Upcoming rock band Bleech 9:3 played their fourth ever festival at Truck Festival’s ‘Market Stage’ on Saturday, 25th July, and it looked as though they had already mastered the art of it. 

Words by Eve Smith

The Market Stage at Truck Festival was nearly full of people half an hour before the Bleech 9:3 performance, even the slightest sniff of the band playing got the crowd energetic, rowdy and ready to dance. 

The four-piece from Dublin came out onto the stage, and the volume of the crowd was indescribable, a crowd stretched way beyond the tent with people both sitting and standing outside trying to get a look in. 

Awaiting the song, the band immediately jumped into playing ‘Jacky’, which is one of their most popular songs at the moment and known for its heavy riffs and fast beat. It raised the energy to a level I did not comprehend, and it obviously formed a mosh pit in the centre of the crowd. 

Bleech 9:3 continued to play songs ‘No Surprise’ and ‘Underrated’ after this, keeping the energy in the crowd up with their grungy beats and melodic tune. Halfway through their performance, they played two new, unreleased songs called ‘Figure 8’ and ‘Tourniquet’, which surprised fans but also excited them yet again.

The boys on stage were buzzing, they were playing passionately, and lead singer Barry Quinlan was singing across to the crowd with such meaning and raw emotion throughout the performance. 

Before leaving, playing the last song, Barry Quinlan expresses his appreciation and love for playing there at Truck Festival, and how much it means to him and the band to be there. It was heartfelt and really added to the passion that the band had been showing for the music and the crowd throughout their performance. 

They ultimately ended their set by playing ‘Ceiling’, which I felt was perfect for that afternoon, as it really made everyone jump up and down one more time before seeing the band leave the stage. It’s a song that builds; it gets heavier, and it is fitting that this type of song works wonders on a festival crowd. 

Overall, there has been a time for everyone in the large tent and everyone listening in beyond those bounds. A Bleech 9:3 experience is loud, lively, passionate and powerful. It’s perhaps even symbolic of a version of 90s rock that was known, whilst still having its own completely unique sound.