Paul Weller to headline special Eden Session

An Eden Session like no other took place on Friday. Featuring one of the hottest young artists around - Florence and the Machine - alongside a man whose career in music is unprecedented in its longevity and diversity - Paul Weller - the line-up is one of the best Eden has seen.

Not only that, but the Session was staged in support of the Prince’s Rainforests Project in association with EDF Energy and marked the first Green Britain Day.

Prancing barefoot and fairy-like around the stage, her flowing cream gown in stark contrast to her bright shock of red hair, Florence Welsh (aka Florence and the Machine) secured her place in Sessions legend. She thoroughly captivated a damp but euphoric crowd with a set that was at times reminiscent of Kate Bush (Dog Days Are Over) and at times frentically punky (Kiss With a Fist). 2009 will be her year.

After an interlude for Tim Smit, Eden Chief Executive, and Mohamed Aslam, the Maldives Minister for Housing, Transport and Environment, to talk to the crowd about the importance of fighting climate change, a video message from Prince Charles about his Rainforests Project was played on the big screens. We were also treated to a film from EDF about Green Britain Day and some messages of support for the Prince's Rainforests Project from the likes of Daniel Craig, the Dalai Lama and Princes William and Harry.

Then came Weller. Playing with an enthusiasm and energy that would shame a lot of artists 30 years younger, the former Jam frontman whose two BRITs for Best Male Solo Artist came 14 years apart (1995 and 2009) played a spectacular show. Songs from his solo career (The Changingman, You Do Something To Me), the Style Council (Shout to the Top) and, of course The Jam (Eton Rifles and a barnstorming second encore of Town Called Malice) were all present and correct and the crowd - an eclectic mixture of Florence-esque indie popstrels and hardened Weller fans - loved every minute of it.

And then, guitars discarded in a haze of feedback and band off-stage, the lasers started. Green beams penetrated the Biomes and swept over the heads of the mesmerised crowd. Eerie animal sounds punctuated the lightshow before euphoric dance tunes came pumping out of the stage PA. The lasers kicked up a gear to match the music, flowing like green waves over and through the crowd. It was one of the most spectacular things Eden has ever seen and the perfect end to a night of brilliant music.

We've got Oasis tomorrow and then, to round off the 2009 Eden Sessions, The Kooks and Ladyhawke will play on Saturday (July 18). Both shows are sold out but if you've got tickets get on Twitter and send us your tweets @edenproject.com

Review by Ben Foster

See more photos from the Paul Weller gig

TEAM GREEN BRITAIN and GREEN BRITAIN DAY

EDF Energy has teamed up with the Eden Project to launch Team Green Britain.

Team Green Britain has been created to harness the power of lots of individual actions by uniting people to tackle the challenges of climate change together.

Based online at www.teamgreenbritain.org, it is a community of people working around five areas of interest to find practical and effective ways to live lower carbon lives.

GREEN BRITAIN DAY

To kick the campaign off July 10 has been designated as Green Britain Day.

Working with London 2012, the Eden Project and schools around the country, EDF Energy will be asking people to ‘do something green for the team’ on Green Britain Day creating a wave of tangible actions.

The day is launched with a special concert at Eden where Paul Weller will be headlining.  The sessions will be in support of the Prince’s Rainforest Project as part of Green Britain Day.