PJ Harvey will headline Green Man 2017! Dreams do come true and we couldn’t be happier to have Polly grace the Mountain Stage with her only UK show of 2017. The iconic Ryan Adams has notched up 15 (soon to be 16) solo records under his belt. We’re sure to be taken on a sonic adventure through Americana, Rock ‘N Roll and Alt-Country – we’re packing a big bag! Plus Future Islands (armed with new tunes) bring their silky, sexy synth dappled grooves for a Friday night party to end all Friday night parties.
Wait, there’s more – We’re thrilled to welcome Michael Kiwanuka, Angel Olsen and Jon Hopkins back to GM – Alongside Conor Oberst – the man behind the much-loved Bright Eyes . Then there’s the magisterial brilliance of Lambchop is a Band “Nashville’s most f*cked up country band”.
The Green Man 2017 Birthday Knees-Up in full: PJ Harvey, Ryan Adams, Future Islands, Michael Kiwanuka, Lambchop, Conor Oberst, Angel Olsen, BADBADNOTGOOD, Jon Hopkins (DJ), Field Music, This Is The Kit, Julia Jacklin, Fionn Regan, The Big Moon, RICHARD DAWSON, Melt Yourself Down, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Laura Gibson, Sunflower Bean, Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band, Jessica Pratt, Karl Blau, Grumbling Fur, LVL UP, Shame, Wolf-Peoplel, Big Thief, Gill Landry, Michael Chapman, Doomsquad, Deep Throat Choir, Girl Ray, Gaelynn Lea Music, Warhaus, The Orielles, AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!
There’s something for everyone at this year’s Green Man.. Guzzle down a selection of over 100 Beers and Ciders in The Courtyard; Laugh along with the best comedy in Last Laugh; fun for all the little ones in Little Folk; or relax and rejuvenate in Nature Nurture. PLUS We’ve still got a Thursday headliner tucked up our sleeve. So stay tuned for more news!
Gulp are a Cardiff-based, garage space-pop band fronted by Guto Pryce (Super Furry Animals) & LindseyLeven.The pair are joined by Gid Goundrey on guitar and various friends on drums including Stuart Kidd (Euros Child/Norman Blake), Kliph Scurlock (Flaming Lips/ Gruff Rhys), Gwion Lleweyln (Meilir Jones) & others.
Originally from Scotland, vocalist Lindsey moved to Cardiff to where she met Guto Pryce at a Christmas psych party a joining of kindred spirits in a city with an ever-evolving arts scene. It was there that the foundations of Gulp came to be as they joined forces to create this musical venture.
Gulp make warm, fuzzy, luscious pop by combining ethereal sounds of both acoustic and electric drums, synths and guitars. Their music is like a road trip; the landscape and events along the way, filmic scenes and melodies – from the sun-squinting, flickering saturation and lens flare of the Californian desert, to the gloamin of rural Scottish and Welsh homescapes.
Recorded on a farm in mid Wales, new single ‘Search For Your Love’ follows on from the band’s last album release ‘Season Sun’ in 2014, which received praise from The Guardian, The Quietus, NME & a variety of other publications. Currently they’re sharing their new single ‘Search For Your Love’, which is out now via Tim Burgess’ label O Genesis.
Describing the influences behind Search For Your Love, Lindsey notes, “it’s a timeless love story really, but nods towards an eager search for love and empathy in an increasingly surreal and chaotic world.”The world may be chaotic, but Search For Your Love soundtracks it beautifully with meancing percussion, overlaid with sweeping 1980’s tinged synths and Lindsey’s sweet and almost ethereal vocal stylings. Gulp are currently working on their second album with producer Luke Abbot, which should be with us next year at some point.
Fuzzy Noisy Pop songs played through a searing wall of guitars with battering percussion and melodic, weaving bass lines.Taking influences from grunge, shoegaze and slacker rock moulded together with peachy harmonies.
