WE AERONAUTS TO KICK OFF GREEN MAN 2009 AFTER TAKING THE FIRST-EVER GREEN POLL FINAL BY STORM

Oxford/Brighton seven-piece We Aeronauts are set to kick off this year’s Green Man Festival in style after taking the inaugural Green Poll Grand Final by storm at the Camden Monarch on Thursday night.

Their joyous, brilliantly arranged folk-pop ditties won over our prestigious panel music industry boffins, narrowly beating off stiff competition from all corners of the Green Man spectrum to land a once-in-a-lifetime set on the main stage beneath the misty Black Mountains on Friday August 21

Singer and keyboardist Anna Wheatley said: “I can’t even speak we’re so excited! I really enjoyed doing the set tonight. We were so nervous. It’s not like a normal gig, you’ve got all that pressure to perform. A friend said ‘just go on as is if you’re having a party’ – it was one of the most fun gigs I’ve ever had!”

Co-vocalist James Cunning added: “I was a bit surprised when they announced it was us. The whole night was amazing. Every single band played their heart out, everyone gave 110 per cent. I’ve not been to Green Man before but people who were here tonight to see us said it is one of the best festivals they’ve ever been to. It’s going to be brilliant!”

As the Green Man camped out in the UK’s live music heartland a packed Camden Monarch lapped up brilliant performances from the prog-tastic Halcyon Glow, a memorable trad-folk cover of Rocket Man from Greenman Rising and some fine harmony-drenched pop from Swindon’s The Sunday Dogs.

One String Loose kept the Welsh flag flying with their youthful fiddle and whistle-laden exuberance while brilliant eight-piece The Malodies Of Bellafontaine ran the winners close with their atmospheric, Stereolab-esque grooves.

But the night belonged to We Aeronauts - the top choice of judges Mike Diver (Clash), Stephen Bass (moshi moshi) and Simon Raymonde (Bella Union) - as the champagne flowed and a top DJ set from Slow Club kept the party going to the wee smalls on an unforgettable night of nail-biting drama.