The Green Man

Originally a one-day event which drew a modest attendance of 300, the festival situated in the heart of the Welsh countryside now attracts around 11,500 and boasts three stages, cinema and literature tent, children's area, the usual vast selection of bars and catering tents and a long list of past performances from the likes of Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin and the hamster of folk Bonnie Prince Billy.

This year's festival boasted an eclectic line-up, with Barking-born Billy Bragg preceding Saturday's headline performance from The Flaming Lips.

The Lips' frontman Wayne Coyne emerges from a spinning vagina projected onto the stage before climbing into his trademark giant bubble and launching himself across the heads of his adoring followers, carried above them to the back of the crowd and back to the stage, his flock realising they needed to get him back if he was ever to get on with the songs they had come to hear.

The Lips' live shows are generally truly amazing - choreographed stage invasions from pre-selected members of the crowd, ticker tape, giant balloons and numerous giant party-popper moments add to the spectacle.

But sometimes you're left wondering if it's not distracting from an otherwise mediocre musical performance.

Bragg on the other hand emerges with only a guitar and, as he reminds us constantly, his Barking-born self.

His music is constantly matched by his comical banter to the crowd - reciting personal experiences, reliving stories of his past and various political "call to arms" to a younger-than-expected crowd. The rain doesn't dampen their spirits - they clearly enjoy a great set of old and new songs while Mr Bragg urges them to sing along, if they can be bothered.

Despite the weather there are many performances that brighten the mood.

Thursday boasts a bit of a coup - it's the British premiere of Leonard Cohen's film Bird On A Wire - a fly-on-the-wall documentary lost for many years covering the singer's tour of Europe in the 1970s. It's a great insight into his life on tour and work.

Friday awakes with a crash of thunder and the pitter-patter of rain. A few things lift the spirits, including Fuck Buttons's set at the aptly named Far-Out stage, where lots of lights and loud, abstract soundscapes are the order of the day, before the trudge back the the damp, cold tents.

On Sunday Mumford and Sons play to the largest crowd of the weekend.

Then headlining is the wonderful Joanna Newsome, playing the festival for her third time.

She shines on the stage playing her set of mostly new material and drawing great groans from the crowd - particularly when the rains returns.

Another highlight of the weekend is the wonderful Jo & Danny DJing at the Green Man Pub.

With the rain falling, only five or six people stomped along to some great classics in the mud.

At one point a steward emerges from backstage and places an entire crate of beer in front of the by now dwindling audience as a thank you for their dedication in what was truly terrible weather.

Since its humble beginning The Green Man has gone from strength to strength.

This year's has stepped up and embraced younger, electronic musicians as well as the normal folktronica core.

This has brought in a new, younger audience that will see the festival continue to grow and develop, firmly securing itself as one of Britain's best independent folk festivals.