Green Man: Saturday Brings Historic Performances from CMAT, Underworld, Melin Melyn and More

Saturday at Green Man Festival 2025 was one for the history books, as the Powys hills basked in sunshine and the festival grounds thrummed with energy, unforgettable performances, and a few surprises along the way.

The day belonged to CMAT, who made her long-awaited Welsh debut in spectacular fashion on the Mountain Stage. Draped in the Welsh flag and joined by The Very Sexy CMAT Band – with one members hailing from Newport – she delivered a set she later described as “one of the best shows of her life.” The crowd, one of the largest in Green Man history, danced and sang along to everything from early breakout “I Wanna Be A Cowboy, Baby!” to viral favourites Take A Sexy Picture Of Me. Between songs, CMAT paid homage to Welsh icons Charlotte Church, Shirley Bassey, and Cerys Matthews, declaring “we love you, we do” to rapturous applause.

The night ended in euphoric fashion as Underworld, South Wales’ very own electronic pioneers, took to the Mountain Stage. Nearly four decades after their formation, the duo proved why they remain festival heavyweights, sending waves of euphoria through the crowd with hypnotic visuals, pounding beats, and a storming rendition of their iconic hit Born Slippy.

Elsewhere, Saturday delivered a smorgasbord of talent. Perfume Genius enchanted the Mountain Stage with a powerful set of emotional depth, while MJ Lenderman & The Wind delivered 90 minutes of raw, indie-rock grit that had fans locked in from start to finish. Welsh star Gwenno cast a spell with ethereal vocals and the haunting electronic textures of her acclaimed album Tresor. Afrofuturist collective Fulu Miziki and contemporary dance troupe Boss Morris added yet more colour and cultural depth to the day’s programme.

The Far Out stage saw the returns from English Teacher, fresh from their Mercury Prize win, who had fans belting out Nearly Daffodils in unison, and Melin Melyn, whose melodic, happy, surf-pop turned the field into a kaleidoscopic dance party. Over in Wall Garden, Lucy Gooch bewitched her audience with ambient dreamscapes that perfectly matched the natural setting.

Green Man’s Babbling Tongues stage brought thought-provoking conversation and laughter in equal measure. Saddest Factory’s rising star jasmine.4.t sat down with hyperpop trailblazer and drag icon Happyness (Ash Kenazi) for an unflinching discussion about queer identity and artistic vulnerability. Later, legendary comedian Stewart Lee had audiences doubled over with his wry takes on culture, absurdity, and modern life.

With one more day left to go, Green Man 2025 shows no signs of slowing down. Sunday’s line-up promises a thrilling finale, featuring Cymande, Nilüfer Yanya, Big Special, Been Stellar, Kelly Lee Owens, and of course the burning of the Green Man, always a highlight of the festival.