The Sway: Truck Festival, This Feeling & Hunter Boots Stage

Liverpool’s The Sway recently treated the Thursday ticket holders to Truck Festival to a mesmerising set on the This Feeling stage.

Bands can dazzle, they can enthral, that’s the easy bit for fledgeling bands. Having the craft honed to back it all up takes time, often until albums two and three. The Sway delivered it in abundance in this set.

All images courtesy of Alan Wells Photography.

‘Dreamer’s devilishly rumbling licks, a la their Scouse elders The Stands, sauntered through the summer air as though they’d always been present. ‘Changing’ had an eloquence that defied their years even more. The lo-fi vocal and angelic back vocals are kissed by moonlit Dave McCabe-esque guitars, which hold a crowd in disbelief.

Track after track, The Sway continued to delight with songs with the melodic ease of a band basking in years of success. ‘Songs & Poetry’ swayed with Shack’s guile, DMA’s innocence, and the romantic glee of the Sarah’s Records cannon. ‘Living It Large’, heavier than most in the set, still knew when to step on and off the gas. Drip fed the excitement with Lou Reed's “oo oos” and lysergic licks as and when, like Townsend in his pomp, toying with rock ‘n' roll disciples.

You wait, and you wait, and YOU WAIT, for a band to have the talent, integrity and poetry. So often, one or more is missing. The Sway have it all. They looked like a band of brothers, all standing at the front of the stage, confronting yet enticing, all songwriters and singers but crucially, no ego!

The Sway will play the coveted Rewired all-dayer at Signature Brew’s Blackhorse Road venue. Click the image for tickets.

Good Health Good Wealth: Truck Festival, This Feeling & Hunter Boots Stage

Some bands stride on stage with purpose, with a sense of destiny in their eyes. Good Health, Good Wealth strolled on in their own time, looking like extras from The Business and the re-make of The Firm. The This Feeling and Hunter Boots audience drew breath; coming next was either awful or genius.

All images courtesy of Alan Wells Photography.

Frontman Bruce Breakey moved in micro-movements, redefining what it means to be cool AF every millisecond. At the same time, guitarist Simon Kuzmickas looked slicker than Serge and as coly withdrew as Chris Lowe.

‘Love Hangover’ grooved into the room with effortless confidence. Breakey’s deeper spoken word sections were delivered with subtle, wry nods and winks to a crowd marching straight into the palm of his hand. Their most recent single ‘Gold’ showcased the vocal talent of Breakey. It offered the kind of crossover hit the alternative world sorely needs to drag mainstream eyes to it.

On set closer ‘Snatch,’ GHGW turned the vibrancy of Truck Festival into the gritty smoke-filled warehouse clubs of London. They beefed up their laid-back record to become a festival banger, all the while, Breakey’s slow vocal drawl in the verses cutting through a room ready to erupt with excitement. Pulling from Man Like Me, Audio Bullys, and MJ Cole, this duo are ready to be catapulted to stardom and tear up a bland industry.

Fingers to the sky, the weak became heroes once again. Genius!