In this final episode of the Green Man Podcast 2025, we're joined by the award-winning Welsh comedian, Anna Thomas, in conversation with Cassandra Jenkins, ahead of her set at the Far Out stage. We're also joined by Jacob Alon and John Grant backstage at the Walled Garden. "Anna Thomas is an award-winning comedian, originally hailing from Carmarthenshire, South Wales. She wrote and starred in ‘Lady Bigfoot’, a short film that premiered on BBC One Wales at 10:40pm on 4th July, and became the most watched comedy short on BBC iPlayer in 2023. ‘Lady Bigfoot is a tender and utterly charming portrait of an outsider’s yearning. And it’s very funny too with little jokes squeezed in where they have no right to be’ ★★★★ Chortle. Anna also wrote and starred in the radio sitcom ‘Gulls’ which is currently available on BBC Sounds." Hailing from a musical family in New York, Cassandra Jenkins learnt to play the guitar from a young age. She's released 4 studio albums, with her most recent - My Light, My Passage receiving critical acclaim. While making her third album, My Light My Destroyer, Cassandra Jenkins set up a soundcloud page for unfinished songs called "Valley of Despair". Loneliness and its corresponding shades and images - blue orbits, delphinium blue, dawn— feature heavily on the new album. But just as on the New York songwriter's previous record, An Overview on Phenomenal Nature, her superpower is in celebrating the poetry of the everyday. Life-affirming stuff, and about as far away from the valley of despair as you could get. Jacob Alon is a Scottish poet, musician and singer, who blends the worlds of ethereal storytelling with music. Initially, they started studying medicine at university, but only found joy through creating music - and how lucky we are. They joined the Green Man family at the Walled Garden on Friday aftenoon. The absurdity of the world on the outside juxtaposed with the world taking place on the inside,* says John Grant of his latest album, The Art of the Lie. "That fascinates me, the ability to capture what it really feels like to be a human." It could apply to much of his output since 2010: inducing comfort in the candid, and expressing that via handsome baritone, lubricated grooves, slightly sordid stickiness. and everything from opulent electronica to folk strum. The Art of the Lie borrows - or rather amends - a title of a book by Trump, and owes much to funk, vocoder, the Bladerunner soundtrack, Dead Can Dance, and Devo.

We're backstage at the podcast tent as Taff Rapids, and comedian Jarred Christmas talk about music and comedy. We then meander through Einstein's Garden to Chai Wallahs to hear Adwaith and Derya Yildrim chat about the magic of Green Man festival. Taff Rapids, Cardiff’s bluegrass sensation, is taking the international stage by storm with a unique blend of original bluegrass compositions and their own take on traditional American and Welsh tunes. Comprised of seasoned musicians Darren Eedens, Siôn Russell Jones, David Grubb, and Clem Saynor, the band infuses their music with Welsh-language elements, bringing a fresh perspective to the bluegrass genre that resonates worldwide. Jarred Christmas, in his own words: Comedian. Joker. Storyteller. Professional idiot. Word clown. We couldn't have said it better ourselves! Adwaith hail from Camarthen, Wales, and formed in 2015. Their first album Melyn won the Welsh Music Prize in 2018, and Bato Mato in 2022. It's a joy to have them back at Green Man Festival. Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek refer to themselves as “outernational” over international as they say it suggests a sound that’s more inclusive or “beyond borders.” Derya, who sings and plays the bağlama, is German born to Turkish parents. Drummer Helen Wells is Berlin-based by way of South Africa while keyboard player Graham Mushnik and guitar/bass player Antonin Voyant are both French. The collective influences they bring to Anatolian music make for a completely unique and fresh sound that both pushes the genre forward and champions its rich heritage.