Arguably the summer’s nicest and prettiest sited festival, its closest rival isEnd of the Road, in Dorset in September. The Green Man offers a stunning location in the Brecon Beacons of Wales, There is plenty to do that isn’t music, including talks, films and activities, and a list of artists who bathe in acclaim: Belle & Sebastian, James Blake, Julia Holter, Jason Isbell, White Denim, Floating Points and many more. Do take waterproofs though: Green Man has a reputation for wetness.
Set in the lovely Brecon Beacons, Green Man returns for its 14th year on Thursday 18th August. Headlining this year’s edition are a plethora of British acts Belle and Sebastian, are celebrating their 20th anniversary, James Blake and Laura Marling, with the Wild Beasts kicking things off on the Thursday night.
If that sounds worryingly light to you, then don’t worry chaotic merchants Fat White Family will be there, as will Aussie psychedelics Jagwar Ma and lo-fi rockers Unknown Mortal Orchestra. And, err, Charlotte Church’s Late Night Pop Dungeon.
But if you’re here then you’ve probably already heard of the above headliners . What you’re here for is some newer music, which is just as well because Green Man features a number of artists who you need to check out and also includes the excellent Rising Stage for new and upcoming artists . Gengahr have been one of my favourites for this last year to see , a hardworking band that has emerged over the last two years with strong songs and a great live presence they have, of course, gone on to vindicate their number 2 spot in the Top of the Tips 2014, with their superb debut album “A Dream Outside” receiving rave reviews last year. The Londoners will be worth catching on the main Mountain Stage on Sunday afternoon if you’re into dreamy guitar driven sounds.
If you head over to the Far Out Stage early on the Saturday you’ll be able to catch Belfast band Sea Pinks, who we described as ‘merging indie stars. Stick around a bit longer and on the same stage you can also see groovers Formation, They are London twins tipped back in January 2015. Also on on the Saturday worth checking in the Walled Garden is Ardyn, who we labelled ‘dark indie pop’ and likened to Austra and Charlotte OC. The Green Man Rising competition was this year won by Tony Njoku, who opens the Mountain Stage on Friday and is described by the festival as making ‘strikingly evocative soundscapes’. One of the competition runners-up who’ll be playing the Rising Stage on the Saturday is self-described ‘jangle pop’ duo Her’s; we loved their dreamy debut ‘Dorothy’ back in April. You can also hear the exciting new project from Sarah Howells from Paper Aeroplanes, Bryde at the Rising Stage on Saturday, and on Sunday you might want to catch Matt Maltese who we bracketed in with Tom Odell last year.
So to everyone that’s off to Green Man Festival this weekend ,eat well, take your water proofs and enjoy yourselves. Here’s our big list of recommendations: Flamingods, Trevor Sensor, Floating Points, Ryley Walker, White Denim , Dungen , Beak, Oh Sister, SUUNS, Mothers, Happy Meal Ltd., FEWS. and of course you should not miss King Gizzard and the Wizard Lizard. and try if you can to check out Baba Naga and Lush’s return.
Songhoy Blues The quartet are set to play the Mountain Stage on Sunday 21st August, and hopefully their fusion of traditional West African guitar riffs and deep rooted bluesy yet totally danceable beats will match the weather. Hailing from Mali, Songhoy Blues have seen success here of late, having played at The Great Escape Festival in May and several other European festivals this summer after the release of their latest album ‘Music In Exhile’.
Whitney The band from Chicago have been growing in notoriety as of late, with their brooding brand of indie-rock making waves this side of the pond. They’re ones to watch, and will be fantastically unique to see them perform in such an idyllic setting.
Margaret Glaspy could be a suprise highlight,The Californian’s debut record is raw at times, always honest and chock full of wry observations and personal disclosures. Production values of Emotions and Math are intentionally subtle, always placing Margaret Glaspy’s bluesy voice and her coarse guitar front and centre. This should make for a thrilling Sunday afternoon on the Mountain Stage.
