Festival Preview: Green Man
By: Chris O'Toole
The music business is big business these days. Every sub-strata and faction of every musical genre has a badge to wear and a festival to call their own. Each comes replete with its own corporate sponsor, novelty foam hat and exorbitant ticket price, and packs in a seemingly random selection of vogue acts designed to part the patrons with their money.
Green Man is different. Taking place at Glanusk Park, nestled in the heart of the Brecon Beacons, this intimate festival, attracting a modest 6,000 guests, remains focused on its pastoral, ecological roots. The line-up, rather than being hotch-potch cobbled together from the charts, is designed to attract the world's premiere folk talent, collecting them together in the shadow of the Sugar Loaf mountains for an intimate, natural spectacle.
This year the event will be headlined by Joanna Newsom, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Devendra Banhart and Robert Plant & The Strange Sensation, and whilst they are all sure to dazzle the line-up is filled with quality all day every day. Friday sees sets from Rockfeedback favourites Tunng and Findlay Brown, Saturday hosts James Yorkston and Sunday witnesses sets from Alasdair Roberts and Malcolm Middleton to name but a few.
Whilst Green Man has grown by word of mouth since 2003, increasing in size each year, the festival has never lost sight of what made it special. Remaining true to its heritage this year's venue also includes tents dedicated to literature, cinema, alternative therapies and a host of international cuisine - and in this case international does not mean American burgers, more fresh seafood curries, smoked delicacies from the on-site smokery and even a stall run by the local Cwmdu School.
With preparations almost complete, the festival is set to be a striking success. Rockfeedback will be there taking in the sunshine and perhaps a shandy or two. Check back soon for all the news, photos and reviews from what is sure to be a wonderful weekend. The full line up and ticket details can be found HERE.