JOHN HARRIS has a weekly column in The Guardian, hosts its Politics Weekly UK podcast, and co-created its BAFTA-nominated video series Anywhere But Westminster. He also writes regularly for Mojo, and is the author of the acclaimed pop-cultural history of the 1990s The Last Party, as well as the definitive work on Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of The Moon. His latest book, Maybe I'm Amazed, tells the story of how music profoundly connected him to his autistic son James, and explores the hidden history of creativity and neurodivergence.   - Richard King is the author of the Gordon Burn Prize shortlisted Original Rockers, a Rough Trade, Times and Uncut Book of the Year; How Soon Is Now?, a Sunday Times Music Book of the Year; the Penderyn Prize shortlisted The Lark Ascending, a Rough Trade, MOJO and Evening Standard Book of the Year; Brittle with Relics and the Penderyn Prize shortlisted Travels Over Feeling, all published by Faber. His recent appointments include Visiting Simon Industrial and Professional Fellow, University of Manchester and Royal Literary Fellow at Cardiff University School of Journalism, Media & Culture.

In this two part episode, we're backstage at the legendary Chai Wallahs, where we hear from Aziza Jaye, Amy True & Madly as they discuss their new project Conn3ct three - a project born out of a desire to connect souls, connect musical heritage, connect powerful female spirit, connect audiences, and collectively share the energy that each of these unique performers bring in one monumental show. We’re also joined by the icon that is Asha Puthli, in conversation with Big Special - the collaboration we never knew we needed. Together they take us on a journey through their musical styles, the magic of Green Man, life on tour, and Asha’s mission to inspire older generations to chase their dreams.

A journalist since 1988, Keith Cameron is currently a contributing editor at MOJO. He previously worked for Sounds and New Musical Express, and his writing has appeared in The Guardian, The Times, Scotland On Sunday, Kerrang! and Q. His many and varied interviewees include AC/DC, Arctic Monkeys, Kate Bush, Nick Cave, Paul McCartney, Nirvana, Oasis, R.E.M., Keith Richards, Bruce Springsteen, U2 and The Velvet Underground. He is author of Mudhoney: The Sound And The Fury From Seattle, acclaimed by Mark Lanegan as “the definitive book on ’90s Seattle music”. His second book, 168 Songs Of Hatred And Failure: A History Of Manic Street Preachers, is published by White Rabbit in September 2025.

The Magic of Sain Records - Don Leisure in conversation with Andy Votel Respected producer and DJ Don Leisure brings to life his recent Tyrchu Sain album, a favourite on BBC Radio 6 Music and an album with history and tales to tell. It's a beat tape, a mix tape and a respectful homage and reimagining of the Sain Records back catalogue - Wales’ oldest and most influential record label.

With the tickets sold out for Green Man 2026, we look back at this year's festival. First up, we hear from Just Mustard and Caroline backstage at the Far Out stage. They talk about preparing for their shows, producing their albums, and where the best place is to record their music. We then take a wander across to Cinedrome, for another wonderful conversation with film critic Jason Solomons. This time, he chats to Director Kim Hopkins about the 2025 movie Still Pushing Pineapples (remember Agadoo doo doo push pineapple shake the tree?!), about an ageing pop star trying to revive and keep alive his past triumph.

Founded in 2024 by Kathryn Tann and Robert Harries, two editors determined to help put Wales and Welsh writing on the UK map – and far beyond – Folding Rock publishes the best new creative prose: fiction, non-fiction, and everything in between. The magazine showcases exciting work from writers of all kinds and stages. With a combination of special commissions and open submissions, it brings together established names with first-time sharers, and in every case publishes only the highest quality creative writing – the kind we should all pay close attention to.

