The final band I was filming at Green Man was Stornoway, a group I was very excited for. After seeing their live set on the main stage, I rushed over to the press area and got them to set up under a tree which warned of falling branches.
I’ve been following Fossil Collective from the when they first started. Their blend of harmonies and acoustic melodies create a perfect coupling for their music, and I was privileged to learn that they were up for filming a session at Green Man.
The first time Matt sang in front of me; I was taken aback by how powerful his voice is. We took 2 takes of ‘Cold’ – the first, being in a small garden park next to the ICC: just around the corner from where we filmed with Alex Moir. The sight of this silohuette bellowing out at such power, such passion. It was a sight. One that even attracted an audience applause from an onlooking flat.
I first met Ellen & the Escapades in 2010 and was blown away by their talent – it wasn’t long after we had set up Croft Sessions and already I was itching to get them filmed. Fast-foward three years and I was arriving at Green Man Festival with a session scheduled with the band. I bumped into Ellen outside a crumpet stall where we had a quick chat and then I had to head off, meeting with them the next day.
When we first started this project; I never would have thought we’d have made it to 20 artists – it’s very humbling to have worked with such tremendous talent. I’d like to thank everybody who has supported the project in anyway – to the bands and to you the audience – you really make it what it is.
I’d heard a lot of buzz around 2000 Trees about Stealing Sheep. I’d seen them the year previously, but there was word floating about that they were bringing in a 28-strong marching band to the festival this year, promising to blow 2012′s performance out of the water. Sure enough, the girls marched through the crowd with The Harlequin Dynamite Marching Band and took to the stage to give one of my favourite performances of the year. Stealing Sheep have something really magical to them when performing live, and I urge you to see them whenever you can because it’s something you just have to see.
The morning of the 23rd July brought with it a thunderstorm. In my semi-lucid state, I gave Dan a text to say we should rearrange for another day and he agreed, but just an hour later things started to dry up. Soon after I was at the train station faced by delayed trains and flooded tracks, ready to board. My journey was accompanied by the solemn sounds of Goldmund, with Threnody providing the perfect soundtrack for the weather. It was one of those special and rare moments when music enhances life through it’s interaction.
I’m going to put it out there – 2000 Trees is my favourite festival, hands down. There’s a real sense of community there, which is something I haven’t found exist to that extent at any other. Everyone seems to know each other, and it’s clear that there’s something special going on.
We originally met (and filmed) Rosie May at the third SoFar Sounds Birmingham. The environment was a student house in Moseley which had been emptied, dimmed & decorated for SoFar performances of the night. We arrived to the house early to prepare for filming later, catching Rosie sitting on a vintage sofa with her guitar in hand. Her face lit up as we greeted – she lay a lot of curiosity for us, but we knew she must be talented to be performing for SoFar.
We first heard Fitz. during their performance at the SoFar Sounds night in the Fazeley Studios in Digbeth, Birmingham – the gallery provided a perfect environment to show off their harmonies and we knew we just had to invite Fitz. for a session with us.