I’ve been going through / putting together / tidying up the footage I have of the first three Green Man Festivals. It’s only this year that all three films have been made public and I’m delighted.
The first Green Man took place at Craig Y Nos Castle in August 2003 and was filmed by Adam Fuest. It took us a while to get organised but in 2021 Adam sent me the files. It then took me a while to edit them. Earlier this year I made them into a 20 minute film, documenting a hugely important day and night, captured brilliantly by Adam.
The first ever Green Man Festival, 25 August 2003.
Featuring music from The Fence Collective, James Yorkston, King Creosote, It’s Jo & Danny, Julie Murphy and more.
Green Man Festival 2003
‘The first, let us hope, of many’ The Times 4 ****
The only known footage of the 2004 Green Man Festival was filmed on a very early camera phone by Jon Clee.
Jon was the man responsible for the festival’s artwork from 2004 to 2007.
This is the first design he did for us, we were so excited when we saw it. The momentum was increasing….
Four Tet and Alisdair Roberts were the headliners.
Jon captured the earliest known footage of Joanna Newsom. It’s a very special document. Some of the files were silent, so I made a soundtrack to accompany the footage.
Featuring Joanna Newsom, Lone Pigeon, James Yorkston & The Fence Collective.
Green Man Festival 2004
‘Now that’s a festival!’ The Independent
We did some It’s Jo and Danny gigs in Germany pretty much straight after the 2004 Green Man. The children were 4 and 2 and so came with us, as did our friend and film maker, Jason Glenister. Danny and I used the lap top providing beats and a few other sounds while we played our guitars over the top. Jason projected films he had made on top of us. It was fun. Michael Nyman came back stage after the Berlin gig and complimented Jason’s work.
Jason then made a film of the Green Man Festival 2005.
Featuring previously unseen footage of Joanna Newsom, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, the Fence Collective, Alistair Roberts and more, interviews with myself and Danny among others.
The film was released via the Indie Through The Looking Glass YouTube channel in 2024.
One of the most incredible weekends of my life – and easily the most stressful.
A fabulous film.
Green Man Festival 2005. Directed by Jason Glenister. Poster by Jon Clee.
‘The perfect festival experience’ The Guardian
These first three festivals are so special to me, so incredible.
Danny and I guiding the crazy growth, booking all the performers and organising everything, including playing a set!
Read more about these first Green Man festivals:
Indie Through The Looking Glass 