In this next episode of the Green Man podcast, we're a fly on the wall to a conversation between Nadia Reid and Tom Sharkett from the band W.H.Lung, but now a member of Nadia's band. Together, they reflect on some of their favourite performances at Green Man over the years. In the second half of this episode, we're joined by Jason Solomons from the Cinedrome, as he talks to Emilíana Torrini and Zoe Flower, about the film based on her mother - The Extraordinary Miss Flower, a 2024 documentary about Geraldine Flower, a woman whose collection of 1960s and 70s love letters inspired a film. “Ten years of documenting my life in song,” says Nadia Reid of her career so far. The New Zealand artist captured hearts immediately with early albums such as 2014’s Listen To Formation, Look For The Signs and 2017’s Preservation. All change for her new album Enter Now Brightness, made in the throes of morning sickness before moving across the world to Manchester and giving birth to a second child. Circumstances change, but the timeless poise of her music remains unaltered. W.H. Lung So-named after a Chinese wholesale supermarket in their home city of Manchester, W.H. Lung have cultivated a steadfast live reputation over the last few years, their sound growing increasingly urgent with each new album. Latest offering Every Inch Of Earth Pulsates does indeed pulsate, with driving, expansive indie and synth pop, and shades of New Order and Sea Power. The Extraordinary Miss Flower is a film about the life of Geraldine Flower, whose discovered suitcase of letters inspired Icelandic singer/songwriter Emiliana Torrini to compose, and star in the movie. Directed by Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard, with Geraldine's daughter, Zoe Flower co-producing.

The Pedal Emporium share how they bring the sparkle to Little Folk, PVA discuss their favourite festival memories, and Welsh comedian Anna Thomas talks to Green Man Rising 2025 winners about the importance of creating opportunities for new artists. Based in South Wales, the Pedal Emporium specialises in creating fun bicycle powered activities to promote cycling & sustainability. These marvelous machines are all built by hand using recycled & re-purposed items, and are available for event hire throughout the year. South London’s PVA have already garnered a reputation for emotionally and physically liberating dance punk that borrows from LCD Soundsystem, SSION, Planningtorock, and The Knife. Their debut album Blush is even paced like a DJ set, so you can expect barrier-jostling fun when they take to the decks this summer. Anna Thomas is an award-winning comedian, originally hailing from Carmarthenshire, South Wales. She wrote and starred in ‘Lady Bigfoot’, a short film that premiered on BBC One Wales and became the most watched comedy short on BBC Iplayer in 2023. wing! — the instrumental recording project of Adam Swan that blossoms into a live trio, with drummer Joe Killick and bassist Kai Charlton — meld trip-hop, post-rock, jazz, broken beat, and ambient electronica to ethereal, mesmerising effect. They’re informed by Portishead and Flying Lotus, they’re fans of Boards Of Canada, Burial, and Madlib, and as this year’s Green Man Rising winners, they’ll kick off festivities on the Mountain Stage.

A glimpse into some of the fun had at Green Man's Little Folk this year. The Flying Seagull Project share how their project started, as well as their aims to bring a little light to darker times. Familia De Noche discuss how they brought 'Clown School' to Little Folk field this year. The Flying Seagull Project was founded in 2008 to bring happiness to children and communities in crisis, marginalised or suffering. The international charity currently has teams of entertainers, musicians, magicians and play specialists engaged in arts workshops, music and dance lessons, circus shows and clown doctoring all over the world. Together they’ve spread love, light and laughter to more than 350,000 children in hospitals, orphanages, deaf/blind schools and refugee camps around the world. Familia de la Noche is a female led award winning theatre company based in Wales. We make shows that are funny, beautiful, raucous and moving; using puppets, clowning, sound and music. Above all we love stories; we’ve adapted old ones and crafted new ones, always with a Familia twist. 

Delve into the mystical world of Charlotte Church, like you've never seen her before. In this part meditation, part interview with Huw Stephens at the Talking Shop on Friday afternoon at Green Man 2025, Charlotte takes us on a journey of reconnection to our breath, with nature, and with her healing retreat centre - The Dreaming - in the depths of the Elan Valley, Wales. Charlotte Church is an award-winning singer, composer and activist. She is also the founder and lead practitioner at Welsh wellness retreat The Dreaming and, for many years, has used her platform for activism, passionate about environmental issues and human rights. In 2019 she set up 'The Awen Project', a charity that helps establish free-to-attend democratic learning communities for children. Join Charlotte at Green Man for an interactive introduction to The Dreaming, including a conversation with broadcaster Huw Stephens and a taster of the retreat’s programme, led by Charlotte.

