This year’s Green Man Festival, again held at Glanusk Park near Crickhowell, was a 25,000 ticket sell-out way before the line-up was announced and did not disappoint music fans with its stunning headline acts and jam-packed running order over four nights and multiple stages, writes Green Man veteran Nancy Cavill.

There was pop, rock, folk, punk / post-punk and even ‘no wave’ galore (if you wish to get into genres I’m sure you could name more). That’s before you even get to the stand-up comedy, talks, films, workshops, wildlife walks and the institution that is now the ‘Settlement’ quiz - entertaining the many who arrive on site three days before the festival itself to experience the delights of the local area and the wider Y Bannau Brycheiniog.

Green Man may be a relative minnow on the UK festival circuit when compared to the likes of Glastonbury or Reading, but it still packs a punch and is the biggest music and arts festival in Wales. Some bands get a foothold on fame here, starting in lowly early afternoon opening slots only to return triumphant as headline acts.

Two of this year’s female fronted headliners Self Esteem and First Aid kit have both played lower down the bill before, and both seemed overjoyed to be back topping the bill on the Mountain Stage. Self Esteem, aka Rebecca Lucy Taylor, said as much during a mid-set moment when she admitted to feeling slightly overwhelmed.

It was a rare glimpse of the artist in non-superstar mode - the rest of her act could be likened to Madonna, back in the day, or even a British Taylor Swift with post ‘me-too’ lyrics. Her empowering and highly choreographed Saturday night start turn was the highlight of the festival for many.

First Aid Kit provided a light and easy-on-the-ear end to the festival on Sunday night - in complete contrast to earlier Mountain Stage act Amyl and the Sniffers. Their brand of high-energy Australian punk and blue language (which they revel in) sent many parents with younger children scurrying away to less challenging areas of the festival site.

Horace Andy was a highlight for Massive Attack fans and captivated younger audience members with his infectious feel-good reggae set and The Comet is Coming was a Friday night stand-out for many.

It was a shame about the rain, which poured down in Biblical proportions on Friday, and resulted in an at-times sparse audience at the main stage audience while the under cover Far Out tent was rammed and quagmire-like.

Mention must go to the festival programmers for a great Thursday night in the Walled Garden which featured Welsh Acts. The Bug Club, from Caldicot in Monmouthshire, smashed their set. Also noticeable was the number of female-fronted acts on all stages, as well as the festival being gender-balanced in terms of the headline bands. There was noticeable support for Billy Nomates, Tor Maries, who performed on Sunday afternoon in the Far Out tent. She took a hit of misogynistic flak on social media for her solo (no band) performance at Glastonbury and has said she won’t play more dates beyond this summer’s schedule. Many in the crowd were no doubt there to show their solidarity.

The mark of a good festival must be the return rate and as a serial returner along with many, many others, I can confirm there’s something special about Green Man.

There were acts it was impossible to catch, due to clashes or simply catching up with friends, but this leaves you vowing to return and catch more bands next time.

Roll on the release of tickets for 2024.