The biggest festival in Wales and a highlight in the country’s cultural calendar, Green Man is back. Luke Owain Boult takes a look at just some of the acts and events you should be looking out for this year.
MOUNTAIN STAGE
Nestled at the foot of the Black Mountains, this stage in a natural amphitheatre with stunning views will be hosting the festival’s headline acts from Friday to Sunday. Ones you shouldn’t miss include: the Baltimore synth-pop group Future Islands – a fantastic live act – and Brighton’s British Sea Power (for fans of Arcade Fire and The Cure) on Friday; the phenomenal singer-songwriters Ryan Adams and Michael Kiwanuka both headline on Saturday, along with the English folk artist Shirley Collins, instrumental in the revival of English folk in the 1960s and 1970s; on Sunday, the hugely varied, talented singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist PJ Harvey headlines with American alternative rock outfit The Shins, along with the innovative Deep Throat Choir who cover a wide range of songs using the human voice and rums. Also, make sure not to miss the burning of the Green Man!
CINEDROME
On every day of the festival, Green Man’s own cinema Cinedrome will be screening a well-picked selection of films. From action in Ben Wheatley’s Free Fire on Thursday to Alice Lowe’s critically acclaimed Prevenge on Saturday and Lynch’s bizarre Mulholland Drive, there’s plenty for all sorts of film fans. Other top picks include the recent breath-taking Studio Ghibli and Michaël Dudok de Wit collaboration The Red Turtle (Sunday) and the cult B-movie and often regarded as the worst film ever made Plan 9 From Outer Space (Friday) with a live score courtesy of progressive audio-visual artist DJ Cheeba.
FAR OUT
The rather aptly named Far Out are is home to the Green Man Rising stage, dedicated to discovering new stars and supporting experimental musicians in a quiet artistic valley. Decorated with interactive art installations and soothing lighting, the area is the perfect atmosphere to get into new bands. Look out for: the experimental Badbadnotgood and Boy Azooga on Thursday; the psychedelic Japanese group Kikagaku Moyo and bilingual Welsh and English language psychedelic outfit Omaloma on Friday; singer-songwriter Aled Rheon and jazz composer Moses Boyd Exodus on Saturday; and Julian Cope and psych-rock Sunflower Bean on Sunday.
WALLED GARDEN
Set in a green courtyard that’s closed off like a secret garden from the rest of the festival, this is a great place to watch acts up-close in beautiful surroundings. With a Green Man pub and May Pole, the mini village has some great artists performing there through the day and as the sun goes down, while DJs take over until the wee hours. While you’re here, check out eerie psych-rock outfit Cobalt Chapel (Friday), mesmerising folk singer Aldous Harding (Saturday), Leonard Cohen-esque Warhaus (Saturday) and the spellbinding violinist Gaelynn Lea (Sunday).
BABBLING TONGUES
Like a mini Hay Festival, this area is Green Man’s home of debate, discussion, and comedy. With a talented line-up of musicians, comedians and writers, this is the place to be if you fancy a sit down after you’ve danced the soles off your boots. Legendary author Irvine Welsh and Charlotte Church will be appearing on Friday, followed by Extreme Sports with James Hancox – a gameshow in which the audience competes in bizarre games – and the music trivia Pop Quiz with Pete Paphides and Bob Stanley on Saturday, and great comedy from Josie Long and Jarred Christmas on Sunday, as well as a thought provoking talk with Billy Bragg.
THE COURTYARD
A beer and cider festival within a festival, the Courtyard is a Gothic stable block made from locally quarried flint, and is home to a wide selection of Welsh ales and ciders from independent brewers – with over 100 available. With shelter under a large communal tent, the Courtyard is the perfect place to unwind and gather yourself should the horrors of a Welsh summer strike down upon the Brecon Beacons.
NATURE NURTURE
The stereotype of festivals being grimy and dirty is long gone, and Green Man are relishing in that with Nature Nurture. Tucked away in a glade of Welsh oaks, they offer treatments from qualified professionals, exercise classes, yoga, hot tubs and everything else you could possibly need to feel completely relaxed.
EINSTEIN’S GARDEN
Manned by experts from universities and societies around the country, Green Man’s unique Science Stalls are the place to watch researchers educate in inspiring way. With over 100 performances, from comedy and music to theatre and interactive installations, highlights include a planetarium tent, an interactive sitcom in which the audience takes control over the plot and an Algorave, where the music is generated from computer code before your very eyes.
Green Man, Brecon Beacons, Thurs 17 – Sun 20 Aug. Info: www.greenman.net