Just returned from 3 full days of churning up mud in the Welsh country side whilst the music of the Green Man festival isn’t typically my thing (too many violins basically) I had a truly excellent time. 7 of us piled, along with 4 tents, wellies, sleeping bags and various other bits and bobs, into a car barely big enough for 5, zoomed up the M4 into the setting sun and spent the weekend drinking and listening to gentle music (and Fuck Buttons). Luckily our group had a couple of tents big enough to accommodate sitting around and role playing, discussing apocalyptic fiction and just generally mooching about eating cheese on biscuits whilst waiting for the incessant drizzle to abate.

The lack of hipsterism is definitely a good thing about Green Man as compared to my other favourite festival ATP, infact the laid back inclusive atmosphere is quite reminiscent of Sonar (even if the music and settings couldn’t be further apart; wood and rain vs black plastic and sunshine), it’s family friendly in the best way and the stewards are all lovely and cheerful and the rules of booze transport operated more as friendly suggestions than cast iron laws, wine was freely moved from tent to arena in plastic cups. Though I did feel occasional and vague unease at times that the entire (white) population of Stoke Newington has been evacuated to Wales.

Before (the main stage is pretty much the best outdoor place I’ve ever seen a band, natural ampitheatre and amazing backdrop):

After:

My musical highlights were 2/3 of Black Mountain, 1/3 of Fuck Buttons and dancing/ careening around a nearly empty dance to vigorous 60’s psych music.

Here’s what Tom A had to say about the whole thing.