Green Man 2022

[Born in the fifties]

4 minutes ago, Jeel said:

Cons

Which also includes the problem of mini wagons everywhere. Which, combined with people wanting to use middle to front of stages as a place for a picnic, including the dimness in Far Out, made it a bit ridiculous at times to navigate. Walled Garden was ridiculous at some point with sitter. Again, plenty of room, but not getting up or moving when people wanted to stand. 

100% agreement with this, particularly the comment about the Walled Garden.  It seems to me that for the last few years the 'sitters' including mini-wagons have been creeping ever further forward on both the Mountain Stage and the Walled Garden.  I thought there used to be a 'rule' of no chairs or carriages on the flat bit of the Mountain Stage after a certain time, but that appears to have gone out of the window.

And while I'm here, definitely a retrograde step to have food stalls near the Walled Garden Stage again.

[March Hare]

32 minutes ago, xxialac said:

If you are happy to talk in the middle of the crowd, why do you not do it on the railing too?

In both situations you piss off the people around you. It doesn't matter if you are saying how wonderful the festival is, you're still prioritising your desire to talk over other people's desire to listen. And considering it's a blimming gig, wanting to listen is not unreasonable.

I’d don’t know, haven’t given that any thought. It poses an interesting question on the mountain stage - at which point can you have 1-2 minutes of festival talk in the crowd.  20 rows back(?),  in the queue for the Hippy Chippy(?), behind the sound stage(?), on the first/second/third terrace(?).  My point is annoying things are subjective.

1 hour ago, xxialac said:

In what way is this different to going to the cinema but I bet you’d be pissed off sitting to someone talking through a movie next to you.

Be a decent human and talk between songs but not during them.

I don’t talk at the cinema so perhaps I’m inconsistent.  But maybe it’s not a fair comparison unless punters are also watching a film while spraying bubbles up in the air while waving pac man characters on a stick.

I’m going to dip out of this chat now because Deliveroo has just arrived. I wasn’t trying to antagonise, I said 1-2 minutes of festival chat in a set. I’m not the person chatting though a whole set.  If my excited festival chat during a set bothers you then I’m sorry your gig enjoyment has been affected.

What causes annoyance often is subjective. 

In a festival situation I accept everyone is enjoying things in their own way.

Edited August 22, 2022 by March Hare

[March Hare]

37 minutes ago, Jeel said:

Another good time at GM. Very much the same as other years really.

Cons

The children are rapidly taking over. Now, I don't mind kids really and they're very largely well behaved but I'm surprised no one is hurt by a child barrelling into them or rolling in front of them. I barely avoided a few at below knee height. It's getting a bit too much around the main stage.  As is children using the flat bit to play games when people are trying to watch bands. There's plenty of space elsewhere.

Which also includes the problem of mini wagons everywhere. Which, combined with people wanting to use middle to front of stages as a place for a picnic, including the dimness in Far Out, made it a bit ridiculous at times to navigate. Walled Garden was ridiculous at some point with sitter. Again, plenty of room, but not getting up or moving when people wanted to stand. 

As for talking, it's always been an iffy festival for it but I didn't really notice a particular problem. And for any avoidance of doubt, if you talk during a gig near the front to middle then you're a selfish and ignorant such and such. No need to spoil it for others but this seems endemic at most gigs and festivals.

Water points were badly thought out. 3 taps for all toilets AND water filling was ridiculous. You either got people politely queuing to fill up water in a fair heat for Wales or people filling up when others wanted to wash their hands. Separate them and make sure they're close to the toilets. Also, it's better not to think of the hygiene of those compost cups!

The line-up was a bit limp with some odd timings/stage choices

I don't really get the cinema. Why are the sides open when all you can hear is the Chai Wallahs? Sure, there are subtitles, but there's zero attempt to blot out noise. 

Pros

Loos - While still mourning the loss of Andy's Loos, it has to be said that the compost ones worked much better this year. Seemed to be cleaned better. They could all use hooks on the back of the doors, and they're a bit cramped, but yeah. The women's urinals seemed to really help with queuing and the men's ones were better this year.

Food - I'm not sure how, but there seemed to be less queuing for food this year. There was always a quick option, even at busies times and there seemed more in different areas.