Julia Holter is definitely appreciated in this country. A tour in the spring saw her successfully support the release of Have You in My Wilderness and she’ll be returning for another extended stay in November. What’s the appeal? Well, we can be an eccentric bunch over here in the UK and this record is full of gloriously idiosyncratic musical moments along with her incredible vocals that just click in the most agreeable way. The Mountain Stage will be the perfect place to meet up with this warm-hearted Californian.
Bryde is a new project from Sarah Howells’ who is known to many as one half of Welsh duo Paper Aeroplanes but she arrives in the Black Mountains of the Brecon Beacons as Bryde this year. She began the solo project in 2015 and the Rising tent should be an amazing way to experience Howell’s compellingly fragile compositions which hint at something much darker, lurking in the shadows.
Tindersticks Formed twenty-five years ago in Nottingham, the alt-rockers are set to play the Mountain Stage on the Saturday, just before the rollicking rhythms of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros and headliner Laura Marling. Their elegant and heart-warming brand of alt-rock will certainly have us a) contemplating life and everything in between, and b) dancing in a field to our hearts content.
Check out The Cinedrome
We will most likely be paying more attention to the bands playing across the weekend, but the festival organisers have drummed up some must-see films for this years ‘At The Cinedrome’, including movies Purple Rain and Labyrinth (clearly in homage to the late David Bowie and Prince), as well as The Jungle Book, Inside Out, High Rise and sci-fi masterpiece Metropolis with a live piano player.
we’ve add nine new fantastic flicks to the already bumper packed Cinedrome.
We’re very pleased to be showing the UK premier of one of the funniest and most delightful films of the year – Hunt for the Wilderpeople, The New Zealand adventure comedy-drama film, written and directed by Taika Waititi.
We also welcome a very special BAFTA Cymru screening of Gary Numan: Android In La La Land, the brand new Gary Numan documentary which explores life for Gary and his Numanoid family as they set up home in California and as Gary records his 2013 album ‘Splinter’.
Our day of David Bowie themed activities begins with an anniversary screening of Jim Henson’s ’80s cult hit Labyrinth Movie. On Sunday we remember another tragically fallen idol with a presentation of Prince’s Purple Rain.
On Sunday morning, we’ll be showing Disney’s new version of classic The Jungle Book, which will keep Little Folks (and their parents) mesmerised for a few hours.. Plus we have –Midnight Special Movie,Starman, Everybody Wants Some Movie, Couple In a Hole. Not only will you be able to feast your eyes upon family favourites and cult classics galore, you can also enjoy the sounds of Cate le Bon’s drummer Droor and dance the blues at Green Man’s latest (and very hush hush) venture, the Late Night David Bowie Disco; you’ll have to see it for yourselves
Giggle along with Green Man 2016 as we take a first look at this year’s comedy line-up. Chuckling along to some of the UK’s best up-and-coming comics has become a quintessential part of the Green Man experience, and this year’s laugh-a-minute line-up promises to be pretty special. If you can’t choose between music and comedy, you need The Horne Section in your life. Comedian Alex Horne and his talented troubadours combine spontaneous stand-up with improvised tunes, resulting in a hilarious hybrid. John Shuttleworth is responsible for some ingeniously funny songs; don’t miss the old school entertainer singing about school dinners and Curly Wurly wrappers.
The belly-laugh-inducing brilliance of David Trent promises to have you guffawing into your Growlers. Also the fantastically delusional one-man-band antics of Rob Deering Comedian returns for GM16 (along with Beat This!) and the skilful self-deprecation of Angela Barnes.
Welsh Psychedelic Rock band Castles were chosen as one of the twelve Horizons 2016 acts by Arts Council Wales and have been lauded by Radio 1 and BBC 6 Music’s Tom Robinson. Drawing on influences from Super Furry Animals to Beach Boys, their dancey grooves, hypnotic synth layers, and enticing guitar riffs are not to be missed.
CaStLeS are Dion Hamer, Cynyr Hamer and Calvin Thomas from North Wales. Songs inspired by the surrounding wilderness oftheir studio, which sits high overlooking two castles. Their infusion of psychedelic rock, blues and dancy grooves has been lauded by BBC6 Music’s Tom Robinson, BBC Radio Wales and Radio 1.
