Green Man 2026: Zack Polanski in conversation as electronic music legends return to the stage

Amelia Jones

This year’s showstopping Green Man enters its final day in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park today, following a notable appearance from Green Party leader Zack Polanski talking Welsh independence, press regulation and ‘community energy’.

Saturday saw a day filled with genre-spanning music, comedy, literature, film, and performance art, and an eclectic bill topped by the eagerly-anticipated return of one of electronic music’s most lauded artists, Four Tet.

Headlining the festival for the second time, following his lauded 2019 appearance, Keiran Hebden took to the Mountain Stage for a 90 minute set of beats, builds, breaks and drops, alongside an incredible unparalleled light show that lit up Crug Hywel and the surrounding hills and mountains, pulling in the biggest crowd of the weekend so far.

Four Tet’s return is just a glimpse into the diversity of music on offer throughout the festival, with Saturday’s bill boasting something for every taste.

At the Far Out stage, the range spanned Philadelphia rock-band Mannequin Pussy, storming into the evening with their catharsis-fuelled punk; a live set from producer and composer Daniel Avery, performing tracks from his latest record Tremor, before returning for an after hours DJ set for the late night / early morning revellers; and an awe-inspiring appearance from singer-songwriter Celeste, whose soulful vocals dazzled the Far Out stage during a late evening appearance.

The Mountain Stage welcomed back Wales’ very own Cate Le Bon with open arms, with timeless fan favourites like ‘Mother’s Mother’s Magazines’ and ‘Home To You’, alongside cuts from last year’s Michelangelo Dying, offering a raw and vulnerable showing of her undefiable talent.

The Beta Band’s thirty year career was celebrated by the masses, with Steve Mason also stopping by the Talking Shop for an intimate conversation with BBC’s Huw Stephens.

Also at the Talking Shop on Saturday was Zack Polanski, Leader of the Green Party, who sat down with Welsh investigative journalist Will Hayward to talk about why he’s calling for increased media regulation and the need for a free press; the possibility of Welsh independence and why he believes power should be held at the most local level; how he would tackle the climate crisis by stopping new oil and gas drilling, and introducing what he calls “community energy”; as well as an impassioned debate about the merits of rent control to help people struggling with the cost of living.

Elsewhere, at the Walled Garden, James Ellis Ford marked the release of his new album Lost In Another World with a spine-tingling showcase of music created whilst he was undergoing intense chemotherapy.

Bathing Suits wowed the Rising stage with their abrasive combination of techno, punk, noise and pop, marking a triumphant debut Green Man performance for the four-piece; and a secret Green Man session from Margate’s Afro-Disco outfit Pigeon packed out Round The Twist.

The final day of Green Man 2026 commences today, with the Mountain Stage playing host to BRIT Award 2026 winners and Sunday headliners Wolf Alice, marking their first ever Green Man appearance; as well as Cat Power, Anna Calvi, Dove Ellis, Everything Is Recorded and Alexis Taylor.

At Far Out, rising Cardiff-outfit Panic Shack will lead into another Green Man first as the eagerly anticipated New York duo Fcukers promise a high energy Sunday pick me up; as well as the likes of Wednesday and Sparks.

Over on Walled Garden, there’s Melbourne’s Way Dynamic and ever-evolving rapper Tricky, and the Rising Stage continues to platform some of music’s best new talents including Paulie Swan, Dermot Henry and The Itch.

Alongside the music, Sunday will see Craig Roberts introduce the beloved coming-of-age film Submarine; and actress and musician Samantha Morton will discuss her life and career through music as she joins The Guardian for a special ‘Honest Playlist’ session at the Talking Shop.

---

Get more trusted Welsh news

Choose Nation.Cymru as a preferred source in Google News to see more of our journalism.