Green Man Festival: The Strangeglue Preview

Glanusk park was first blessed with the presence of the Green Man Festival in 2003 when the event saw 300 people turn up to watch the best that folk-rock had to offer. Six years later and not much has changed, except proportions.

Glanusk park is still the home to this joyous festival, but now its audience measures in the thousands with over three different stages and even a garden for Einstein. Sugar Loaf Mountain sits in the middle of the park right behind the main stage providing a momentous view for you to enjoy while watching some of the greatest acts around.

This year's line up continues Green Man's meteoric rise with bands such as Animal Collective, Wooden Shjips, Broken Records and even British Sea Power playing the festival. 

Here are our top ten bands to watch over the weekend starting with Beach House....

Beach House

We could talk about alternative folk music all day but Beach House have the ability to shut us up once they pick up their instruments. This Baltimore duo emerged in 2006 when they released their debut self-titled album to a huge reception. Now on their second record the young couple have been touring extensively with the likes of Vetiver and Grizzly Bear showcasing their somewhat intriguing melodic material to the masses. The video below is one of the singles from the second album Devotion which has also proved a great listen over and over.

Beach House will be playing on the 'fairy-tale' circus tent known as the Far-Out stage which in previous years has hosted sets from Lightspeed Champion, Battles and the magnificent Emmy The Great.

Pivot

Now this isn't really alternative folk at all, instead it's closer to alternative-garage-electro-indie-new wave-noise, a genre that this duo commandeer through crazy rhythms created from the most distorted of instrument loops and god knows what else, probably some large machinery and a chainsaw by the sounds of it.. 

Given their crazy sound you'd think that any major label would be scared of working with Pivot, however, U.K based Warp Records scooped these chaps up before they even had a record deal in their home country, Australia. Warp have nursed them through one LP so far, an album that earned the chaps enough recognition to play some monumental venues this year including dates in Austria, France and even Poland.

The video below is one of their more coherent songs taken from their debut album O Soundtrack My Heart which was released last year. The video shows them performing the track at the Route Du Rock festival in France, give it a watch and you'll see why these chaps are a highlight.

Wooden Shjips

Coming from a more rocky approach to folk are Wooden Shjips, their peculiar name has been pasted all over the internet for the past few years along-with their alternative psychedelic music that's now blessed the ears of many.

They self released their first 10" which unexpectedly sold out and also gained attention from some prestigious figures who helped the band sign a deal with the Sick Thirst label in 2007, a few releases later and Wooden Shjips have matured into a band known for their live energy and ability to produce awesome material.

The Phantom Band

The Phantom Band's debut record Checkmate Savage arrived in our office early last year, shortly thereafter the record gained an honourable nine stars from one of our lovely reviewers which you can read HERE.

Checkmate Savage was released on the prestigious Chemikal Underground label who only represent Scottish artists such as Malcolm Middleton, De Rosa and Mogwai. Over the years Chemikal Underground have, without fail, produced quality musicians again and again so we have great confidence that The Phantom Band can use their label's guidance to meet or even raise the par.

We've posted a song from the debut below, the video portrays a very messy night through the eyes of a Scotsman, or just the normal night for a Scotsman...

Camera Obscura

Camera Obscura are another band swamping the press at the moment, but for all the right reasons; their indie motives mixed with a slight alternative approach has produced a product accessible to the masses yet respectable, unlike the indie drivel that's pasted across the scene today....

The four members that make Camera Obscura have been recording material since the mid 90's, each of their four albums have served as stepping stones to success a perfect example being the last of their records My Maudlin Career which was released this year and charted well in England, Ireland and the U.S.

If you think your indie taste is hungry for a bit of alternative experimentation then this will be the set for you. Check out the video below and we're sure you'll be charmed...

Broken Records

Broken Records are the latest Scottish band to join 4AD's already impressive roster, and like the rest of their label buddies Broken Records have established a spot in the alternative scene and its growing exponentially. Their music has been compared to The National, and though we think that's a little bold they're still an up and coming treat.

The Scottish folks started the festival season with two sets at Glastonbury and have been on the road since, touring with The National and My Latest Novel. Their debut record Until Earth Begins To Part has done extremely well as expected, and we eagerly await the sophomore.

If you'd like to experience some cool artistic film work from the band then look not further.... than below...

British Sea Power

British Sea Power (pictured) are a band made to be appreciated live rather than on record, they hold tints of darkness drawn from artist such as Joy Division and The Pixies which gives their sound a mysterious energy when performed live. Due to their success BSP are still headlining festivals nearly ten years after they formed.

Their latest album was put together for a documentary called Man Of Aran which is a fictional documentary from the mid 1900's about the life on the Aran islands.

Instead of including a new video, we decided to use one from a few years back because it's a great example of their live performances. The track is called Remember Me and you've most probably heard the unforgettable hook before.

Animal Collective

Along with British Sea Power, Animal Collective are the one of the more established selections that we've drawn from this years Green Man line-up, solely because they rule. Not only do they produce awesome records but they have the ability to concoct a crazy live performance right in front of your eyes. Their alternative sound has progressed over the past ten years into something only your ears will be able to describe to you, so make sure you don't miss them.

Their latest record Merriweather Post Pavillion earned favourable reviews from across the board, including one extremely positive review from us which you can read HERE.

The band will of course be playing on the main stage, so prepare for a set which is predicted to start with a 'Technicolour Bang' and end with an army of impressed fans. The video below was recorded at this year's Hove festival in Norway and features one of the A.C's more popular songs My Girls, please excuse the overwhelming amount of blue.

The Strange Boys

The Strange Boys is more of a warning then a band name, they've managed to create a rather peculiar yet approachable sound. Hailing from the musical hive that is Austin the four members started writing material in 2003 but didn't fully form until 2005. Since then the boys have been continuously touring, yes that's right, they've been touring for four years! Bob Geldof eat your heart out.

Asides from being the most prepared from our selection, The Strange Boys are probably the most alternative, their sound might put you off initially but be assured that it grows into something you never expected to enjoy.

After three years of writing and touring they finally got a chance to record their debut And Girls Club, which features sixteen solid tracks. The video below is taken from a song on the album called Woe Is You And Me.

Trembling Bells

One of the smallest selections for this year's highlights are Trembling Bells, a four piece alternative rock/folk collective from the hills of Scotland. Forget the size of this band though, sales do not represent quality, Trembling Bells are one excellent example of an under-appreciated band.

It takes a lot for someone to dislike Trembling Bells, their music is so inoffensive that there's barely anything to disagree with. For those reasons we can see them climbing to new heights this year, with plenty more festival dates in the pipeline, that's a guarantee.

Below is a video of the band playing live at Hyde Park Picture house, we just wish we could have been there....

So as the Green Man website says: the big tops are going up, the main stage is taking shape beneath the breathtaking Black Mountains, the site is bedecked in over 5 kms of magical garland lighting – all we need now is you! As if you needed reminding…

Check back next week for our in-depth review and photos of Green Man 2009.