Category Archives: Events

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Marquis Drive – a proper band. So says Danny Dyer..

This month I was commissioned to photograph West Midlands band Marquis Drive. The Britpop inspired band were playing in Bramall Lane, Sheffield so we met up there, hopped over the road to the Railway Hotel and spent an hour or so sorting a decent portfolio for them.

Marquis Drive

The evening gig was a great opportunity to capture the band’s performance. It was, to say the least, energetic and packed with enthusiasm. The whole place was jumping, carried along by the Marquis Drive’s anthemic, joyous sound. They’ve only been around for a year or so but are already carving out a reputation, with no less than Danny Dyer describing them as “a proper fkn band”! The Sheffield Star have certainly given them a positive response: “Marquis Drive had the whole venue bouncing and singing as they created a real festival atmosphere. Such was the buzz created, it would be tough for any band to follow.” In short, if you like Ocean Colour Scene, Shed 7, Oasis and the like then you’ll probably enjoy Marquis Drive.

I got on so well with the band that they’ve already asked me to join them at a Sheffield festival later this year. Of course, I’ve said yes to what will undoubtedly be a cracking, good do.

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Bingley Music Live 2018

Noel Gallagher

Headlining this year’s Bingley Music Live – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. This little, three-day, family festival is fantastic and though it’s grown over the years in size and stature, it has successfully retained its warm and friendly vibe.

Sadlly, I missed Friday night but on Saturday we got the Cribs, and Jake Bugg headlining and on Sunday Pulled Apart by Horses, Peace, Ride and Noel. What a great line-up! Plus there was a whole other stage not featured here. Below – a small selection of my favourite pics!

Noel Gallagher

Ride- Mark Gardener

Peace Harrison “Harry” Koisser

Peace Samuel “Sam” Koisser

Pulled apart by horses – Tom Hudson

Jake Bugg

Ryan Jarman, Gary Jarman, Ross Jarman

Ryan Jarman,

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The Rolling Stones and Download Festival

Rolling Stones Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood

We’re off on our annual pilgrimage to Download shortly. First though, a quick detour to Old Trafford where I just made it by the skin of my teeth to photograph The Rolling Stones after four hours stuck in accident traffic. First time for me and a brilliant experience, albeit positioned at the end of the 94 foot runway, slightly stage right as you can see. Just nine minutes to capture some decent pictures of possibly the most famous band in the world. And let me tell you Mick Jagger has still got the moves, in fact if he’d slowed down for a breather at our end I would have appreciated it. But despite everything there were opportunities to capture some of the on stage magic. Check out that jacket – I’m sure my friend has something similar from Zara but even in his  seventies he can get away with it.

The Rolling Stones Mick Jagger

On to Download. Just made it (again!) for Avenged Sevenfold – after racing up the road from jobs in London. This is not like me I am never late! Avenged Sevenfold are always amazing to shoot – hence earning two spots in the blog! And they were certainly worthy headliners for day one. Other highlights for me – local lads the Struts who are big in their home town of Derby but now massive in America! In the signing tent – Shinedown a fantastic band who I’ve shot before. Barry Kerch is always great to photograph whether he’s on drums or engaging with the fans. Really happy with my Black Veil Brides shot complete with pyros. Marilyn Manson gave us just one song – five minutes to get something in the can. And finally, I loved Kiss on stilts – part of the site entertainment and as far as I know there were no fallers. So, another year, another Download and just a brilliant time. Roll on 2019!!

Avenged Sevenfold M. Shadows

Avenged Sevenfold Synyster Gates

The Struts Luke Spiller

Shinedown- Barry Kerch

Black Veil Brides 

Marilyn Manson

Marilyn Manson

Download Festival, Day 3, Donington Park, Castle Donington, UK – 10 Jun 2018

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Funny Cow premieres in Sheffield

Maxine Peake Tony Pitts

It’s not often we get a world premiere in my home town but last week the cinema circus came to town for the launch of Funny Cow.  I got a call inviting me down to the Showroom Cinema to photograph the event. It was more low-key cool than red carpet glamour but all the stars had turned out for the night, including lead Maxine Peak and screenplay writer Tony Pitts. Tony is, himself a ‘made in Sheffield’ talent, as is Richard Hawley, who wrote the music and performed in Funny Cow.  Other well-known faces joining the party, Corinne Bailey Rae who plays Coffee in the film and Manchester’s finest, Johnny Marr. Sadly, I couldn’t stay for the film or the after-show as I had to disappear to tag and turn around the pictures ready for syndication. I have to say though, they were a lovely bunch, it was a privilege to be there and an added bonus to catch up with Johnny Marr. I really hope the film does well – so far the reviews are looking good…