Two years after ending its long and illustrious association with British holiday camps, the renowned All Tomorrow’sParties collective makes a most welcome return to the residential festival arena. Where once it was Camber Sands and Minehead, now it will be Prestatyn; come the last weekend of November this year the North Wales’ coast will see a reprise of ATP’s famous Nightmare Before Christmas event.
Curated by the English visual artists Jake and Dinos Chapman, All Tomorrow’s Parties 2.0 Nightmare BeforeChristmas 2015 will follow firmly in the festival’s inspired, independent, alternative footsteps to the outer limits of true experimentation and high adventure. A bill that includes German neo-classical compositions, American existential indie-rock, Aussie post-punk and Chilean cosmic psychedelia gives a strong indication of ATP’s vast geographical and musically diverse reach.
Music highlights: Blanck Mass, Built to Spill, Courtney Barnett, Föllakzoid, Grimm Grimm, Natalie Prass, Max Richter, Total Control, Viet Cong, Younghusband
The Welsh five-piece Zefur Wolves, released their debut album on Monday 13th April and you can listen to a few songs here from the album exclusively below. Led by Cian Ciarán (keyboard player for Super Furry Animals) and his partner, singer-songwriter Estelle Ios, the self-titled LP was written and recorded in Mendocino, Northern California.
Less psychedelic than the ‘Super Furries’ material, the 13-track album is more ethereal in sound, perhaps owing to the wilderness in which is was written. This is none more audible than on the delicate “Secret Song”. Zefur Wolves was preceded last month by lead single “Too Late”, and since forming in 2013, the band have played a solitary live show at Wales Millennium Centre. For Furries fans and new followers alike, the secrecy is almost over.
Another fantastic slice of fuzzy heartbreak that channels the downbeat satisfaction of Mazzy Star and the woozy atmpsherics of Galaxie 500. Taken from their self-titled debut album out on . See them play at Clwb Ifor Bach on with White Noise Sound.
Last month, the Welsh band Joanna Gruesome announced that they will release their sophomore album “Peanut Butter” this spring, 10 tracks produced by MJ of the Leeds-based band Hookworms. We all got pretty fucking stoked on the impending arrival of this new record, so much so that we named its lead single “Last Year” one of our 5 Best Songs Of The Week. “Honestly Do Yr Worst” is a shoegaze-inspired gale force laced with Alanna McArdle’s antagonistic vocal performance. Everything about this hardened, caustic new Joanna Gruesome is exciting.
UK-based alternative folk singer/songwriter Novo Amor, aka Ali Lacey, announces a new single titled “Callow.” Novo Amor is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer who originates from the mountains of Wales. Novo Amor also works as a sound designer where he often experiments with techniques, leading to compositions that consist of unconventional recording and instrumentation. Additionally, Amor records, produces and mixes his own music. Amor’s music is influenced by the likes of Tallest Man on Earth, Bon Iver, Daughter and Asgeir.
Novo Amor released his debut EP Woodgate, NY in November 2014 which was every bit as enchanting as we hoped. His songs have been featured in television shows including FOX’s Bones, UK E4’s Made In Chelsea, and indie feature film The Better Man. He has played select shows across Europe and the UK, including Norway’s Øya Festival and the Barn on the Farm Festival. Stay tuned for more from Novo Amor!
Catherine Anne Davies has been making dark, intriguing music informed by her literary passions — she has a PhD and a published treatise on Walt Whitman’s “queer children” with influences like Bowie and Kate Bush. A new persona has energized her: The music she’s making as The Anchoress is delightfully theatrical and sharp as a bloody blade. “One For Sorrow,” her most assertive statement so far, takes on the institution of marriage with a moodiness that Siouxsie Sioux would admire. The Anchoress is currently completing two albums and touring with Simple Minds; Davies has many illustriousfans in her corner, and she just might prove to be Wales’s (much more explicitly feminist) answer to Lana Del Rey.
The Fat Angel Sings 