The hunt is on for emerging Welsh musicians to enter the Green Man Rising band competition.
Ever dreamt of sharing the bill with music legends at Green Man, with a chance of opening the 2023 festival on the iconic Mountain Stage?
Green Man has a world-renowned reputation for launching talent, with many major artists starting their careers at this internationally famous Welsh festival.
Now in its 17th year, the Green Man Rising band competition extends that influence to talented emerging musicians. The competition offers new acts the chance to bag a place on the GM23 line-up, record a live session and showcase their music to top music industry maestros, with the winner opening the 2023 festival on the magical Mountain Stage.
Previous winners of the Green Man Rising competition have cultivated roots with the flagship festival, with many crediting the showcase as a springboard to their success.
The competition is unsponsored and free to enter, and every single entry is given the opportunity to be heard by a global audience online, as well as a judging panel of experienced industry tastemakers, who will be announced over coming weeks.
Agents, managers, promoters, journalists and bloggers in previous years have included MOJO, Bella Union, Moshi Moshi, NME, Domino Records, Communion, Rough Trade, Heavenly Records, Beggars, ATC, Times, CAA, Guardian and others.
Deadline for entries is April 30th and the longlist then goes to a public vote to finalise the top five acts, who record a professional session for a live-streamed final.
BBC 6 Music, Radio 4, Radio Wales and Radio Cymru presenter Huw Stephens is a long-standing advocate of the showcase and a big fan of previous Welsh winners, Dactyl Terra and Teddy Hunter. He says: “Green Man Rising has become a highly respected platform for emerging artists since its inception.
“It’s been great to see so many varied artists win and play their slot on the Mountain Stage, with Welsh acts Dactyl Terra and Teddy Hunter amongst them. I’d encourage all new Welsh artists to apply; it’s part of the magic of Green Man when new Welsh talent is supported on stages with some of the most interesting names in alternative music.”
Teddy Hunter (above) has since earned a residence at PRAH Recordings and a Maida Vale live session in 2022 and: “[Rising] gave me more confidence in where my music could head. I felt weirdly comfortable on stage, which is probably the calmest I’ve ever felt performing.
“This has been a big eye opener for me to expand my performances and be more expressive on stage. I met so many amazing people – who either work at the festival or were a punter – that was really special to me.
“Appearing gave exposure to a large unknown audience, to major industry tastemakers and the support of the festival and the Green Man Trust over the past year. I’ve a personal pride of being the winner of a very well-respected festival slot.”
Porridge Radio, Black Midi and Sports Team have gone on to receive Mercury Prize nominations after appearances on the Rising Stage and two-time Welsh Music Prize winners Adwaith, Melin Melyn and Panic Shack have all played the stage.
Nuha Ruby Ra
Lots of Rising acts have returned to play Green Man’s bigger stages and other acts have had Best Album of the Year nominations, appeared in Rolling Stone and Maida Vale Studios and signed to Domino, Rough Trade and Moshi Moshi.
2020 winner Nuha Ruby Ra featured in BBC Steve Lamacq’s ‘Ones to Watch’ and toured the UK, US and EU supporting Yard Act, Warmduscher and Bambara. She says: “It was brilliant and I really feel that I’m now a part of a supportive family and community, which is Green Man and The Green Man Trust, which will always be with me. I’m excited for the future winners!”
Phil Alexander, Global Creative Director for Kerrang added: ‘Rising is an excellent way for new music talent to become noticed and benefit from development opportunities. Participating artists perform at the festival in front of an audience of thousands. This in itself is unique and of huge benefit to the acts. “It provides them with a platform in a way that is rare in this day and age.”
To apply to Green Man Rising, head to: www.greenman.net/rising/
Wales’ Green Man 2023 runs from 17th-20th August.
All tickets sold out in 3 hours without any programme announcement.
For more information, see: www.greenman.net