You can’t write about Green Man without mentioning its gorgeous locale – Wales’s verdant Brecon Beacons where the towering hills and long, winding roads are dotted by sheep utterly undaunted by the cars making their way to the festival. The natural beauty isn’t the main draw, but then, it can’t just be the expertly curated music, comedy shows, or panels, either – how, otherwise, to explain Green Man 2025 selling out in just 60 minutes, long before its lineup was announced? the answer is that its appeal transcends billing, lying at that nebulous, indefinable intersection where people, music and nature coalesce to cr
Green Man 2024: CMAT Ascends to Festival Peak Amidst Diverse Lineup
Green man 2024 delivered a vibrant weekend of music, highlighted by a standout performance from Irish pop singer CMAT, just over a week before the release of her third album, EURO-COUNTRY. The festival, held in the Brecon beacons, showcased a diverse range of artists, from electronic pioneers to indie-folk storytellers.
Saturday’s headliners, Underworld, brought a classic Nineties rave energy with a loud and propulsive set. Meanwhile, Panda Bear captivated audiences in the Far Out tent with gorgeous, surf-infused harmonies and psychedelic visuals. MJ Lenderman’s set on the main stage resonated with a dusty Americana sound, featuring tracks like the “ambling, woozy” “Wristwatch.” Cassandra Jenkins delivered a powerful yet softly sung performance in the Far Out tent, showcasing her distinctive tenor voice. A heartwarming moment occurred when folk-rock band Divorce invited a young audience member, Leo, onstage to dance, transforming him into a spontaneous “Green Man icon” and inspiring the entire crowd.
However, as is often the case at Green Man, one set truly stood out. Following in the footsteps of Big Thief’s acclaimed 2023 performance, CMAT (born Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson) delivered what many are calling a career-defining set. The artist, known for her charisma and powerful vocals, drew the largest crowd of the weekend.
CMAT connected with the Welsh audience through loving references to the country, including a cover of Catatonia’s “Road Rage,” often referred to as “the Welsh national anthem” as noted by various sources covering the festival.She performed a string of her chatty pop songs, including fan favorites “Have Fun!”, “Aw, Shoot!” and “Take a sexy Picture of Me.” The set culminated in a particularly memorable moment as CMAT conducted the crowd while holding a fan’s totem featuring a CMAT doll, visibly moved to tears as she declared the night “one of the best f**ing gigs we’ve ever played.”
With EURO-COUNTRY* poised for release,CMAT’s Green Man performance signals a significant moment in her rising career,suggesting many more acclaimed performances are on the horizon.