Shwmae and welcome to Green Man Chinwag, where we introduce you to a bumper bunch of GM25 acts via our punchy mini-Q&A – both newer discoveries and firm favourites!
For this week’s feature, we are joined by Westside Cowboy, who will be heading to Bannau Brycheiniog for the first time this August. The Manchester-formed band generate a sense of occasion and community at their shows, with moments of a capella harmonising and audience participation, as well as some serious guitar noodling. They have a small (but mighty) catalogue of rollicking anthems that feel playful, melodic and dissonant, all at the same time.
Having recently toured with Blondshell the four-piece are having a banner year. Expect this momentum to keep rolling forward: they’ll be releasing their debut EP, This Better Be Something Great, the week before they arrive on our shores, meaning we may be among the first to hear some brand-new material live. As GM25 draws ever closer, we asked the band some quick fire questions…
For fans of: Pavement, Ugly, Violent Femmes
Where to start: ‘Shells’ – ringing out with huge indie ambitions, this standout track boldly declares the band’s intentions, putting their dazzling musicality front and centre.
Who are you looking forward to seeing live at Green Man 2025?
MJ Lenderman, @, Being Dead, YHWH Nailgun, Black Fondu, Perfume Genius, Naima Bock…loads!
What can we expect from your performance?
4x vocal, 2x guitar, drums, bass.
Track you play before going on stage?
We love the Velvet Underground for this. Probably ‘Run Run Run’ – it gets you in the mood!
What’s on your ‘essentials’ list for festival packing?
Diablo set, backup Diablo set.
What first drew you together as collaborators?
Paddy, Reuben and Aoife met in the first week of university and stayed friends ever since. Reuben and Paddy started a band too weird for its own good, and before this, Paddy and Jimmy had been in a surf punk band too fast for its own good.
When both of those projects fell away, it was around the time that we were falling out with the more intense styles of music and getting more into trad [music], and early rock ‘n’ roll. I think in a way, all four of us were drawn together simply by just wanting to have a laugh whilst playing music; no pretense, just playing rock ‘n’ roll in your bedroom with your mates. And that’s the way it is still I suppose.
And finally, what’s your favourite biscuit?
Plain digestive all day. Punk rock biscuit.