Johnny Marr, Richard Hawley, Danny Hawley Tony Pitts, Maxine Peake Mark Vennis Kevin Proctor Corinne Bailey Rae

Tony Pitts, Richard Hawley Johnny Marr

Johnny Marr Maxine Peake

Corinne Bailey Rae

Sophie Rundle

Maxine Peake,Max Beesley , Tony Pitts

Adrian Fanagan and Dean Honer from The Moonlandingz

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Thirty Seconds to Mars.

Jared Leto, Shannon Leto

Alternative rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars consists of Jared Leto, Shannon Leto, and Tom Miličević. This month, the Thirty Seconds to Mars tour bus rolled into a packed Manchester Arena just days before the release of latest album America.

Thanks to some accidentally divulged, inside info, our pit gang of four girls and two guys (that makes a change…perhaps it’s the Jared effect!) managed to wangle coverage of the entire gig – which was brilliant. I haven’t photographed them before and visually they put on a great show but it’s difficult to shoot because of the highly theatrical staging and lighting. Also Jared runs around like a maniac. Fortunately, as part of the show, Jared invites members of the audience to come up on stage and somehow I ended up there as well. Unlike everyone else, I did not take the opportunity to send a political tweet from the Thirty Seconds to Mars personal account, but I did get some decent different shots in. All in all – a great night.

Jared Leto,

Shannon Leto

Jared Leto, Shannon Leto Manchester Arena

 

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From Filth to Municipal Waste – Bloodstock 2017

 

Dani Filth

Just back from my second Bloodstock Open Air which was really great. Good to see some familiar faces and it’s a fantastic festival to work – really relaxed. Plus this year was a welly free weekend and no rain is always a bonus! Weekend tickets were completely sold out but people could still turn up for a day pass to see their best metal band. There’s never any trouble and always plenty of theatrical dressing up, on stage and in the crowd. For performance and showmanship I’d say Dani Filth from Devilment did the job. I got some great shots of him and the rest of the band.

Colin Parks

I was a fan of Testament in the late 80s and early 90s, and Chuck Billy is still going strong, as is guitarist Alex Scolnick who has been back and forth with the band over the years, in between all kinds of other stuff, including jazz and funk..

Chuck Billy

Alex Skolnick

Canadian band Annihilator are always worth a look. Lead and founder Jeff Waters is sponsored by Epiphone who were also on site at the festival, which gave me an opportunity to go and meet the team. I tried out a Jack Cassidy bass, in front of people which was a bit a scary…especially when Tom and Olly said they’d recorded me…Stray Cat Strut not very Bloodstock. Anyhow moving on – gorgeous instrument. I want that one!

Jeff Waters

Jeff Waters

Municipal Waste – what a great name! I was pretty fortunate to get in to this gig as the list was limited due to the extensive crowd surfing that goes along with the band. After our three songs it went mental in there but here are the shots. So pleased to have been on that list.

Tony Foresta

Philip “Landphil” Hall

Aaron Homma

Rich Hinks

Headlining Saturday – Ghost. Always good to photograph but the pyros are enough to give you a heart attack. There’s usually a lot more smoke but thankfully lovely lighting here and a great opportunity to capture the theatre of the visuals and costumes; really entertaining and performance to match. The musicianship is fantastic. So this rounds off my Bloodstock 2017. Sadly, I missed Sunday due to other work commitments but roll on next year..which has already announced French band Gojira who are amazing and Nightwish from Finland, who I’ve worked with in the past photographing Kai Hahto for Drummer magazine. It’s going to be Metaltastic…

Ghost Tobias Forge

Ghost Tobias Forge

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Arcade Fire in this month’s Q magazine

Arcade Fire 07.06.17 Bath Hall Scunthorpe

Scunthorpe – not necessarily top of my list of desirable destinations but here we are and after all, it is for Arcade Fire. I arrived early and found a few people I knew in the queue including Richard Hawley so had a quick catch up before I headed upstairs to the balcony. For the packed audience, The Baths Hall is a great venue but for photography, the opportunities are limited and you still only get the three songs (regardless of who you’re working for) so you have to make the most of every shot you can see. Fortunately, the lighting’s pretty good and the band are hugely entertaining, keeping things moving around the stage. I’m really happy with how the pictures look in this month’s Q and actually the town looked like it’s got a lot going for it. Thanks Scunthorpe – Arcade Fire might just have set a new trend on the tour venue trail.

