Sienna Bentley

It’s 3pm on the Monday afternoon after Truck Festival, and I’m in bed (don’t save me, I’m exactly where I want to be). I woke up at noon and I feel like I’m battling a hangover, but I guess that’s what happens when you have heatstroke and then food poisoning immediately afterwards. I’m a little weakling, basically. My body is fighting for its life. 

Rock ‘n’ roll and all that.

Sadly our girl Ray was unable to join me on Hill Farm in the end, but I managed to rope in Charlotte – housemate, friend and temporary bite mag content taker – to fill in for the weekend. While I can confidently say she very much enjoyed the experience, she has since resigned from her role. I am a horrific demon boss. 

Before I get into the real-time running commentary from my notes app, I just wanted to reflect on my first time as press at a major festival, because I have one takeaway that made itself very clear to me across the two-and-a-bit days we were running about, especially from speaking to – male, in particular – journalists about their experience (for some of whom it was also their first time attending), which presented quite a stark contrast to mine.

There’s one thing that’s easier said than done – people can tell you to do this but it’s ultimately something you can only learn by doing, and that’s being audacious. It’s so easy to say to someone else, “just be brave, approach them” or “fuck it, just do it”. You can only really force yourself to do this – and it’s hard, especially if you’re shy (which, contrary to popular belief, I very much am). 

The thing is, it almost always pays off. You will only ever regret not taking that step. Even if things don’t go as planned, I believe that the “what if?” is so much worse than the “now what?”. 

Despite the time spent in the medical tent from aforementioned illnesses, the interviews I was lucky enough to do with artists this weekend – Radio Free Alice, Adult DVD, The Slow Country, The Love Buzz – were the result of this forced bravery. I couldn’t just sit and wait for people to come to me. Everyone is busy, no one really knows who anyone is (at least, definitely no one knew who I was) and the energy could feel chaotic at times. It was a real challenge, but I realised that I had to create my own opportunities. 

This is something I want to emphasise to women in particular. As one male journalist agreed with me this weekend, men are generally more audacious than women. It’s easier for them to approach strangers and introduce themselves, as there’s no doubt about whether or not they belong in the room. I’m not saying this is true across the board, obviously, but from my experience, their confidence, even just this weekend, was clear and almost tangible. People have told me on multiple occasions to “channel my inner man” and while it’s frustrating that this has to be a piece of advice in the first place, it’s taken me far. 

The imposter syndrome threatened to rear its ugly head, but I didn’t let it. What I liked about press at Truck Festival was that the energy was collaborative; it didn’t feel competitive and cliquey or that I didn’t belong there. Sure, it’s a small crowd and everyone knows each other while I’m still forging these connections, but I was there in the room and that’s what matters. I didn’t feel out of place because I know I worked hard to get there. Being a small publication doesn’t invalidate you!

Festival play-by-play (the content you’ve been waiting for)

When we weren’t in bite mag mode, we ventured out into the arena and enjoyed everything that Truck had to offer. 

I documented the weekend in real time on my notes app. I wish I had timestamped the bullet points, but time doesn’t pass the same way at a festival. Take it or leave it. 

Friday

• Arrived and felt sick (foreshadowing)
• Met my new BFF John from Eyesore & the Jinx (confused that my Bentley didn’t have wheels) 
• Chatted to The Love Buzz and they gave me hot sauce !!!!!
• Blown away by The Girl In The Year Above’s vocals
• Sat down with The Slow Country (truly beautiful people)
• Threw up outside a stranger’s tent (sorry)
• Cried in the medical tent 
• Ate chips and felt happy
• Head banged (sensibly) to Delta Sleep 
• Charlotte embodied bite mag when she tried to eat a snus (one cider btw)
• Met my idol Photos By Charlie, Charlotte met her idol Jaackmaate 
• Swayed to English Teacher downwind of a serial farter
• Kind security guard saved me some electrolytes 
• Charlotte was blinded by a buzzball

Saturday

• Bev with breakfast
• Got interviewed (I’m a celebrity get me out of here)
• Pulled Adult DVD for a chat
• Cheese on toast made Charlotte feel queasy
• Rocked out to Florence Road 
• Cornered Radio Free Alice for an interview (loveliest legends)
• Bopped to The Vaccines
• Scarfed an entire roast dinner in under five minutes
• Moshed to Bleech 9:3
• Shat myself in the press toilet while The Kaiser Chiefs played ‘Ruby’
• Charlotte was thrown up on 
• Sat on the sofa with Radio Free Alice while Charlotte ran off for beer
• Two-stepped to Two Door Cinema Club
• Got a blister the size of the toe it’s on 

Sunday

• Sewer truck kicked me out of the portaloo mid unfortunate situation 
• Round two (I’m in hell)
• Third time’s a charm? (I’m fighting for my life)
• Linked with bestie Fishing For A Compliment pre-interview with Deco (we were poor company)
• Nibbled on a Cornish pasty 
• Sampled every toilet in press, arena and campsite 
• Accepted that we both had food poisoning and had to dip early 

No pics from this day as I can’t imagine you really want to see us throwing up and worse. I don’t personally believe in TMI but maybe you do.

The end xx

Interviews and more narrative-led features to come soon, so keep an eye out!