In late August, the Brecon Beacons will transform into a dynamic hub of performing arts. No longer just an idyllic Welsh landscape, the sound of poetry, comedy, theatre, literature and music will fill the countryside. Past headliners have included Doves, Neutral Milk Hotel and Fleet Foxes as its renown continues to grow. Into its fourteenth year of showcasing the best folk and indie music, Green Man is now a heavyweight in the British festival scene. Indeed, despite its modest capacity of 20,000 people, the festival has offered an abundance of entertainment, art and performances that span over 10 areas.
You can head to Babbling Tongues for some comedy and literature as you join in the celebration of the spoken word. Dubbed as the festival-within-a-festival, check out the Walled Garden, an intimate area surrounded by 12-foot-tall walls. For the ultimate music experience though, the Mountain’s Foot is the place to be as the festival’s headliners perform beneath the staggering Sugar Loaf and Crug Hywel mountains. If you’re still found wanting more come the end of the night, then Far Out has you covered. With exotic music and DJ sets that go from dusk until dawn, the party never really stops in the Welsh wilderness.
Judging from their line-up, this year looks to be as impressive as ever, with over 100 comedy and music acts already confirmed. Among the catalogue of talent available across the weekend are Grammy-nominated James Blake, Brit Award-winner Laura Marling, Scottish indie icons Belle and Sebastian and the huge gospel psychedelia outfit Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, all fitting Green Man’s experimental aesthetic. Along with Unknown Mortal Orchestra, White Denim and Kamasi Washington and many others billed for the weekend, Green Man’s reputation for selecting eclectic indie/folk acts looks to be valorised.
Should you ever get tired of music, Green Man has ample of talent at their disposal ranging through every performing art. Head over and watch Welsh comedian Rhod Gilbert for a laugh, or catch a film with titles varying from Pixar’s Inside Out to the cinema classic Metropolis for your viewing pleasure. There will also be a new addition to the Green Man index of areas as 2016 sees the introduction of Back of Beyond, a space dedicated to Wales’ most talented performers, ranging from dancing to circus acts.
words CONOR KNIGHT
Green Man Festival, Brecon Beacons, Thurs 18 – Sun 21 Aug, Tickets: £175. Info: www.greenman.net