The Green Man Festival in the Brecon Beacons, Wales, held from August 18th-22nd 2022, attracted more than 25,000 attendees, making it one of the largest festivals in the UK. Despite the impressive lineup featuring big names like Kraftwerk and Michael Kiwanuka, the sense of community and togetherness remained the festival's driving force. The festival offered a range of genres, and attendees had the opportunity to discover new bands like Wunderhorse and Honeyglaze, and enjoy established acts like Metronomy, Cassandra Jenkins, Mdou Moctar, and Beach House. Bristol-based singer-songwriter Katy J. Pearson's performance on the Mountain Stage was an unforgettable highlight.

Later in the evening, Viagra Boys more than lived up to their name, delivering a set of freakish rock songs, while lead Sebastian Murray prowled around the stage with his top off. Kraftwerk, of course, also lived up to expectations, getting everyone to don 3D glasses for a stereoscopic trip into their vast discography. It acted as a fitting centrepiece for Green Man 2022, given the influence they’ve had over so many of the other bands performing over the weekend.

Saturday was also punctuated with a number of terrific sets from both newer acts and established names. Lemondaze and Strawberry Guy marked themselves out as names to look out for in the future – the former dealing in heavy shoegaze, the latter piano balladry, while Alex G and Beach House showed why they continue to be such revered acts. Another highlight was singer-songwriter TORRES, aka Mackenzie Scott, who lit up the Garden Stage late in the night. Barrelling through the huge songs that made up last year’s Thirstier – including the terrific Don’t Go Puttin’ Wishes In My Head – she perhaps brought more energy to her set than anyone else on Saturday.

Sunday was more laid back, with sets from Jenny Hval and Ural Thomas & The Pain providing a relaxed atmosphere. Ezra Furman and Michael Kiwanuka's sets closed out the festival with a bang, with Furman delivering a non-stop high energy set, while Kiwanuka's performance ended the festival on a high note. Overall, the Green Man Festival provided a unique atmosphere that allowed attendees to discover new music, absorb the breathtaking scenery and connect with each other, making it one of the best festivals in the UK.

Green Man has never been a festival to disappoint, and its 2022 edition further solidified what a special event it is. Though it’s hard to imagine how they’ll top this year’s instalment next year, I have no doubt that the festival’s next 20 year’s will be just as magical as the first 20.