| Location(s) | Brecon Beacons, Wales |
|---|---|
| Years active | 2003 - present |
| Date(s) | 3rd weekend of August (4 days) |
| Genre | Folk / Psychedlia / Dance / Americana / Indie / Electronica |
| Website | www.greenman.net |
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 four-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.
Literature, film, theatre, ceilidhs, all-night bonfires, comedy and secret gigs are part of the festival's unique identity. The festival has carved a niche as a non-corporate and ethically-minded festival.[1]
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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
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.
Attendance of the festival increased to 1500 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.
In 2006 Fiona Stewart organiser of The Big Chill festival went into partnership with the founders Jo and Danny and moved the festival to 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, José González 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.
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, Thistletown and My Brightest Diamond.
The 2008 festival's capacity was capped at 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.
In 2009 Daniel Hagan resigned as a Director [5]. The festival increased in size again and was headlined by Animal Collective on Friday, Jarvis Cocker on Saturday and Grammy award winners Wilco, also 2008's hottest success Bon Iver, as well as Wooden Shjips, British Sea Power, Errors, Grizzly Bear, Peggy Sue, Erland & The Carnival, 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 on the Bella Union night on Saturday in the Far Out Tent.They also announced the first of many new hidden surprises around the site including 'Einstein's Garden', which combines science, green issues and art in a fun and thought provoking way, Chai Wallahs containing an exciting line-up of dj's, an expanded the children's area with even more workshops, entertainment and great stuff to do.[6] An 8 metre sculpture of the Green Man was set alight at the end of the festival, which created a wonderful finale and great spectacle to finish the celebrations for 2009.
Green Man 2010 sold out a record ten weeks in advance. The festival took place on 20/21/22 August 2010 and was headlined by Doves (Friday), The Flaming Lips (Saturday) and Joanna Newsom (Sunday). Other acts on the Main Stage bill included Mumford And Sons, Beirut, Billy Bragg, The Unthanks, Tindersticks, Laura Marling, Darwin Deez, John Grant, Fionn Regan, Erland And The Carnival, Johnny Flynn and Mountain Man.
In the Far Out (second stage), Fuck Buttons headlined Friday night, Wild Beasts on Saturday and Efterklang on Sunday. Girls, The Tallest Man On Earth, Megafaun, These New Puritans, Avi Buffalo, Summer Camp, Je Suis Animal, Steve Mason, Sleepy Sun and Chew Lips, also performed in the Far Out.
Music continued in the Far Out After-Dark (Far Out stage after 11pm) until 4am. On Friday night Hexstatic provided a night of "Audio Visual Dancefloor Mayhem" and invited Dj Yoda, DJ Food & DK and Cheeba to join them. Saturday night saw Metronomy provide the evening's entertainment in the form of "Metronomy Presents", inviting Factory Floor, James Blake and Wild Geese. Sunday evening saw Greco Roman Sound System taking over the After-Dark- "Greco Roman vs. Green Man" with Matthew Herbert, Gold Panda, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs and Greco Roman Soundsystem DJ's including Ross Allen and Full Nelson.
Green Man 2011 took place on 19, 20, 21 August 2011 at Glanusk Park Estate, Wales. Headline acts were Fleet Foxes, Explosions In The Sky and Iron and Wine.