The Green Man Festival - Bringing a touch of magic to Wales

The very first Green Man Festival occurred in 2003 taking place at Craig Y Nos Castle in the Brecon Beacons on the 25th August. It was a small one day festival that as well as providing some great music also featured various artists, short films, literature alongside kids making cardboard instruments!
350 people found it and turned up for the event - on top of all that The Times reviewed it and gave it 4 out of stars! whilst saying

"there quite simply isn't another festival like this one"

In 2004 The festival moved to a new home, Baskerville Hall and increased the festival to two full days. Camping facilities were added to the event as part of the expansion and growth in popularity. There were two music stages, films, literature, kids stuff and of course mountains! - well - with such an amazing location there was bound to be some magic and Baskerville Hall provided a venue for inside djs - this time 1,000 people came and supported the festival.

2005 Saw the festival begin on Friday 19th August and finish on the Sunday 21st - three days of fun, magic and mayhem in the mountains. Still held at Baskerville Hall this time people were able to camp on site. 2,200 people turned up for this one as word started to spread about what was on offer, there was a magnificent full moon which brought with it a certain extra magic to the proceedings.

As it was growing and gaining in popularity The Green Man festival moved to a new venue, Glanusk Park, still inside the Brecon Beacons where it remains. In 2006 the one and only Donovan headlined among a wealth of other great acts including Jose Gonzalez and Calexico plus a host of talented folk in the literature tent, there was psych commune films and a science tent - and the Green Man once again grew bigger attracting some 6,500 people this time, the mix and the vibe is so right that the Green Man Festival never has to advertise.

NME has said that the Green Man Festival is

"what the perfect festival should be"

and the Guardian (whilst awarding 5 stars) simply says

"it's Heaven"

So what's in store for this year for this little hidden gem? Settling into its new home the venue provides 20,000 acres of peaceful parkland in the Sugar Loaf mountains. The Estate site is unique to the Festival, and the walled garden will be used for the Children’s area, the stable courtyard for the Café stage and the tiered lawns for the natural arena of the Main Stage.

The campsite opens on Thursday 16th August at 10.00am, with the 3 full days of music beginning on Friday 17th at Midday and ending at Midnight on Sunday 19th. The Cinema, DJ and Literature tents will all again be a great feature of the Green Man Festival, while the green field and retreat areas will both be extended offering massage and alternative therapies for those wanting a proper opportunity to relax and de-stress. The Green Man festival will also be offering a wider selection of delicious local food and cuisines from around the world and new additions for this year will include: fresh seafood curries, smoked delicacies from the on-site smokery and a stall run by the local Cwmdu School.

There will be music late on into the night with more campfire ceilidhs and an increased capacity as the site expands into the parkland areas, with a larger second stage and DJ tent. The Green Man's media partner, Mojo, will be joining the festival once again - a delightful, relaxing and friendly festival.

The line up this year will include:

Robert Plant & The Strange Sensation | Joanna Newsom | Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks | Bill Callahan | Vashti Bunyan | Dead Meadow | Gruff Rhys | Vetiver | The Earlies | Richmond Fontaine | Euros Childs | Tunng | Starless and Bible Black | Lisa Knapp | Men-An-Tol | Arborea | Alela Diane | Monkey Swallows The Universe | The Yellow Moon Band | Steve Adey | Gilbert | Gareth Pearson | John Power with loads more to be added.

So, for everything Green Man visit their website - Green Man Festival Website

Or find them on My Space - Green Man