Van Morrison

Van Morrison to headline Green Man Festival 2012

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When it comes to legends, they don’t come much bigger than this. He’s been near the top of your “most wanted” list since the very early days of Green Man, so we’re totally chuffed to have him headline our 10th anniversary festival!

Van MorrisonVan formed Them in his native Belfast in 1964, his matchless R&B songwriting and vocal prowess resulting in classic cuts such as Gloria and Here Comes The Night, before solo success beckoned with the worldwide smash hit Brown-Eyed Girl.

Following the groundbreaking Astral Weeks – a mystical song cycle regarded as one of the greatest albums ever made –Van’s move to America inspired a string of near-flawless early ‘70s LPs including Moondance and Tupelo Honey.

Whether duetting with the likes of John Lee Hooker and Ray Charles, or stealing the show with The Band in Martin Scorcese’s must-see concert film The Last Waltz, few live performers can match the power and passion of “The Belfast Cowboy”.

Voted one place ahead of Michael Jackson in Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Singers of All Time list, Van Morrison headlines the Mountain Stage at the 10th annual Green Man Festival on Saturday August 18th.

I think I feel a Green Man moment coming on – anyone else? Here are the latest amazing acts joining Van and fellow headliner Feist in Wales’ breathtaking Black Mountains from August 17th – 19th:

Daughter create breathy, atmospherically mean and moody folk songs full of haunting melodies, a twist of electronics and ambient sweeps. Powered by Elena Tonra’s sensational voice, this London trio could be one of the finds of the year.

Bowerbirds, are real-life couple Beth Tacular and Phil Moore. Third album The Clearing is their biggest and boldest yet, with a sense of urgency and scope inspired by near break-ups and near-fatal illnesses.

Beth Jeans Houghton got her big break at Green Man 2008 when Devandra Banhart pulled her out of the crowd to perform one of her songs. Her totally ace debut album Thunder presents the Newcastle singer as a “psychedelic Boudica”. She appears at this year’s festival as Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves Of Destiny

Megafaun, the North Carolina-based trio psych-folk trio make a welcome return to Green Man following the release of their intricate self-titled album in the late 2011.

Psychemagik (DJ set) and Richard Norris are joining the Time & Space Machine psychedelic Sunday night whig-out in the Far Out After Dark

PLUS! Don’t miss brilliant sets by Jamie N Commons, Joe Pug, Nick Mulvey, RM Hubbert, Tiny Ruins and many more great acts – including our third main headliner – who are yet to be announced!

More acts announced for Hampton Court Palace Festival

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Van Morrison will make a welcome return to the Festival with classics such as Have I Told You Lately That I Love You and Brown Eyed Girl. Squeeze will also perform and delight fans with old favourites including Cool for Cats and Up the Junction as well as new material. In addition, the incredible Marc Almond will join Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra as a special guest, alongside Gilson Lavis and guest vocalists Ruby Turner and Louise Marshall.

They join Liza Minnelli, the legendary worldwide universally loved superstar who will provide the opening for the Festival’s 20th Anniversary on Thursday 14th June. The concert will include many of Liza’s showstoppers such as Cabaret, Maybe This Time, New York New York – arguably her very own signature tune – all written especially for her by the legendary song writing partnership of John Kander and Fred Ebb (Chicago, Cabaret) – and a selection of her best loved songs. 

The Festival will also host play host to Katie Melua, one of Britain’s most successful artists of the last decade who’s sold more than 11 million albums, who will delight festival-goers with familiar favourites such as Closest Thing To Crazy and Nine Million Bicycles, as well as performing songs from her new album Secret Symphony, out on 5th March. Legendary Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons will perform their first concert in the UK for 18 years at the Festival. This eagerly awaited concert will give fans the chance to hear many of the classic hit songs played live, such as: Big Girls Don’t Cry, Walk Like A Man, Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You, Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby Goodbye), December 1963 (Oh What A Night) and Grease.

Brit Award Winner James Morrison is also confirmed to perform in the stunning open-air courtyard of King Henry VIII’s Palace and will treat fans to his hit songs You Give Me Something, Wonderful World and I Won’t Let You Go as well as new tracks from his current album The Awakening. Caro Emerald, who recently appeared on Jools Holland’s Annual Hootenanny, will make her Festival debut this year with her eclectic style of ballroom jazz, cinematic tangos, groovin' jazz and infectious mambos with songs from her platinum-selling album Deleted Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor.

To mark the Festival’s milestone, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will perform a special 20th Anniversary Gala, which will be followed by spectacular fireworks over the Palace. Conducted by Gavin Sutherland, he will be joined by tenor James Edwards, soprano Laura Wright and violinist Clio Gould. The evening will have a long interval so that Festival-goers can enjoy their picnics and Champagne in the Palace Gardens as the sun sets on the summer’s evening.

 

In addition to the music, Hampton Court Palace Festival is renowned for creating a truly unforgettable experience. Artists perform in the historic main courtyard of the magnificent Tudor Palace providing an intimate atmosphere for an audience of 3,000. Corporate hospitality is available in the State Apartments and Festival-goers can also arrive early (Palace Gardens open at 1730) and enjoy a delicious picnic courtesy of Jamie Oliver’s Fabulous Feasts, in the stunning Palace gardens.