I can now safely say that I'm not a festival virgin. (Woo hoo!!) I've wanted to go to one for years, and during my ever-changing music sense, I kept changing my mind which one to go to when I could finally afford it. Seeing as my music sense has pretty much solidified to this kind of stuff and with it being relatively local, it seemed perfect to go to Green Man in Brecon.
Let me tell you, best £159 I've ever spent. Absolutely everything about the weekend was perfect, even down to my severe hangover on Saturday! The music, the entertainment, the prices, the food (AND 99 BEERS AND CIDERS), everything was just so, so good!
So, Thursday being arrival day, I didn't expect there to be too much going on about the place. Wrong! Far Out tent held the first headlining act, Waterboys, a Scottish group with a folky theme and an awesome violinist. Considering that was never my kind of thing, I really enjoyed them! If they ever turn up near you, for something different, go check them out! (I will be biased, I play violin!)
Friday saw the opening of the Mountain Stage, where the Green Man Rising competition winners opened the stage, Wildest. They did a fantastic job, it has to be said! I think we can expect some really cool music from them in the near future, so keep your eyes peeled! After them, Highasakite played. We listened to the majority of them from our tent, which I am disappointed about, and caught the remainder of their set when we got back. If you like Warpaint (yes, again) and London Grammar with a hint of Fever Ray, these guys seriously are for you!
Admittedly, the remainder of Friday's music is a little foggy in my memory. I found out I'd got into my first choice uni the day before, so celebrations were in order!! However, I do remember Daughter, who preceded the second headliners, Beirut. Both were fantastic!
I didn't see Saturday until 2pm, so the first band I saw was Mutual Benefit. Very unique style, almost haunting in sound, yet thoroughly enjoyable! The War on Drugs and Mercury Rev were the must-sees that day, and although I was stuck in Green Man Rising for most of The War on Drugs' performance watching Heavy Petting Zoo (a disappointment), I could still hear the atmospheric set playing, which made me envy everyone sat around Mountain Stage! I decided then I couldn't miss Mercury Rev if they were following that, and was so glad I didn't!
My biggest surprise on Saturday was Panda Bear. In all honesty, I had no idea what he was like, what he played, yet I had to see him because he was named after my favourite animal. Well, my Fever Ray void has been filled! I loved his electronic twist! Was not at all what I expected, somewhere between Fever Ray and Owl City!
Sunday was the big day for music. We watched every single act on Mountain Stage to some degree; I adored six out of eight! Neutral Milk Hotel were the final headlining act, and they were the main reason I was there anyway. They didn't disappoint! They're folk twist to grungey rock proved to be brilliant live, and even though it was cold and slightly damp, they were still the best way to close Mountain Stage.
I had two surprises Sunday in Chai Wallahs - one, I never expected I'd find Talisman, a reggae band, so enjoyable, seeing as reggae has never been my thing, and two, Sheelanagig. When my mate told me she'd love to see them, I had no idea who or what they were. I did not expect to be begging her to stay and watch these guys at 1.30am when I had to drive the next morning! The craziest violin and flute double, they made gypsy jazz so appealing, I feel like I've been lost my entire life!
Now, I know I've been vague, but hell if I went into detail about every single band then this post would be longer than a dissertation... However, if there has to be one act who shone out brightest, it has to be First Aid Kit. The Swedish sisters appeared onstage before Neutral Milk Hotel, and I can honestly say that I have never sat in awe of a band that I've never properly listened to until seeing them live like I did with these girls. Their vocals were beautifully harmonized to a point I've never, ever heard in my life, their lyrics were stunning, everything about them was spectacular, and the crowd confirmed this! The harmonizing was actually pitch perfect, and that is a near-impossible task. The chemistry between these two sisters truly is incredible, and I knew from about halfway through their second song they were going to become one of my new favourite bands. They should be so proud of their performance, they made my festival.
So, if anyone ever offers to take you to Green Man, do it! Everything was brilliant; even burning the Green Man on midnight Sunday night/Monday morning was spectacular, so much effort was put in! I was devastated to cut off my wrist band yesterday for work. I am definitely going back next year, even thinking of buying my ticket soon! Thank you Green Man, you have helped me celebrate my uni place and made my year so far, I can't wait to come back next year!
