Nestled deep in the Welsh Brecon Beacons under a near-permanent shroud of mist, these days Green Man is less a well-kept secret and more a carefully guarded sanctuary from the commercialism, litter and claustrophobia that can plague larger festivals. The lineup is typically eclectic, with indie, folk and world music all well represented by a diverse cast of performers. It’s a slight shame that the three headliners are decidedly white and male, but elsewhere on the bill, there’s a lot to like.
The main stage is one of the best on the circuit, set at the foot of a mountain and opening onto a natural amphitheatre, and flanked by cladding that doubles as part of the light show. The evening sets here are something to behold, none more so than a triumphant set from Aussie rockers King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, who bring their acid rock riffs crashing into the Welsh valleys.
With the screens set up on a two-hour psychedelic digital peyote trip, the seven-piece rattle out jams from their impressive 13 albums, five of which came out in 2017 alone. The band are heads down, rock out performers, so the effort put into the visual art is a smart move, dazzling the crowd and providing a mind-bending backdrop to their guitar acrobatics. Borne of the harsh, vast Australian outback, their lightning guitar wizardry tonight feels like it could crack Ayers Rock straight down the middle.
Earlier in the day, retro rockers The Lemon Twigs give a taste of what to expect on their Arctic Monkeys support run, dishing out a series of confident 60s-indebted jams. Frontman Brian D’Addario owns the Mountain Stage while baffling some of the audience with his laconic drawl and erratic behaviour. Just what you want to rouse a mid-afternoon crowd.
Over on the Walled Garden stage (in a garden that is surrounded by walls, surprisingly), Snail Mail aka Lindsey Jordan shows exactly why we here at Dork are so enamoured with her debut album, aptly titled ‘Lush’. Jordan is a superb guitarist but doesn’t let riffing and solos detract from her precise indie rock songwriting, which has that 90s slacker pop vibe that we’re so fond of. Far from being one for the future, Snail Mail is blazing a trail right now.
