Hanggai opened up the Green Stage on Sunday morning with a performance that resonated with the wide expanse of their Mongolian homeland. With a full rock band plus wind section, the band deals in bombastic sound – a full epic meshing of anthemic rock and galloping rhythms counterbalanced with traditional folk instruments.

From songs was driven by chugging guitar riffs that made for an epic battle feel, to others combining throat singing, mouth clicking and a chorus of voices that was suggested a Mongolian spin on the movie Western theme, Hanggai kept it fresh and entertaining. The horsehead fiddle, a symbol of the Mongolian nation, plus mandolin was prominent in these driven folk epics, the sound equally familiar and unusual. It wasn’t all epic gallops across the open plains though. Midway through the set they kicked off with a “kampai” and cycled through ever-increasing tempo-changes that peaked for a jaunty folk dance party, the crowd jumping up and down shouting “Hey!”

Starting a fresh day at the Green Stage, Hanggai brought excitement and a good dose of energy to a sunny Sunday morning.