GREEN MAN 2024: “WE’LL REMEMBER THIS FOREVER”
Green Man Festival lingers in body and soul long after the final notes have been sung and the final embers of the Green Man himself has been reduced to ashes.
Credit: Meg Atkinson
Green Man is a celebration of the ephemeral - of the fleeting moments where everything feels possible, tangible. Nestled within the rolling hills and valleys of the Bannau Brycheiniog (Welsh Brecon Beacons), everything seems to slow down, and for a brief time there’s a certain magic in the air that feels like it would be impossible to replicate anywhere else in the world.
The festival is like a dreamscape; stepping off the shuttle bus onto the site is like entering a pastoral movie scene. It’s almost difficult to believe your eyes watching artists performing on the main stage, with the Black Mountains serving as a backdrop sublime enough to be a picturesque postcard. People are smiling, laughing, and in pure bewilderment that such a place could exist.
Credit: Meg Atkinson
It’s not just about the beautiful scenery, though. Green Man Festival is a hotbed for discovering new musical talent. Its diverse cultural programming and eclectic musical lineup consistently features a blend of well-known headliners and emerging artists. Hopping over a mini river to get to The Rising Stage, sets from the likes of Welsh four-piece Slate and Ugly proved to be some of the main highlights of the weekend. With lyrics influenced by the Welsh poetry tradition, and music akin to the New Romantics, the former’s frontman Jack Shephard captivated the crowd with the intensity of his stage presence and powerful incantations. Meanwhile, Ugly seemed to be having genuine fun with each other on stage; the band’s multi-way harmonies, intricate song arrangements, exciting on-stage energy and encouraged audience participation created appropriately heartwarming vibes ahead of Big Thief’s headline set.
Credit: Meg Atkinson
And indeed, there probably isn’t a band more suited to headline Green Man than Big Thief. It’s doubtful that there was a dry eye in the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) on Saturday night as Adrianne Lenker’s hauntingly beautiful voice echoed over the mountains. Playing mostly deeper cuts and new material, unreleased closer ‘Incomprehensible’ had the entire crowd singing (and weeping) along by its end. The band seemed genuinely bewildered by the size of the audience - so much so they offered a grateful “we’ll remember this forever” before leaving the stage.
Fellow headliner Jon Hopkins delivered another show stopping set; a mixture of ambient and dance-worthy electronica, the crowd was hit with a cosmic wall of sound, thumping bass and a laser light show. Meanwhile, The Mary Wallopers’ infectious energy at the Far Out tent created the perfect vibe for a Sunday night jig. Joy Orbison’s DJ set was full of groovers, Mount Kimbie’s main stage set came to an exciting head with a surprise visit from King Krule, and Julia Holter allured the crowd with her orchestral arrangements, pop proclivities, and mesmerising vocals.
Credit: Meg Atkinson
Throughout the weekend, wishes and dreams (both silly and moving) were read, written, cried over, and tied to the towering wooden Green Man, who overlooked everything like a guardian before being lit ablaze on Sunday night. This is a festival that lingers in body and soul long after the final notes have been sung and the final embers of the Green Man himself have been reduced to ashes.
Hwyl Fawr, Green Man Festival. May you grace the world with your magic for many years to come.
Credit: Meg Atkinson