What do you get if you invite 2 comedians to Einstein's Garden…? A rather joyous walk-around exploring covering chicken's personalities and renewable energy. The Green Man podcast team take a walk beyond the Helter Skelter to the secret Wishbone tent to speak to drag artists Dolly Trolley and Rhys' Pieces about their performance at Green Man 2025. Broadside Hacks find sanctuary under a shady tree to discuss the evolution of their tribute to Bob Dylan. Adam Flood is an award-winning comedian and (failed) musician. The Times ‘Top 3 Rising Stars of the Fringe’ 2023, Most Outstanding Show in the Amused Moose Comedy Awards 2023. The Stoke-on-Trent comic blends standup with sounds and music to deliver everyday observations and existential malaise. Find her up and down the aisles or going rusty upturned in a ditch, Dolly Trolley is a Yorkshire-born drag queen based in London who is completely bonkers, utterly delightful and always at 100mph. Now entering her ninth year of drag, she’s become a household name of the UK drag and cabaret scene, known for high energy acts, fierce dance moves, hilarious parodies, and rip-roaring hosting. She’s a versatile performer full of surprises, commonly reviewed: “I’m exhausted just from watching”. She’s a regular feature of the UK’s top cabarets, been featured on BBC Breakfast, taught celebs how to walk in heels on SkyOne, and performed in theatres, stages and festivals across Europe. Dolly is the world’s leading drag fitness instructor (self-titled but unchallenged) with her famous Drag Aerobics classes, reaching online global fame during covid lockdowns. Rhys’ Pieces is a London based, international, award-winning queer performance artist, drag performer, cabaret producer and burlesque artist who has been making waves in the city's vibrant arts scene for the past 8 years. Rhys’ Pieces uses their art to explore issues of gender, sexuality, identity and race creating work that is both political and fun. You're going to want a Piece of Rhys. It feels like the year of Bob, with Timothée Chalamet appearing as the grizzled luminary on the big screen — and London-based collective, record label, and promoter Broadside Hacks are capitalising on that with their Dylan tribute event, with Clara Mann, Spitzer Space Telescope and special guests in the mix. Known for encouraging a faithful yet freeing new wave of folk music that repurposes tradition, Broadside Hacks are no strangers to honouring artists with special themed events: The Pogues and legendary Soho folk club Les Cousins have also been celebrated by their eclectic gang of musicians and contributors.

We've got a real cross section of Green Man Festival in this episode. Fresh from opening the Far Out stage on Thursday, Heartworms sits down for an intimate look into her inspirations and how she prepares for going on stage. The wonderful Last Laugh comedians Nicola Mantallios and Kerris Gibson share how important it is to be authentic on stage, and the diversity of the GM comedy tent. A firm favourite of this podcast, we head to the Cinedrome where film critic, and organiser of the stage speaks to award winning director, and former band member of The Beta Band, John MacLean. It’s not often you stumble across a budding young post-punk artist with a predilection for Spitfire planes. Enter Heartworms, aka London-based artist and producer Jojo Orme. Her debut Dan Carey-produced album, Glutton For Punishment, which landed early this year, fused early 1980s spiky synth pop, gothic noir, and industrial dance punk, running on themes of international and internal war. But despite the career take-off, she still finds time to volunteer at Hendon’s RAF Museum, cleaning and maintaining those beloved Spitfires. North East powerhouse, Nicola Mantalios brings her energetic storytelling to Green Man 2025. Her performances are packed with a perfect mix of chaotic energy, dark wit and the kind of brilliant honesty you'll be thinking about long after she's left the stage. Kerris Gibson describes herself as being like a cinnamon bun that's been dropped many times (and that one weirdo would eat). She uses her standup material for therapy and her therapy session notes for standup. Twice Felt Nowt New Act of the Year Finalist, Kerris is also an improviser (Spontaneous Wrecks) and has had sketches showcased at Sunderland Film Festival and BBC Radio. The long awaited follow up to Slow West, John McLean puts a Samurai puppeteer, caught up with a local crime gang, in Scotland, for a thrilling genre mash up in 'Tornado'.

