The Green Man Festival finished up its 22nd year (and 21st festival) last Sunday night at the Glanusk Estate with a traditional burning of the giant eponymous Green Man figure, writes Nancy Cavill.
Newcomers to the festival and old hands can’t resist a look at this slightly Pagan ritual and the fireworks display which follows is always a crowd pleaser.
This year a full, orange Harvest Moon was obligingly perched over the Dardy - which will undoubtedly have made the cut for many an Instagram post too.
This year’s festival was a vintage year weather-wise, with hardly a drop of rain bar a heavy shower on Thursday evening as the no-holds-barred social commentary of Sleaford Mods permeated the top of the Green Man site.
Music-wise there were plenty of highlights to go around, even if some disagreed on whether the headliners were the best fit for the top slot.
Sunday night’s must-see was the 2023 Mercury Prize-winning Ezra Collective in the second to last slot of the night on the Mountain Stage. How many people can you get dancing in a field in Powys? The answer is a lot if you have Ezra Collective on stage in party mode. Their infectious jazz and Afro-beat inspired set included an invitation to sing happy birthday to trumpet player Ife Ogunjobi. It was sung by the crowd in English and Welsh (at the same time).
There was also an invitation to “find your joy” and to dance in circles with strangers - very un-British but the crowd obliged. “We’re at 60 per cent,” announced front man and drummer Femi Koleoso. Even though the crowd included the full age range - from babies in buggies to the Grey Pound generation - most somehow managed to ‘go low’ then explode into yet more dancing.
Another stand-out for many were the sets on Saturday night in the Far Out tent with first Nadine Shah then the Osees. Shah’s set was barnstorming and ended on a political note with a call for a ‘ceasefire now’ in Gaza. The Osees were in-your-face, super energetic and mesmerising with their synchronised drummers (plural). How they keep up the pace is a mystery.
Friday’s big names included the (slightly grumpy) The Jesus and Mary Chain who were massive indie darlings in the late-80s and early-90s. Also the actor Johnny Flynn, who wrote and performed The Detectorists TV theme tune, who showcased his musical talent on the Mountain Stage in a perfect afternoon slot.
It’s impossible to pick out all the highlights, and everyone has a different take, but for many seeing a short set in a rammed ‘Babbling Tongues’ tent by stand-up comedian Stewart Lee was not to be missed. Also in the same category - albeit for a smaller crowd - was a talk by actress Samantha Morton. A familiar face in British TV, Morton has also starred in Hollywood films cast by Steven Spielberg and Woody Allen. And here she was chatting away in a field in Powys about famous directors and also her childhood in the care system. Not a bad coup for the festival organisers.
When all is said and done, festival-goers will all have their own highlights to share. As ever, some of the best come with low-key performances which chime with the moment. It’s impossible to list all the new music it’s possible to experience at Green Man. For me there was an overdue listen to festival stalwart Pictish Trail in the Walled Garden on Sunday and a couple of interesting new acts picked up in the Far Out with Bar Italia and The Mysterines.
There’s still so much to process, and to listen back to, right now but roll on another musical feast for the ears in 2025.