does) on the Main Stage and we're promised both Goldrush and Gardener sets, as already heard on their joint UK tour. The evening also boasts two Brighton mainstays: mighty uniformists British Sea Power and - the worst kept secret anywhere - a set by loveable moptops Electric Soft Parade. A couple of the Scratch Perverts are DJing (or doing whatever it is Scratch Perverts do) over on the rock-oriented Barn Stage, while the first day is fattened by thisGIRL, Saloon, Butterflies Of Love, Winnebago Deal, Norfolk's influential Magoo, DiS's own debutantes Koreans (2pm, Mainstage) and Erasure's bleeping chums Vic Twenty.
On Sunday there's less rock and more twang - but everyone is recovering in the sun so that's cool. Mainstage highlights are Hull's wonderful Fonda 500, who blasted Saturday night last year, Meanwhile Back In Communist Russia and Buck 65, with the lush jazzed acoustics of KTB to finish, playing with a large orchestral collective. But the country-tinged Trailer Park stage chews up the dusky afternoon with Laura Viers, then Jesse Sykes and Cambridge heroes Broken Family Band headlining. For added English eccentricity, there's Chris T-T's full band and Misty's Big Adventure.
All in all, Truck 2003 is fresher, broader and better thought out than any larger festival. Add to that the local vicar selling ice cream and you can't fail. Plus we did the programme as well, so there.
Forecast is sunshine, 29degrees tomorrow, and the chance of a sprinkling from scattered showers. Keep an eye on the BBC forecast here. Train times @ thetrainline.com. And if you need to work out your route to drive, the AA have a great route planner, here, aim for Steventon.
Tickets are priced £25 and the festival is close to selling out, so get over to truckrecords.com/truck2003 chop chop.