Feeling inspired to start a band? Come to the Mountain Stage, where Ishmael Ensemble & Los Campesinos! reflect on their careers, the people who have championed them along the way, and how to get your music out there. We then wander through Einstein's Garden and up to Cinedrome where the host of the Cinedrome Jason Solomons talks to Adrian Utley about the film 137. Pete Cunningham cut his teeth as a teenage DJ playing at raves in quarries, before sampling some of the finest club culture his home city of Bristol has had to offer. He’s a saxophonist as well as a DJ and producer, and since 2017 has led eclectic collective Ishmael Ensemble to increasingly epic heights. Last year’s Rituals upped the ante with a generous use of drones and drums you might hear on a metal record, and the result: vast, textured Massive Attack-style soundscapes that will sound right at home in the Welsh mountains Cardiff indie rockers Los Campesinos! met during freshers’ week at university and seven albums on, achieved their first Top 20 album, All Hell — self-produced and self-released and with a total marketing spend of £190.86. They’re true champions of the independent DIY spirit and when they’re not at their day jobs, they’re making songs about “local football, doomed romances, and the fall of capitalism” that are made to be danced to. An exploration in free thought and improvisation, 137 is the combined sonic force of Adrian Utley (Portishead), Larry Stabbins, Jim Barr (Get the Blessing) & Sebastian Rochford (Polar Bear, Patti Smith). Brutal noise interlaced with meditative rhythms, ferocious yet fragile, 137 will venture into the world of expanded cinema playing in symbiosis with avant-garde experimental film.

*This episode contains discussion of personal experiences, including references to sexual abuse, which some listeners may find distressing. The views and opinions expressed are those of the guest, based on their own experiences, and do not necessarily reflect those of the producers or this podcast. No allegations are made against any named individual. Listener discretion is advised.* The light still breaks through each morning. That’s the driving sentiment on You Are The Morning, the debut album from trans woman and Manchester-based singer-songwriter jasmine.4.t. Its title is dedicated to queer friendship, which she says saved her life. The first UK signee on Saddest Factory Records, the album was produced by Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus. Jasmine and her band travelled to L.A. to record at Sound City Studios. It was made across 12 days in a highly collaborative and emotional process, and because Jasmine sees her songs as fluid and ever-changing, the recordings carry that free and spontaneous spirit. Jasmine considers her album as a call to action for a brighter future for trans people. Ash Kenazi is a London artist who has honed his craft after years of experimentation, finally evolving into their true form through writing that draws from sounds that have shaped their experience - a youthful chorister, an indie drummer and a queer dancer. Known for his work as a member of Happyness, drag royalty to the indie scene and podcast host, Ash has built a strong following across the UK through supporting the likes of Self Esteem, CSS, Jess Winter and Dreamwife with his impressive counter-tenor vocals, queer storytelling and magnetic stage presence.

Icons in their respective fields and admirers of one another's work, Stewart Lee and Richard Dawson discuss their creative processes as well as what they're up to at this years' festival. Stewart Lee delivered an extended set at Green Man 2025 ("world's greatest living stand-up" - The Times) An a cappella song about a man in the 1500s in Hexham, a 41-minute track, albums that channel the voices of past, present, and future: you never know what’s coming next from Northumbrian folk artist and storyteller Rich(ard) Dawson. His eighth album End of the Middle landed very recently, and he’s also dabbled in Finnish experimental rock, North Country blues, and jazzy psych-folk, raiding museum archives and releasing vinyl that plays inside-out.