There also seemed to be more on at most times which seemed to help with crowding. More stuff away from the main stages, which felt a lot better. People seemed to be spread out more across the site.

Beer was good again and again I found the bars much better this year in terms of queuing. 

General atmosphere was very good again. I saw less idiot behaviour, even though it's obviously not a festival for that, and a general friendliness throughout. 

The sound was good on most stages, except for Saturday in the Walled Garden where there was a terrible vocal mix near the front. 

Lots of very helpful people around.

Site was so clean. Hardly noticed any litter laying around. Which is impressive considering the mix of punter on site

Rising - I thought the line-up was impressive this year, as was the way it was managed and the sound. 

 

 

 

Agree with this, you should feed back to them with these comments

[March Hare]

3 hours ago, retromoz said:

It's not well publicised. I only know as its the first year I've camped there. And I dont work there.....but......I THINK anyone is allowed to camp in accessible camping. There was loads of space. Obviously, you would need to leave a lot of space for those who need it (i.e space for wheelchairs etc). And, I guess, if it gets super busy there, I would ASSUME you would be moved on. But, for as long as Ive been going to Green Man, its always empty. We camped there this year to my kids developing needs, and there was plenty space for others.....
 

Just a thought...

It’s not cool to camp in accessible camping if you don’t need to be there. That shouldn’t be encouraged

Edited August 22, 2022 by March Hare

[ourkid1984]

Had a fantastic time at my first Green Man.

In recent years I've witnessed an increase in loud talkers during large parts of sets. A quick quiet chat is fine, especially between songs but through whole songs, why?!!! To be honest I didn't notice too much of that at Green Man but what I did witness was to the extreme. 

I'll echo the comments about people seemingly going for a family holiday (taking up room in the campsite and large groups playing games or in buggy's etc), I don't mind people doing that as long as there's space for others, which for the most part in the campsite there wasn't but was in the arena. 

I found the sound for all stages great, apart from the vocals in Far Out on Thursday. I liked the spacing of the stages although there was annoying sound leakage in Babbling Tongues from the Walled Garden and it was a shame that there was the bubble stall playing loud music right opposite the small acoustic stage.

As a vegetarian, I get worried about food choices but found there to be plenty and although a little pricey, everything I had was tasty. The drink selection was better than I imagined. 

I found the general atmosphere around the site, brilliant and better than most events of similar size or bigger that I've been to. 

The toilets were decent and never had to wait too long for water. I also found the signposts etc easy to follow and staff were helpful, even one steward going out their way to find out where the secret drag venue was (which was brilliant).

Highlights for me was: John Mouse, Mandrake Handshake, Wunderhorse, Metronomy, Dactyl Terra, Preen, Pregoblin, Kae Tempest, Viagra Boys, Dry Cleaning, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, Tune-Yards, Keg, M(h)aol, Grandma's house, the Murder Capital and the Saturday night comedy. 

I'll definitely come back again. 

 

[ourkid1984]

35 minutes ago, ourkid1984 said:

 

Highlights for me was: John Mouse, Mandrake Handshake, Wunderhorse, Metronomy, Dactyl Terra, Preen, Pregoblin, Kae Tempest, Viagra Boys, Dry Cleaning, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, Tune-Yards, Keg, M(h)aol, Grandma's house, the Murder Capital and the Saturday night comedy. 

 

 

Somehow forgot to mention Melin melyn who were fantastic! 

[mario man]

17 hours ago, SweepingTheNation said:

.Jonathan Ross was there, apparently...

We saw him being filmed in discussion in Einsteins Garden on Sunday afternoon 

[Lionator]

There were a couple of unsavoury incidents (including a very serious one) having spoken to some of the staff which required police presence on site. 

Edited August 23, 2022 by Lionator

[czuk]

To add to the debate about kids and wagons, I know it's known as a family festival but if you were to rock up at 10pm with a wagon and a couple of sleeping kids to your local music venue to watch a gig, security would tell you to fuck off and most parents (people?) would think WTF.  I'm not sure that simply being at a festival entitles families to keep their kids up way past the point of them needing sleep.  Seems selfish to me.

