Green Man Festival

The Green Man Festival is a British alternative music festival which was started in 2003. It has evolved from a a one day 300 capacity event to a four day festival with three days of music including indie, psych, dance, Americana, and folk across five stages. Music is at the heart but aspects of culture and living have become central to Green Man. Literature, film, theatre, ceilidhs, all night bonfires, comedy and secret gigs are all part of the festival. As well as fantastic food and drinks. Green Man takes place in the rolling parkland of Glanusk Park, nestled under Sugar Loaf mountain in the Brecon Beacons; "of all the festivals in all the fields in Britain, probably the best field of all has been bagged by the Green Man Festival." [The Times April 28th 2007]

2008 Reviews

"The definitive boutique festival" 4 out of 5 stars (Guardian 08)"an aura of intimacy and independence of spirit" (The Observer 08)"Eccentricity is the beating heart of this festival" (The Independent 08)"Green Man Festival the most revered three dayer of the season" (Drowned In Sound 08)"Far from your average festival" (Virtual Festival 08)"Green Man was a lovely festival, with a huge amount to keep people entertained" (E-Festivals 08)"Green Man Spirit is higher than ever" (Clash Magazine 08)

2003 festival

The Green Man was held in Craig Y Nos Castle for 1 day with 300 people attending. Artists performing included King Creosote, James Yorkston, Julie Murphy,The Memory Band

2004 festival

It moved in 2004 to Baskerville Hall Hotel near Clyro (Wales) and increased in size to host 1000 people over 2 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 so that the festival was partly an indoor event as well as an outdoor one.

2005 festival

2000 people attended and the event grew to 3 days. The headline acts were the Incredible String Band, Will Oldham and Joanna Newsom. Other artists included Wizz Jones, Adem, The Fence Collective, Josephine Foster and Tunng.

2006 festival

IN 2006 Fiona Stewart organiser of the Big Chill festival went into partnership with Jo and Danny and moved the festival to Glanusk Park (in Crickhowell, near Abergavenny), the festival really established itself as a national outdoor event and saw a rapid expansion to 6,500. The festival was rated 5 stars in the Guardian and 4 stars in The Times.The event was headlined by Donovan, Jose Gonzalez 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 offering fresh food from around the world and bars offering everything from real ale to cocktails.

2007 festival

The 2007 event took place from 17th-19th August 2007 in Glanusk Park and 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 were also announced: 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, Starless and Bible Black, Lisa Knapp, Men-An-Tol, Arborea, Alela Diane, Monkey Swallows the Universe, Six Organs Of Admittance, John Power, John Renbourn and My Brightest Diamond.

2008 festival

The 2008 festival again took place at Glanusk Park from the 15th - 17th of August and capped the size of the festival to 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, Laura Marling, Drive-By Truckers, Black Mountain, Junior Boys as well as a special night hosted by Domino Records and many, many others played to wildly enthusiastic crowds. A new bar called the "End Up" was added that had the first 24 hour drinks licence at a UK festival.

Links

* [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/festivals/story/0,,1857542,00.html Review of the 06 festival in "The Guardian"]
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2008/aug/19/green.man.festival.review Review of the 08 festival in "The Guardian']
* [http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/festivals/article1708875.ece The Times online]

References