Festival Friday! Green Man Festival

Festival Friday is back and this week it's Green Man Festival!

Green Man is a family friendly festival based in the heart of the beautiful Brecon Beacons, in Wales. It's really relaxed and is always a pleasure to come back too. The line up is always fantastic, with a wide range of acts, some of which you have heard of and love, others who you discover and become your new favourites. Green Man is always growing and every year I seem to find something new.
One of the coolest things about Green Man is the Green Man himself. Every year he looks different, and is always magnificent. The past couple of years punters have been able to go inside the Green Man over the course of the weekend and leave messages or wishes. On the evening of the final day of the festival (Sunday), They burn the Green Man and have an amazing firework display. This always brings the whole festival together creating the most incredible atmosphere to watch such a marvellous spectacle.
The 10 different areas at Green man mean that there is always something on or to find or do. The Walled Garden is one of my favourite areas, with a smaller stage and the high wall surrounding several stalls as well as the stage, it creates a really intimate feel.
One thing to mention about Green Man is their Welsh Ale and Ciders which, if you are old enough, I highly recommend. I suggest having a Growler and getting your boogie on. You can't go wrong!
Green Man, now in it's 12th year, is always a highlight of the festival season for me and this year is set to be no different.

This year the dates are: Thursday 20th August - Sunday 23rd August 2015

Headliners: Leftfield, Hot Chip, Super Furry Animals, St Vincent

Other acts include: Villagers, Natalie Prass, Temples, Teleman, Emmy The Great, Dizraeli and the Small Gods, Charles Bradley and his Extraordinaires, Jamie XX, Hooton Tennis Club, The Carraways, Father John Misty, The Staves, The Antlers, Courtney Barnett, Goat, Public Broadcast Service, Aurora, Me and My Friends, The Gypsies of Bohemia

Links:
Green Man Website
What to Pack

Festival Friday! Latitude festival, 2015

Time for another Festival Friday! This week's festival is Latitude Festival. 

Latitude takes pride in having not only amazing music acts but also the best aspects of film, literature, poetry, culture, theatre and everything in between. It's a very pretty festival as well as not being too big, so it's easy to keep track of where you are. From the multi-coloured sheep to dancing in the woods, there is a lot to see and do. I found that I went to see just as many comedians, poets and writers as I did musicians, which was great as every stage had equal big names and people I wanted to see. Last year I saw Craig Charles do a DJ set in the woods, which is where all the late night DJs play. The woods seem like a completely different place during the day, but at night creates the most amazing atmosphere. The Main stage has seating going around the back, not enough for everyone obviously. But it comes in handy in between acts when you want to sit down, or when you have danced too much, or if you are short and actually want to see what's happening on stage.

Here's a little history and information about Latitude. Based at Henham Park, in Southwold, Suffolk, it will be 10 years old this year. It's always been lucky enough to have a good line up, but that is thanks to it being run by Festival Republic. Festival Republic also run Reading and Leeds Festival, Electric Picnic and ran Glastonbury festival for 10 years. Latitude also is a good place to find up and coming acts, especially on the Lake Stage. Speaking of the lake, this year is the first year you can swim in it!

Now for this year, Thursday 16th - Sunday 19th July 2015

Headliners: Alt-J, Portishead, Noel Gallagers High Flying Birds

Other Artists include: Laura Marling, Lianne La Havas, Santigold, Jon Hopkins, The Vaccines, SBTRKT, Catfish and the Bottlemen, La Roux, The Boomtown Rats, Seasick Steve, Manic Street Preachers, Kwabs, SOAK

Links
Latitude Website
What to pack
Festival Republic Website

Latitude Festival 2014

Festival Essentials, what to pack!

Whether you are a last minute packer or have planned each outfit for the past month, at some point you will have to pack for your long weekend of festival fun. 

So with a summer of music festivals starting just around the corner, I thought it best to start off with a packing list of what to take with you. From what I would class the essentials, to if you want to go all out and pack the kitchen sink (not literally though). This list has everything you will need!