Also parents being oblivious to how annoying their kids are being.  I was sat outside Far Out watching the screen when a little girl decides to start playing with her bubble wand but mostly spilling the bubble juice over me.  It took her mum about a minute to realise what the kid was doing and tell her to move to a free patch of grass.  The kid's name was Alexa which sort of made me chuckle.

[rseamer]

20 hours ago, xxialac said:

What other highlights did people have among the smaller acts?

Kathleen Frances

John Mouse (I know he was main stage but he's still a small act in terms of sales etc)

M(h)aol

Mickey Callisto (in the Record Store - had a clash for his Rising set)

Edited August 23, 2022 by rseamer

[leath02]

Genuinely loved this festival. Such a fantastic place. Incredible positive vibes throughout and came away knowing that I will certainly go back.

Also fell in love with a fellow raver on the Saturday night, bounced around together for a good while and completely forgot to ask for her number. A mini festival heartbreak. Lesson learnt 

[rseamer]

16 hours ago, mario man said:

Highlight was BCNR as I mentioned above - that second last song they played, led by May on the piano, the reception they got from the crowd set me right off. 

Totally this.

That 2nd to last song was incredible (and emotional). For a member of the band who seemingly in the past did or contributed very little to the live show, this song was SO good. I just hope the recorded version can match up.

That and a similar feeling during Kae Tempest's set where the whole audience seemed to just 'feel it',  hands aloft, Kae just standing there taking it all in were my favourite moments of what was a generally glorious weekend.

[Jeel]

1 hour ago, czuk said:

To add to the debate about kids and wagons, I know it's known as a family festival but if you were to rock up at 10pm with a wagon and a couple of sleeping kids to your local music venue to watch a gig, security would tell you to fuck off and most parents (people?) would think WTF.  I'm not sure that simply being at a festival entitles families to keep their kids up way past the point of them needing sleep.  Seems selfish to me.

Also parents being oblivious to how annoying their kids are being.  I was sat outside Far Out watching the screen when a little girl decides to start playing with her bubble wand but mostly spilling the bubble juice over me.  It took her mum about a minute to realise what the kid was doing and tell her to move to a free patch of grass.  The kid's name was Alexa which sort of made me chuckle.

I'd add to the top bit that while it's great to see small children wearing ear protectors I fail to see what they're getting out of a musical performance when they can't hear it. 

[scatteredscreens]

16 minutes ago, Jeel said:

I'd add to the top bit that while it's great to see small children wearing ear protectors I fail to see what they're getting out of a musical performance when they can't hear it. 

Because they're not there for the music at that age, more so for the parents/adults, and they don't want them going deaf.

[collectivisedfarming]

I didn't find the amount of kids a problem, but it did feel like a few restrictions on where wagons and picnic blankets can go would improve things. Ideally not at all in the far out tent and only past a certain point back at the Mountain and Walled Garden. Friend got told off by a family at the Walled Garden, having gone down front to watch someone, told "people tend to sit at this stage", ok, but that shouldn't preclude someone going down to the barrier to watch their favourite act, there's no rule in place, just apparently convention. 

[retromoz]

12 hours ago, March Hare said:

It’s not cool to camp in accessible camping if you don’t need to be there. That shouldn’t be encouraged

Hi March. Hope you enjoyed your Deliveroo.

I realise you are now using my post as a tactic to deflect on your opinion that its OK to talk during bands being on. But thats OK. I will bite.

As my original post stated, I am a user of said campsite. I was saying how much space there was when I camped there. I didnt make it obvious, but I assumed it was implied that, as a user of said campsite, I would have no problem other people using the campsite either as long as they are responsible and considerate (maybe ask their possible neighbours if it was OK to do so, how much space they require etc) which, as its Green Man and around 99.999% of people are all bloody lovely, Im SURE would not be a problem. Im happy to clarify that this user of the accessible campsite would be OK with that.

Obviously, other users of said campsite might not have that view. You will have to ask them. Just like others might have the view that talking whilst an artist is pouring their heart and soul into performing the music they took the time to make IS ethically and morally OK. I personally think those who do that are selfish sperms of the devil.