After their Friday afternoon performance on the Mountain Stage, which saw members of the crowd giving their best shot at gospel, Annie and daughter Anjessica reflect on their show - and which wannabe gospel singer they liked the best. We're also joined by Last Laugh comedians Daman Bamrah + Gavin Osborn. Daman gives an insight into MCing to a festival crowd, while Gavin talks about 'playing the hits'. A flamboyantly-dressed family affair — frontwoman Annie with her daughters singing backup, her husband on guitar, and sons on bass and drums — Annie & The Caldwells hail from the Deep South and harness the power of live gospel music like nobody can. They recorded their debut album Can’t Lose My (Soul) in a Mississippi church, a mere forty years after they started performing. Stand out British-Sikh comedian, Daman Bamrah uses his instant likability, wry humour and a lot of heart to captivate audiences, and is best known for his cultural observations on his Indian heritage, topical writing and imaginative storytelling. Gavin Osborn is a 47 year old singer-songwriter with six solo albums under his belt, having spent over 20 years touring the UK, Europe and Australia with his brand of witty storytelling folk songs. Familiar to listeners of BBC 6Music and Radio 4, Gavin’s tours and shows include support slots for the likes of Belle & Sebastian and Frank Turner.

Wow. What. A. Festival. Let’s hit the ground running in ’25 with a kick off to match the energy of the weekend. Mercury Prize winners and Far Out Stage headliners English Teacher get chatty outside the podcast tent with gothic folk New York duo Sex Week, chatting first time festival moments and the best grub for a weekend in the fields. Then we join Jason Solomons, head of the Cinedrome for a chat with none other than Martin Parr, chatting about the new documentary by Lee Shulman’s about his life and work. With plenty of bangers to come, get locked in for episodes featuring acts and moments from across a blisteringly fun weekend in Bannau Brycheiniog. Sex Week: New York duo Richard Orofino and Pearl Amanda Dickson bonded over a playlist made for a friend’s road trip from Colorado to Omaha. The dulcet tones of Baxter Dury, Wolf Alice, Liz Phair and more laid the foundations for a musical collaboration that takes in the humble joy of the mixtape, the films of David Lynch and David Cronenberg, fat cats, gothic folk, gory detail and vulnerable homespun confession. English Teacher have captured life in Britain like no other band in recent years. It’s no wonder they won last year’s Mercury Prize for their debut album This Could Be Texas. The Leeds band, who first played on the Rising stage back in 2022, match meandering climbing bass with instances of folk, prog, electronica, and all-out vigour, underpinned by frontwoman Lily Fontaine’s impressionistic, conversational lyrics: musically adventurous, socially observant, and live, an emotional force to be reckoned with. Introduced by director Lee Shulman and the man himself, Martin Parr, join us for a focus into the career and work of an artist and legendary photographer.

In the final instalment of the Green Man 2025 preview, we're joined by Jimmy Watkins from Running Punks, who invites you to swap the cider, put on your trainers and head for a brisk morning jog around the Glanusk Estate. We're also joined by festival director Fiona Stewart and Welsh comedian Anna Thomas, who talk about the Green Man Trust, the charitable arm of the event. It runs a year-round operation to bring arts opportunities, science engagement, training and positive change to the people and communities who need them most. Jimmy Watkins founded Running Punks in 2019. Having broken the Welsh 800m indoor record in 2006, he made the final at the World Indoor Championships in Moscow. His life was very different a year later, when he started a band and followed a very different lifestyle – the life of athletics was behind him. However, just like in 2006, he couldn't outrun the runner! He needed to make his way back – the rock and roll lifestyle wasn't for him. Fast forward to 2025 and we have our very own music-come-running club! Don't forget to pack your trainers! Fiona Stewart is the owner of Green Man Festival. Since 2006, she has been bringing the industry's best musicians and performers to the valleys of Bannau Brycheiniog. She is a legend in her game. But what she also focuses on is the Green Man Trust, which ensures the values of the festival have a far-reaching impact beyond the weekend in August. Anna Thomas is an award-winning comedian, originally hailing from Carmarthenshire, South Wales. She wrote and starred in Lady Bigfoot, a short film that premiered on BBC One Wales and became the most-watched comedy short on BBC iPlayer in 2023.