CMAT draws record crowd in monumental Green Man debut

Green Man Festival 2025 was in full swing on a bright Saturday that delivered one unforgettable performance after another. One of the most talked-about moments came from CMAT, who made her long-anticipated Welsh debut on the Mountain Stage and drew one of the largest audiences the festival has ever seen. Calling it “one of the best shows of her life,” the Irish singer draped herself in the Welsh flag and won over fans with her trademark humor and charm. Backed by her band, she filled the stage with pure energy as the crowd danced along to favorites like I Wanna Be A Cowboy, Baby!, and Take A Sexy Picture of Me, cementing her spot as one of the weekend’s highlights.

As night fell, electronic pioneers Underworld took over to close the evening spectacularly. Nearly forty years after first coming together in South Wales, the duo unleashed a set of pounding techno and dazzling visuals that built to a euphoric finale with their classic hit Born Slippy, sending the audience into a wild celebration.

The day also brought memorable sets from a wide range of artists across the festival grounds. On the Mountain Stage, Seattle’s Perfume Genius captivated the crowd with a deeply emotional performance drawn from his acclaimed catalog, while MJ Lenderman from North Carolina, joined by his band The Wind, delivered a powerful and extended run of gritty indie-rock. Welsh artist Gwenno enchanted festival-goers with her delicate vocals and shimmering electronic soundscapes, bringing a distinctly local magic to the lineup.

Familiar names also returned to Green Man to roaring applause. 2024 Mercury Prize winners English Teacher took the Far Out stage, where fans sang every lyric of their breakout hit Nearly Daffodils. Welsh surf-pop favorites Melin Melyn kept spirits high with their kaleidoscopic sound, turning the crowd into a dancing, colorful spectacle. Over at the Walled Garden, rising artist Lucy Gooch created an atmosphere of pure wonder, her ambient and dreamlike music echoing beautifully against the ancient stone walls.