Potato, Potarto, innit.

Have a nice day. x

[timeforheroes]

Had a great weekend. Only got there late Friday, enjoyed Kraftwerk but agree it was one of the chattier crowds - I think a lot of heritage suffer that. It can be a bit box ticking for people. In contrast I was amazed how attentive people were on Sunday for Kiwanuka who was a highlight. 

Really enjoyed Carwyn Ellis, thought it sounded brilliant. Bicep was great too. Deptford Northern Soul Club an excellent end to the weekend. Really there was  more variety to the after dark stuff, not everything has to be electronic to be late night. The atmosphere at Deptford was so good, it really felt others were itching for a change of pace at night. Be nice for a band rather than a DJ/dance act to take up somewhere I think. 

kids...tough one innit, at times it did my head in but others it was quite joyous to see them enjoying it. I think you could tell which parents were aware it could be annoying for others and the ones that seem entitled with it. Humanity I guess.

Those ear defenders just reduce decibels so they can hear what's going on. I had a chat with my mates kid and she didn't need to take them off to speak to me.

[retromoz]

3 hours ago, czuk said:

To add to the debate about kids and wagons, I know it's known as a family festival but if you were to rock up at 10pm with a wagon and a couple of sleeping kids to your local music venue to watch a gig, security would tell you to fuck off and most parents (people?) would think WTF.  I'm not sure that simply being at a festival entitles families to keep their kids up way past the point of them needing sleep.  Seems selfish to me.

Also parents being oblivious to how annoying their kids are being.  I was sat outside Far Out watching the screen when a little girl decides to start playing with her bubble wand but mostly spilling the bubble juice over me.  It took her mum about a minute to realise what the kid was doing and tell her to move to a free patch of grass.  The kid's name was Alexa which sort of made me chuckle.

I am now one of those parents with a wagon. I have become all that I hate.

HOWEVER.....I do think I think about the placement of said wagon with sleepy kid. I always place said wagon in a quiet part (usually near the back. EG about 2 metres inside far out). If it gets busy, Im out of there as its not the right place for my kid. 

Kid being awake is fine, but running around like its a glorified playpark at 10pm is NOT cool. Control your kids. BE a parent.

[Born in the fifties]

54 minutes ago, collectivisedfarming said:

Friend got told off by a family at the Walled Garden, having gone down front to watch someone, told "people tend to sit at this stage" 

What utter bollocks!

[March Hare]

9 minutes ago, retromoz said:

Hi March. Hope you enjoyed your Deliveroo.

I realise you are now using my post as a tactic to deflect on your opinion that its OK to talk during bands being on. But thats OK. I will bite.

As my original post stated, I am a user of said campsite. I was saying how much space there was when I camped there. I didnt make it obvious, but I assumed it was implied that, as a user of said campsite, I would have no problem other people using the campsite either as long as they are responsible and considerate (maybe ask their possible neighbours if it was OK to do so, how much space they require etc) which, as its Green Man and around 99.999% of people are all bloody lovely, Im SURE would not be a problem. Im happy to clarify that this user of the accessible campsite would be OK with that.

Obviously, other users of said campsite might not have that view. You will have to ask them. Just like others might have the view that talking whilst an artist is pouring their heart and soul into performing the music they took the time to make IS ethically and morally OK. I personally think those who do that are selfish sperms of the devil.

Potato, Potarto, innit.

Have a nice day. x

I hope you have a lovely day too. There was no venom in my post even though I disagree.
I camped close by and there was lots of room. But the way modern festival goers are, they don’t need much excuse to take advantage of slack controls. I have a friend in accessible and the rest of us camped elsewhere as it didn’t feel right taking that space.  There should always be an over supply in those areas imo.

There is no deflection, following the reaction to my post I’ve been as active as I’ve ever been in this thread with follow up comments. I’ve owned it.

[Jeel]

8 minutes ago, retromoz said:

I am now one of those parents with a wagon. I have become all that I hate.

HOWEVER.....I do think I think about the placement of said wagon with sleepy kid. I always place said wagon in a quiet part (usually near the back. EG about 2 metres inside far out). If it gets busy, Im out of there as its not the right place for my kid. 

