Jack brings green tour to the UK

By Andy Brownstone
Newsbeat reporter

Singer Jack Johnson has brought his environmentally-friendly stageshow to London's Hyde Park.

Water was handed out for free during the Hawaiian singer's gig as part of his bid to highlight global warming.

The show also featured organic cotton T-shirts, onsite recycling, litter pickers, low-energy light bulbs and a biodiesel tour bus.

Johnson follows in the footsteps of Radiohead who also recently wrapped up an environmentally-friendly UK tour.

Solar energy

Johnson, whose recent album Sleep Through The Static was also recorded using 100% solar energy, played a host of tracks from his back catalogue including Banana Pancakes, from his third solo album In Between Dreams.

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"That song is mostly all about making love really," he told the crowd.

"But kids always want to hear that song, they're always requesting it."

For Matthew, a fan from Bermondsey, Banana Pancakes was the highlight of his night.

He added: "I know exactly what this song's about and that's why I like it. Waking up late at the weekend, every day should be like that."

Carbon footprint

Johnson, who also said his world tour will offset all his air miles to try to reduce his carbon footprint, opened the show with Hope from his current album before going straight into Taylor, one of his older numbers.

The stewards picked up litter before it was dropped

During Bubble Toes, he joked with the crowd: "You look so pretty. You know that Jimi Hendrix quote? 'I wish I could reach out and make love to all of you', well, the thought just crossed my mind?"

The singer was later joined by fellow solo artists Ben Harper and Matt Costa.

Johnson has toured on a biodiesel bus since 2005, and he requires that performance venues buy carbon offsets for every show and compost the organic waste from his concerts.

He has sold 15 million albums worldwide and won a Brit Award for best international newcomer in 2006.