Elliot Carter looks ahead to this weekend's musical highlight - the Green Man Festival

Set in the natural amphitheatre of the Black Mountains in the Brecon Beacons National Park, the family run, family friendly, Green Man Festival is half a world away from its more corporate cousins and promises to provide that rare thing: a festival to satisfy the head, heart and belly.

Taking care of the head side of things are an array of exciting acts including the groundbreaking organic electronica of Caribou, the western confessionals of Sun Kil Moon and Saturday headliners Mercury Rev with their unique mix of the haunting and the whimsical. That's before you even consider Einstein's Garden, an esoteric mix of folk, comedy and science installations.

If somehow you resist the joys of some of the more cerebral rock & electronic music you'll be sure to be grabbed by the blasting horns of Beirut, the gloriously anarchic heartbreak of Neutral Milk Hotel, or the festival-long residence from the Welsh National Theatre which promises, in their words, to be "touching, funny and just a little bit creepy".

Other musical highlights sure to go squarely for the heart include the neo-country of Swedish sisters First Aid Kit, The War on Drugs' sepia vision of 80s rock and the hypnotic pop of Minneapolis' Poliça. Less well known but highly intriguing is the French funkiness of François & the Atlas Mountains, the up-and-coming electronic musician East India Youth and the innovative scattershot indie of Leeds-based Adult Jazz.

And finally to the belly: there will be no disappointing burgers washed down with warm lager here. The festival hosts its own real ale festival, boasting 99 Welsh beers and ciders, and foody delights, including local venison burgers, crab and lobster rolls from Pembrokeshire and a pop-up restaurant from award winning Bristol eco-chef Tom Hunt, are sure compound the festival's reputation for decidedly upmarket fare.

Just as you'd expect from the a festival that prides itself on being, in every sense, a little off the beaten track, there are a range of other attractions, including the celebrated NoFit State Circus, spoken word and stand up tents and interactive art installations. Family friendly areas will cater for all ages, from young children's hat-making and hedgerow walks to circus-skills, film or music workshops exclusively for teenagers. There is even the option for those with a Settlers Pass to arrive early at the site, giving the chance to explore the amazing surroundings of the national park.

Oxford Mail:

Electro: East India Youth

Ultimately, then, those lucky enough to have tickets can look forward to a festival that combines the foody riches of a farmers market and a line-up that puts to shame the offerings of many a bigger festival with more than a little dose of the unexpected.

For full line up and more details visit greenman.net