Kid being awake is fine, but running around like its a glorified playpark at 10pm is NOT cool. Control your kids. BE a parent.

And that's the thing. Side and back is generally fine for all stages. I was surprised how buy it was with 'campers' in the Far Out given there was no rain. I suspect it would have been some kind of chaos with heavy rain. I don't think some parents realise it's very difficult for tall people to see walking/stumbling children below knee height, especially in the dark. Almost taken out twice on the Walled garden, once by a child walking left to right at the barrier, once by a child walking into the beer tent. Both trailed by adults just watching them go...

[Aeroplane Over the Sea]

26 minutes ago, timeforheroes said:

 

Really enjoyed Carwyn Ellis, thought it sounded brilliant. Bicep was great too. Deptford Northern Soul Club an excellent end to the weekend. Really there was  more variety to the after dark stuff, not everything has to be electronic to be late night. The atmosphere at Deptford was so good, it really felt others were itching for a change of pace at night. Be nice for a band rather than a DJ/dance act to take up somewhere I think. 

 

Could not agree more with this - I’ve been going to green man a long time and just occasionally something like Charlotte Church’s Pop Dungeon, or the David Bowie Disco gets thrown on that’s a little different to the variations on a theme of dance music. 
 

even something as simple as an indie disco or ultimate power or a 70s night would mix up the options a lot… (are they just too snobby to throw one up there? Round the twist would be perfect for this). Sometimes we just would like something a bit less serious to do at the end of a great day of live music.

[Ha French Bread]

Another fantastic year!

The Great

About as positive a prolonged atmosphere of happiness and camaraderie as 25000 humans can produce

Fantastic acts throughout - very few let-downs outweighed by numerous pleasant surprises

The variety of acts is great and really well curated in terms of stages, timings - so easy to build a day with ten different genres that flows seamlessly

Sound was superb (with exceptions)

Agree with the comments that it felt less busy with food and toilets, and getting in and out was a dream compared to last year

The weather! 

Had nice chats with John Mouse, Davey from Boy Azooga (watching his dad play one last time at Carwyn Ellis, which was sweet) and the bassist from Alice Low. Didn't say hello to but did spot Ezra Furman looking absolutely gorgeous walking about - love the lack of barriers between artists/festival goers

 

Not So Great

To add to the current thread of conversation, the kids themselves are pretty much all great and a positive aspect of the festival, but there's a definite increase in entitled parents. Festivals/gigs come with a certain amount of things you have to accept - space is at a premium sometimes, camping is a bit cramped and short on luxury, there's noise 24/7, there are lots of adults who enjoy dancing and jump about, you can't always go wherever you want whenever you want during a popular set, and so on. While it seems the vast majority of the parents completely get this, there's a minority who seem absolutely affronted whenever them/their offspring are confronted with these realities. I'm sure I'd add nothing by giving specific examples as we've all seen them - the Walled Garden example given above is a pretty good one!

Talkers - not actually so bad this year, especially compared to most other festivals, but still easily the single most annoying thing about crowds/music in general. Please god stop shouting to your mate about what you had for lunch

The Walled Garden had some big issues with vocals at the front of the stage, especially with louder acts. Think the L/R speaker banks have a blind spot

Agree on the lack of late-night variety - it's generally all brilliant, but one area having a well-curated indie/disco/pop/'cheese' area would be a nice thing to switch up the house and DnB. More acts like Charlotte Church and Scalping late night in the Walled Garden would be sweet

 

Will post up 31 five word reviews later, but Ezra Furman, Jenny Hval, Arab Strap, Charlotte Adigery/Bolis Pupul, Scalping and Viagra Boys were the standouts

Edited August 23, 2022 by Ha French Bread

[benali]

EOTR has bands playing until the early hours, as above I'd like to see the option at GM too although I do love the dance sets they have in Far Out late at night.

[OddRon]

Second time at Green Man. BCNR, Viagra Boys and Beach House were the stand out performances for me. I definitely agree with the family sentiment, number of acts where diablos were just being launched into the air was very irritating in front of the performers and the entitlement of some in the campsite was crazy. Still one of the best festival experiences I've had and I look forward to many more.