Friday at Green Man Festival came with everything you could want from a day in the Brecon Beacons; chaotic dancefloors, slow-burning sets, infectious energy and plenty of moments worth talking about. From Getdown Services turning the crowd into one giant party to Westside Cowboy delivering a seriously memorable finale, here are some of our favourite moments from the first full day of the festival.
Getdown Services
No one riled up the Green Man crowd quite like Getdown Services. Fresh from releasing their album Massive Attack just last week, the pop-rock duo is already reaping the rewards, with the record making its way onto the charts, a fact they certainly didn’t fail to mention. Their chaotic, sweaty energy was infectious, turning the crowd into one giant dancefloor and proving exactly why their live shows are gaining such a reputation.
Adult DVD
If you came to Green Man to have a boogie, Adult DVD where ones to watch. Their sound sits somewhere between dancefloor-ready grooves and the kind of scratch-an-itch post-punk energy that makes standing still almost impossible. They brought a playful, infectious edge to the festival, delivering the sort of set that leaves you wondering why you weren’t dancing sooner.
Wilco
Wilco offered something altogether different, a much slower, more reflective moment amid the chaos of Friday. Their unhurried, atmospheric set gave the crowd a chance to take a breath and settle into something a little more mellow, proving that sometimes the best festival moments are the ones that make you stop rushing around.
Baxter Dury
Baxter Dury brought the swagger. His set was packed with effortless cool, infectious dance energy and the unmistakable charisma that has made him such a festival favourite. There was a real sense of movement throughout the crowd, with Dury effortlessly blending his laid-back delivery with moments that demanded a dance.
Westside Cowboy
Westside Cowboy closed out our Friday highlights with a set that felt impossibly tight. With their debut album being released the same day, Westside Cowboy gave us some new tunes as well as their well-loved classics. The band’s chemistry was undeniable, culminating in an iconic closing moment as they gathered around a single microphone, singing together as the crowd watched on. It was a brilliantly simple ending to a set that showed exactly how much impact a great live band can have.
What’s On Next?
With Friday in the books, there’s still plenty to come at Green Man. Sunday’s line-up brings everything from indie rock and hypnotic trip-hop to chaotic Welsh punk, with some seriously unmissable sets on the horizon. Here’s who should be on your radar.
Anna Calvi
Expect something dramatic from Anna Calvi, whose powerhouse vocals and atmospheric guitar have made her one of the most captivating performers around. Having supported David Byrne on his Who is the Sky? Tour, Calvi is making a name for herself nationally. Her Green Man set promises to be intense, theatrical and impossible to look away from.
Tricky
Trip-hop pioneer Tricky brings his dark, hypnotic sound to Green Man. With his latest album, Different When It’s Silent, released last month, Green Man goers can see new tracks making the stage. Expect something atmospheric and immersive as the Bristol icon delivers the genre-bending sounds that have made him such an influential figure in alternative music.
Wolf Alice
Fresh from their huge The Clearing era, Wolf Alice are bringing their headline set to Green Man as part of their current tour. The Mercury Prize winners have taken their latest record from intimate beginnings to some seriously big stages, and now the Welsh festival crowd gets its turn. Expect shimmering melodies, huge guitars and a set that shows exactly why Wolf Alice have become one of the UK’s biggest indie exports.
Wednesday
Hailing from Asheville, North Carolina, Wednesday have carved out their own corner of indie rock, blending fuzzy shoegaze guitars, Southern country twang and noise-rock chaos. Led by Karly Hartzman, the band are known for live shows that shift from delicate and intimate to completely feral, with huge walls of distortion, soaring guitars and Hartzman’s vocals moving from soft-spoken storytelling to full-blown screams. Expect a set that’s loud, messy and seriously captivating.
Panic Shack
Cardiff’s own Panic Shack are ready to cause some trouble at Green Man. Fresh from supporting the Sex Pistols at Cardiff Castle and making their first Radio 1 Live Session, the post-punk five-piece are taking their manic live energy to one of the festival’s biggest stages. Expect loud, chaotic and very Welsh.
