BEING CULTURED AT GREEN MAN 

Green Man returns to their bucolic corner of the Brecon Beacons for the thirteenth year and the team, fresh from receiving the 2015 accolade for best festival at the Live Music Business Awards, will be filling it with as much literature, science, performing arts, cinema and music as it’s humanly possible to take in over four days.

Musically, the line-up is as eclectic and tastefully curated as ever. As well as a stellar trio of headliners – James Blake, Belle & Sebastian and Laura Marling – we’re keen to see Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Julia Holter and jazz wonder Kamasi Washington, amongst a whole host of others.

But Green Man’s real charm lies in how thoughtfully the myriad other elements of the festival are put together. As well as taking the usual wander around the curiosities in Einstein’s Garden and taking in a few of the interviews, performances and discussions going on in the Babbling Tongues area – we’re particularly keen to see self-effacing comedian, Ivo Graham. 

And there’s a new performing arts area tucked in amongst the art installations of Fortune Falls, as well as pop-up performances by street theatre company, Wet Picnic.

BEING TRASHY AT GREEN MAN 

Green Man is known for folk music and intellectual conversation – but there are some noisier, later-at-night treats lying in the shadows.

The ever-controversial Fat White Family will be making an appearance on the After Dark stage on Friday night and we’re intrigued to see how their abrasive, provocative noise-punk sound fits in at Green Man.

There’s also a new taste for dance music at Green Man if last year’s anything to go on, and that genre will get a good airing after twelve each night in the Far Out arena.

If the day’s quiet lazing induces the need for a late-night rave, kick start one by sampling some of the 100 odd beers and ciders at the artisan drinks festival held in The Courtyard.

The Far Out area has expanded this year too, and we’re practically already queuing for the Late Night David Bowie Disco.

We’ll also be swinging by the Walled Garden after dark for Charlotte Church’s Late Night Pop Dungeon, where the left-field pop artist-cum-activist will no doubt be being proactive until the early hours.