The Green Man Festival
is an independent music festival held annually in the Brecon Beacons, Wales. It has evolved from a one-day, 300 capacity event in 2003, to a three-day festival with live music including psych, folk, indie, dance and Americana across five stages, as well as DJs playing everything from dub-reggae to electro and stoner rock, throughout the night.
Music is at the heart of Green Man, but aspects of culture, sustainable living and environmental consciousness have become central to Green Man too.
Literature, film, theatre, ceilidhs, all-night bonfires, comedy and secret gigs are part of the festival's unique identity.
Green Man takes place in the rolling parkland of Glanusk Park, nestled under the Sugar Loaf Mountain in the Brecon Beacons National Park; "of all the festivals in all the fields in Britain, probably the best field of all has been bagged by the Green Man Festival"(The Times). The festival has carved a niche as a non-corporate and ethically-minded festival, and is widely regarded as the leading boutique festival on the UK festival circuit. [1].
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GREEN MAN FESTIVAL TICKETS
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2003 festival
Green Man was held in
Craig y Nos Castle for one day with 300 people attending. Artists who performed included
King Creosote,
James Yorkston,
Julie Murphy and
The Memory Band
2004 festival
The festival moved to Baskerville Hall Hotel at
Clyro near
Hay-on-Wye (Wales) and increased in size to host 1000 people over two days. The music included
Four Tet,
Alasdair Roberts,
Fionn Regan, M Craft, Daimh, Gravenhurst,
The Earlies, Lone Pigeon, My Latest Novel and an early appearance from
Joanna Newsom. Baskerville Hall had an inside space, allowing some aspects of the festival to be hosted indoors.
2005 festival
Attendance of the festival increased to 2000 people, and the event spanned three days. The headline acts were the
Incredible String Band,
Bonnie Prince Billy and
Joanna Newsom. Other artists included
Wizz Jones,
Adem, The Fence Collective, Josephine Foster and Tunng.
2006 festival
In 2006
Fiona Stewart organiser of
The Big Chill festival went into partnership with the founders Jo and Danny and moved the festival to
Glanusk Park (in
Crickhowell, near
Abergavenny). The festival really established itself as a national outdoor event and saw a rapid expansion to 6,500.
The festival was given a 5 star rating in
the Guardian newspaper
[2] and 4 star rating in The Times
[3].
The event was headlined by
Donovan,
Jose Gonzalez and
Calexico. Other performers included
Adem,
Bat for Lashes,
Jack Rose,
Marissa Nadler, and
Micah P. Hinson and Joe Boyd appeared in the Literature Tent, and the Institute of Physics started the science tent. The festival became more than a music event and elements from all aspects of culture and living were added. Quality food tents offered cuisine from around the world, whilst bars offered everything from real ale to cocktails.
2007 festival
With the festival now settled at Glanusk Park, the 2007 event increased in size to 10,000.
Joanna Newsom,
Robert Plant and
Stephen Malkmus headlined on their respective days of the festival weekend. The following acts also performed:
Devendra Banhart,
Bill Callahan,
Vashti Bunyan,
Stephen Duffy &
The Lilac Time,
Battles,
Seasick Steve,
Fridge,
Dead Meadow,
Gruff Rhys,
Vetiver,
The Earlies,
Richmond Fontaine,
Euros Childs,
Tunng,
Steve Adey,
Starless and Bible Black, Lisa Knapp,
Men-An-Tol,
Arborea,
Alela Diane,
Monkey Swallows the Universe,
Six Organs Of Admittance,
Gilbert, Low Low Low La La La Love Love Love,
John Power,
John Renbourn and
My Brightest Diamond.
2008 festival
The 2008 festival capped the capacity to 10,000. Despite taking place in the fourth worst British summer ever recorded the festival received fantastic reviews, and the weather didn't close any entertainment areas down.
Spiritualized,
Super Furry Animals, and
Pentangle (a worldwide festival exclusive) were the headline acts, joined by
Richard Thompson,
Iron & Wine,
The National,
Nina Nastasia,
Laura Marling,
Radio Luxembourg,
Drive-By Truckers,
Black Mountain (band),
Junior Boys as well as a special night hosted by
Domino Records and many, many others played to wildly enthusiastic crowds
[4]. A new bar called the "End Up" was added that had the first 24 hour drinks licence at a UK festival.
The 2008 festival was widely praised.
2009 festival
In early March 2009 festival organisers announced the first set of acts for that year's festival including Grammy award winners
Wilco, 2008's hottest success
Bon Iver, as well as Wooden Shjips,
British Sea Power,
Errors,
Jarvis Cocker, Peggy Sue, Megson,
Pivot, It's A Buffalo, She Keeps Bees, Golden Animals,
6 Day Riot, No Thee No Ess, Sound Carriers, and The Fuzzbirds. Other acts included:
Andrew Bird,
Trembling Bells,
Dirty Three and
Peter Broderick. They also announced the first of many new hidden surprises around the site including 'Einstein's Garden', which will introduce thought provoking green issues in a fun, informative way, and 'Little Folk', a larger children's area with even more workshops, entertainment and great stuff to do
[5].
Animal Collective will headline one day of the festival this year.
References
- Virtual Festivals Green Man overview
- Guardian review
- The Times review
- Festival review in the Guardian
- BBC Wales music site