Green Man: the best festival you've never been to

Ask someone on the street to name a UK musicTaking place from August 20-22, this year's Green
festival and the chances are they'll say Glastonbury,Man offers an impressively eclectic array of acts,
the V Festival or the Reading/Leeds Festival. Theremeaning there will truly be something for everyone.
are, however, a number of lesser known,One of the real highlights, though, will be Saturday's
independent UK festivals that offer fantasticMain Stage headline set from The Flaming Lips.
alternatives to the established giants - with TheFormed in 1983, the alternative rock outfit always
Green Man Festival perhaps being the best of the lot.offer great value -- not only in the form of their
Established in 2003, Green Man started out as anexcellent music, but also via their spectacular and
intimate one-day event with a capacity of just 300.often surreal stage show. Don't be surprised to see
Held in the grounds of Craig-y-Nos Castle in the upperlead singer Wayne Coyne crowd surf in a giant
Swansea Valley, the festival was a success,inflatable hamster ball - and that's likely to be one of
prompting expansion the following year. By moving tothe least weird things going on!
Baskerville Hall Hotel near Hay-on-Wye, the GreenThe appearance of the majestic Joanna Newsom on
Man Festival was able to host 1,000 people over twoSunday will surely also be a moment to remember.
days in 2004 and 2,000 over three days in 2005.Newsom's act is something you truly have to
Now well-established as the hot up-and-coming eventexperience to believe; with a magical voice and
on the festival circuit, Green Man moved to Glanuskincredible harp playing skills, she's one of the most
Park in Crickhowell in 2006 and has gone fromtalented musicians of modern times. Newsom will be
strength to strength ever since. This year, 10,000playing a selection of tracks from her recent triple
eager music lovers will pack their tents and sleepingalbum release, Have One On Me, as well as some of
bags and head to Wales to attend the festival thather older favourites.
those in the know rate as up there with the veryGoing camping? Look into a quality tent before you
best.go.