Arcade fire in Q magazine

Arcade Fire 07.06.17 Bath Hall Scunthorpe

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Manchester Crowd in Q magazine and Download Festival

So – last weekend we were back for another heavy duty dose of Download and for once, the sun was actually shining. Perhaps it was the influence of this year’s impactful centrepiece, the Download Dog, created by show design specialists New Substance. He looked amazing but I steered clear of those killer gnashers..

My first Slayer gig was in 1986 and finally, after all these years, I have got some pictures. On every previous occasion, including Bloodstock last year, I’ve been thwarted by extreme smoke, or extreme red light or in fact no light at all…but this year the Download second stage had an earlier finish, and there was no escape. Slayer are one of my absolute, all time favourite bands so it is no understatement to say I was thrilled.

Slayer Tom Araya

Headlining on Saturday, another band who like to hide out in the smoke (and behind the mic) , Biffy Clyro. Fortunately I’ve been there before and can just about judge now when it’s the right time to take my chances.

Biffy Clyro Download 10.06.17

At the end of the runway I got some great shots of a band I’ve long wanted to see AFI..

AFI Download 10.06.17

And another band well worth a mention, The Cadillac Three, born and raised in Nashville Tennessee and definitely bringing the Southern states vibe with them to Download. I’d never seen them before but really enjoyed their set. So there you go – a small selection of the many, many images from what was another brilliant festival.

The Cadillac Three Download 11.06.17

In Manchester and in the wake of the terrorist attack, Old Trafford cricket ground hosted a bumper gig headlined by local band the Courteeners. Despite, or perhaps in a show of solidarity against the continuing threat, a crowd of 50,000 showed up to enjoy the show. Nice then for Q magazine to return the favour and put them centre stage.

Q Manchester

This gig had long been in the Old Trafford diary but still, recent events gave it a greater resonance. It was powerful to be there that night and Liam took the time to offer a personal tribute to Manchester’s spirit and resilience, reading aloud Longfella’s poem, This is the Place.

Liam Fray

Stageside I was in the best position to get some final shots in and experience an amazing response from the fans..

On the way to the gig I’d already heard Charlatans guitarist Mark Collins saying how excited they were to be playing and lead Tim Burgess took a moment on stage to drink it all in.

Charlatans Mark Collins

Band number three was the Blossoms and spotting me on the sidelines Joe Donovan was all smiles…

Blossoms  Drummer Joe Donovan

And first up on the night, Cabbage. They’re relatively new and definitely one to watch, and clearly I’m not the only one who thinks that. They opened the gig to a crowd pretty much at capacity. A brilliant night, I wouldn’t have missed it. Thank you Manchester.

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Planet Rock Magazine launches with The Who + Everything Everything in Q magazine

The Who Birmingham 12.04.17

So – after all this time I’ve finally got to photograph The Who and I have to say it was worth the wait..although the cameraman filming at Birmingham’s Barclaycard Arena had bagged the best spot…always the way! Still we did get our money’s worth as three tracks from a band like The Who are often well over the standard three minutes!

The Who Birmingham 12.04.17

Beautiful lighting and just an all round great experience really, plus I was there for the launch edition of Planet Rock magazine so great to see some of the pictures in print this month.

The Who Birmingham 12.04.17

Also in this month’s Q magazine (July edition), Everything Everything who I shot at their studio in Manchester – a “crumbling former textiles mill”! But as you know I like a bit of urban grit. The band showed me round the space and between us we picked a backdrop which worked well. They are a really nice bunch – super accommodating and no fuss. The new album – Revolution – is out in August.

Everything Everything Manchester 18.04.17

Everything Everything Manchester 18.04.17