Essentials

1. A tent,  so guy ropes, poles, pegs and ground sheets
2. Sleeping bag / duvet / pillow
3. Sleeping mat / Air bed
4. Wellies / Sturdy boots
5. Waterproof coat / overalls
6. Towel
7. Festival Ticket
8. Money / Cards
9. Enough change of clothes, incase you get wet / clean clothes to go home in:
• Shorts
• Jeans
• Dresses
• Trousers
• Skirt
• Tops
• Underwear
• Skirts
• Socks
• Jumpers
• Bras
• Tights
• Leggings
10. Phone
11. Head Torch / Torch
12. I.D / Driving licence
13. Camera
14. Lightweight / plastic bags, for dirty clothes or shoes
15. Toiletries, so you can at least pretend to be clean after not showering all weekend:
• Shampoo / Conditioner
• Toothbrush / Toothpaste
• Wet wipes (Biodegradable)
• Sun cream
• Contraceptives
• Medication, (Inhalers / Prescriptions / Meds info on allergies)
• Hand sanitiser
• Toilet roll
• Glasses / Contacts and solution
• Tampons / Sanitary towels
• Hair brush
• Dry shampoo
16. Rucksack, so you can carry all this stuff!

Not so Essential

1. Ear plugs / Cotton wool buds, for when you have a loud snorer in the tent next to you.
2. After sun, incase you are silly enough to not put sun cream on and get burnt
3. Sun Glasses
4. Chargers, however most festivals have somewhere where you can charge your phone or camera
5. Stuff to do when there is nothing on you want to see:
• Frisbee
• Ball
• Book / Magazine
• Hula Hoop
• Playing Cards
• Pen and paper 
6. Reusable water bottle
7. Hats / Gloves / Scarfs
8. Spare batteries
9. Camping chairs
10. Tent decorations, To make your tent easier to find and stand out from the crowd
• Fairy lights
• Bunting
• Hammock
• Flag, you can also use this when standing in a big crowd so people know where you are
11. Mini speakers, so the party can continue in your tent
12. iPod
13. Mallet, to help get those pegs in
14. Extra Blankets, it can get very cold 
15. Lantern
16. Cooking tools, it's best to figure out what meals you are cooking, then bring the relevant utensils to make that dish. Most festivals have food stands where you can get some amazing food from all around the world, however sometimes they aren't in the camping areas so on the day before and the day after you may have to make your own food.
17. Febreeze, for when your tent inevitably starts to smell
18. Rubbish / Recycling bags, help the festival by making as little rubbish as possible and recycle!
19. Car inverter, so you can charge things in your car
20. Shade awning, for when that little bit of sun breaks through the clouds.
21. Solar shower
22. Fancy dress outfits and other accessories to make you stand out from the crowd.
23. First aid kit
24. Mosquito repellant / sting relief
25. Locks, to lock bags or tents up

Now each festival is different, so sometimes you will find that things that wouldn't normally be essential items become essentials, best to check the festival website if you are unsure. Most festivals have stalls where you can buy many of the things on both of these lists incase you do forget something, however if you use these lists properly you shouldn't have to worry. If you think I have forgotten something or you have used this list to help you pack or create your own detailed packing list, let me know!

Welcome!

Welcome to What's The Set List?!

I'm Tessa and I will be posting all sorts of music related news, with everything from festival fun to new music releases and bands to look out for. 

I always listen to music, exaggerating slightly, but I couldn't live without music. I like a variety of music, and am always looking for new bands and artists to listen too. 

I love festivals, the atmosphere, the music, the mud! There is always something going on and when there isn't, you have just enough time to grab a quick 40 winks before it all starts up again. Last year I worked with a festival catering company, attending 8 festivals throughout the summer festival season. I would work in the mornings, then would spend the afternoons taking part on all sorts of festival madness. I will doing the same thing again this year and can't wait to share my experiences, both good and the bad, with you. 

You can also follow my updates Facebook and Twitter. I look forward to hearing from you, as well are hearing your festival experiences.