Green Man 2024 review: Constant inspiration dominates Welsh gem

One of Wales’ most beautiful spots is the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, which is flanked by the slopes of the Black Mountains. The heart of the valley is home to Green Man Festival, which in 2024 continues to be a bastion of musical community and celebration.

There’s an envious amount of stuff to do at the festival, where one lap around the site will see you stumbling by science experiments, theatrical performances, spoken word artists, art installations and of course,  a plethora of musicians from across the world, including indie darlings, innovative dance music pioneers and intricate folk artists. At the centre of all of this is the Green Man himself, a towering effigy where festival-goers attach their wishes for the future. It is burnt to a crisp on Sunday night when an impressive fireworks display shoots into the sky to mark that the weekend has come to a close. 

Image credit: Kirsty McLachlan

One of the best elements of Green Man’s booking policy is its dedication to upcoming artists, emphasised by their Rising stage, which featured sets from various artists who are projected to become some of the most exciting alternative artists around. TTSSFU entered the stage on Friday afternoon with a red love-heart-shaped guitar, to entice with melodic shoegaze and grunge-inspired numbers, one of them dedicated to the hotness of Adam Driver. The Manchester artist struck an interesting balance between dream-like apparitions and moments of guttural anger, keeping you on your toes throughout. 

Another highlight was Cardiff’s Slate, who woke up any sleepy audience members on Saturday afternoon with their doom-ridden take on post-punk. Rising wasn’t the only place to catch new music, as one of the highlights of the weekend saw Lynks take to the task of opening up the main stage (Mountain Stage) on Saturday. A celebration of queerness to remember, Lynks was joined by backing dancers to hop and faun around the stage to his club-ready bangers. An incredibly self-aware performance, Lynks knew that he didn’t exactly fit the family-friendly vibe at the start of the day but gave a shoutout to the “under-fives fans” anyway. 

Image credit: Patrick Gunning

When it came to the headliners, Jon Hopkins delivered electronic brilliance on the Friday night. A technicolour masterpiece, his visuals sent you hurtling through a cosmic space, which was met with drops that hit you with wave after wave of euphoric beats. On Sunday, Sampha was a quiet contrast. His performance was more akin to communion, with the Mountain stage in full harmony. To emphasise this, Sampha and his band took to a singular kit of percussion at one point, playing off of each other in an engrossing display of connection. 

Away from UK talent, a host of some of American indie’s best contemporary artists arrived at Green Man to inject a bit of heavy rock into the lineup. Wednesday played songs from their acclaimed 2023 album ‘Rat Saw God’ in what was their final festival performance of the year, with singer Karly Hartzman roaring so loud there was scarcely a spot in the valley that wasn't shaken. On Sunday, Blondshell brought 90s riffs and new music to the Mountain stage as she prepares to enter a new era.

Image credit: Nici Eberl

On Sunday night, a few hours before the burning of the Green Man, The Mary Wallopers brought what can only be described as the perfect festival set. Full of great craic, they regaled the audience with tales of Irish immigration, tourist traps and warning tales of those who look for fame and fortune. Their traditional Irish folk sound is nothing short of completely joyous and when you match that with three frontmen who have such an instinctual friendship with each other, it feels like you’ve been invited into a pub for a chat rather than a large tent in a field. 

At the end of the day, Green Man is all about discovery, hearing a sound from a distance and immediately going and following it. There’s an eclectic mix away from the more recognisable indie names on the lineup. There’s inspiration around every corner, even if you just look up and see the stars poking through the sky at night in such beautiful surroundings. No set embodied this sense of burgeoning curiosity than that of Nabihah Iqbal. 

Image credit: Nici Eberl

Initially coming to the festival when she was young, it played a key part in her musical journey. Closing the Saturday night at the Walled Garden stage, she describes reading a diary entry about her first time at Green Man, describing how it changed her life and led her on the path to standing on the stage all these years later. Delivering a set that swallowed the crowd whole in beautiful ambience, there was a roaring cover of The Cure’s ‘A Forest’ and shoegaze excellence in her single ‘This World Couldn’t See Us’.

Green Man has always been a place of inspiration, which is one of the most valuable properties a music festival can have. In their 2024 edition, Green Man managed to capture hearts and minds yet again.

Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.

Header image credit: Patrick Gunning