With Green Man Festival less than two months away, we take a look at all the things to get excited about this party in the mountains. With so much going on, Green Man really is more than just about the music.
They had a pre-fest party on a boat
Green Man set sail in style. Rather than just counting down the days on their Facebook page, the festival hosted a boat party on the Thames to let punters know that Green man is well and truly on its way. This unique approach to pre-festival hype reflected the festival’s fun and creative approach to festival throwing. With performances by The Lovely Eggs, Heavenly Jukebox and Makeness, it certainly helped build a wave of excitement.
The festival is, quite literally, a work of art
Since 2016, the festival says it has ‘taken a new approach’ to ‘site art’, showcasing international and up and coming artists. With displays by the Carolo Bernadinin (amongst others) combining the millennial obsession with neon lights and minimalist aesthetics, this incorporation of artistic installations into the festival site means that capturing that all-important perfect Instagram just got a whole lot easier.
Conscious Festival Throwing
In the past year, you would be mistaken for thinking that David Attenborough has singled-handedly brought about the war on plastic. With environmental concerns possessing a more mainstream position in social and political debate, Green Man is already two steps ahead – the festival has never sold plastic straws at its onsite bars. Disposable plastic cups are also a no go; instead, punters can buy reusable cups, doubling up as a cute souvenir from the weekend. Biodegradable glitter will also be available across the site, so you can nail that festival look while still caring about the planet. To top it all off, Green Man has teamed up with Help Refugees and Newport to Calais Aid and Collective to collect unwanted camping equipment at the end of the weekend, donating the collections to refugee sites across the world. Think green: it’s in the festival’s name after all.
It’s more than just about the music
Want a talk on mind reading? A talk entitled ‘The Unifying Theory of the Gay’? A talk on the world’s first vagina museum? Well, Green Man is here to fulfil all your nerdy needs. With talks being held across the weekend plus its very own literature and comedy tents to give you a much-needed laugh if you ever find yourself feeling a little bit on the hungover side, the festival is here celebrating all form of arts. So, at least you can claim to be that bit more cultured at the end of the weekend, even if you are a little bit hungover.
Setting
Who doesn’t love a festival set in a mountain range? Surrounded by miles of stunning views in the Welsh countryside, Green Man truly is a unique festival experience and, above all, a sight to behold.
A Green Man is set on fire
No, not a man in a green morph suit. Every year, the festival builds a giant green man at the heart of the festival. After the final act has sung their goodbyes on the Sunday evening, the fest says its final farewell in a literally sizzling fashion as the sculpture is set alight. Talk about going out with a bang.
Discover your new favourite band with the festival’s impeccable lineup
Make your way down to the Mountain Stage and vibe out to your favourite acts, old and new. Get your groove on to indie kings Grizzly Bear, or if that’s not your style, enjoy the beautifully soulful tones of Dirty Projectors. HMLTD have proved to be one of the most interesting acts to come out of London in recent years, with their glam-infused pop creating a manic hysteria of thrusting guitar lines and exaggerated vocals. You’ll also find me at the front of the crowd dancing my heart and soul out to Frankie Cosmos’ indie pop guitar-fuelled mummerings, whose latest album ‘Vessel’ has been met with shinning reviews. Catch New York’s latest guitar offering in the form of The Lemon Twigs before they support Arctic Monkeys on their much-anticipated UK tour in September. Make sure to see sets by Jade Bird and Susanna Sundor, who are both guaranteed to give stunning vocal deliveries.
The headline acts are big news
After last year’s Green Man line was headlined by PJ Harvey, Ryan Adams and Future Islands, the festival has set the bar high for themselves. And the festival has not disappointed.
War on Drugs are set to bring their ‘grand-scale guitar attack’ meets sentimental lyricism to the festival’s Mountain Stage Friday night, starting the weekend off with an American party of bittersweet melodies. On Saturday, Fleet Foxes are to seduce us with their earthy-rich tones. The band’s third album released in 2017 was met with critical acclaim, finding itself on various publication’s ‘top albums of 2017’ lists. After King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard released five albums in 2017 alone, their headline slot on Sunday looks to be a sonic explosion of madness and funky guitar lines with an added clarinet thrown in every now and then for extra surrealness. With 12 albums in their back catalogue since 2012, this looks to be a set of surprises and a perfect end to the weekend.
So, get counting down the days and get your sun hats ready for this extravaganza in the mountains. It’s going to be a big one.
Juliette Rowsell
Image credit: Far Out Magazine, Green Man, Brecon Beacons Tourism Blog.