Category Archives: News

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Fat white family for Mojo Magazine.

Hi, happy new year and thanks to Mojo for this Fat White Family commission. As I headed off to Cumbria I was quite excited. Beyond performance, I hadn’t photographed the band before and shooting in Kendal was also a first. A slightly quirky Arts Centre in the heart of the Lake District wasn’t somewhere you might  have expected to find a Fat White Family gig but they seemed really at home. As you can see. someone’s missing from the shot below – keys player Nathan was just having breakfast at 3.30pm – and the band were ever so slightly tour weary. But they are a really lovely bunch and they’re well connected in my home town of Sheffield so we got along well.

Fat white Family kendal 24.11.19

Fat white Family kendal 24.11.19

Guitarist Saul scoffing pre gig fish and chips in the dressing room.

Fat white Family kendal 24.11.19

Sound check…all together and perking up! And then below, back to full throttle and a packed house. The roof of the venue was really low so I bounced a flash to compensate for the lighting. There was no pit so I initially positioned myself centre-stage next to the barrier. Then, as the mayhem cranked up I climbed onto the barrier and eventually onto the stage itself as that was the only place I could get the shot Mojo wanted of Lias in with the crowd (see the magazine for that money dhot). Two songs before the end of the gig, under pressure from fans, the stage manager and even another photographer, I was ousted all together. But I have no regrets. It was totally worth it. Find the full Fat White Family story with additional pictures in the latest edition of Mojo – out now!

Fat white Family kendal 24.11.19

Fat white Family kendal 24.11.19

Fat white Family kendal 24.11.19

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Sam Fender & Fat White Family

Sam Fender is the star of our final blog for 2019. I’d been asked to go see this rising singer songwriter in Manchester but had too much on so caught him in Leeds instead.

At just 25, Sam has clocked up acting roles in big TV dramas included Vera, got signed to Universal label Polydor, launched his first album, won a Brit award, had his music featured on a FIFA video game and suffered a bit of a health scare, cancelling tour dates including Glastonbury following a vocal cord haemorrhage.

Back on track now his tour is selling out and at Leeds O2 we had a packed house and an equally packed pit. I really enjoyed what I saw. He’s got a strong voice, plenty to say in his songs and is charismatic on stage. Judging by this performance, life is not about to slow down for Sam Fender.

Sam Fender

Sam Fender

Sam Fender

This year’s Christmas bonus and full story coming up in the new year – Fat White Family. Mojo magazine asked me to pop along to Kendal to photograph the band, so I did some pre shoot pictures on the Leeds leg of the tour. The magazine is out soon – an ideal Christmas gift for music lovers everywhere…. Have a good one and see you in 2020!

Fat white Family 20.11.19 Leeds university

Fat white Family 20.11.19 Leeds university

 

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On the campaign trail for Armley Trees.

There’s no doubt that trees contribute a huge amount to our environmental health and sense of wellbeing. And with the climate change agenda ramping up, cutting down any healthy tree is a controversial business. In Leeds, campaigners are currently protesting against Network Rail’s proposed cull of trees in the Armley Park Road area. Their efforts are less about confrontation and more about engagement. They’re exploring public opinion and relevant research, and collaborating with all stakeholders including established advocates like the Woodland Trust. I applaud what they’re doing and the way in which they’re doing it so have shown my support in photographing the trees. I really hope that at least some of them can be saved, in particular the fig trees, which are pretty special. But whatever the eventual outcome, cooperation and genuine dialogue will always leave people feeling better about it. https://armleytrees.wordpress.com/2019/09/27/who-we-are/

Armley Park road 20.09.19

Armley Park road 20.09.19

Armley Park road tress 12.10.19

Armley Park road tress 12.10.19

Armley Park road 20.09.19

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Guest judge for N Photo Photographer of the Year.

Pick up your copy of the latest N Photo and you’ll find me in there as a guest judge for the magazine’s Photographer of the Year competition. This month it’s the live performance category and the top 10 images submitted are all featured. The prize is a mirrorless Nikon Z6, perfect for capturing live action. Having tested the camera on a BBC shoot and on the Snow Patrol tour earlier this year, I was more than happy to offer my personal endorsement. Here it is, along with one or two of my pictures from Snow Patrol at Leeds Arena to illustrate just what the Z6 can do. Thanks to Adam Waring at N Photo for the Guest Judge spot and to Nikon for continuing to develop and deliver amazing cameras that keep pushing the boundaries of what we can do.

Snow Patrol 29.01.19 Leeds arena

“I was really excited to get my hands on a Nikon mirrorless camera.Initially I was attracted to the quieter shutter action for live music and broadcast shoots and that is certainly a brilliant feature. There are certain venues where shutter noise is completely off limits but the Z6 I trialled really was super quiet. The other feature which immediately impresses is the light weight, perfect when you’re roaming a music venue or running between festival stages, or if you simply need to keep shooting for longer. I was equally impressed with the image quality which may not quite compare to the D5 but with all those pluses and a lower price point this camera has got so much going for it. I’ve seen a few photographers stage-side with the Z6 and that’s kind of the best endorsement you can get.”

Snow Patrol 29.01.19 Leeds arena

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Alan Mcgee on tour.

Alan McGee 12.04.19 Barnsley

Thanks to my mates Rachel Brown (my N-Photo Apprentice) and author/broadcaster Rob Fiddaman, I recently found myself at Opium-No 10, an “indie cocktail bar”, photographing the Barnsley leg of Alan McGee’s ongoing UK tour. Alan is widely credited as the architect of the Manchester music scene, the man behind Creation Records, Oasis and Primal Scream. The Q&A was peppered with a million and one music references, entertaining anecdotes, industry insights and political comment. McGee is engaging, interested and full of energy.  In an honest reflection of the rock’n’roll life he’s led, the conversation pulled no punches.  Like many people in the audience, I left wanting more of the Alan McGee experience. So, a few days later was I heading to Chesterfield’s Proact football stadium for a second helping.

Alan McGee 12.04.19 Barnsley

Another day, another equally fascinated audience and Alan was off again. The Glaswegian is as enthusiastic about the industry as he ever was and is arguably just as involved, with the launch of his latest label, Creation 23 and ongoing management of bands including the Happy Mondays.

If that wasn’t enough, there’s about to be a movie, with Danny Boyle and Irvine Welsh renewing their Trainspotting partnership to bring this endlessly colourful story to life on screen. With Nick Moran of Lock Stock directing, it promises to be a rollercoaster of a ride and personally, I can’t wait.

Alan McGee 26.04.19 Chesterfield

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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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The Struts at Stylus for The Guardian.

The Struts Luke Spiller

I had a bit of a laugh with The Struts when I first photographed the Derby band at Bingley Festival in 2013. Back then they were maybe one of those bands that hadn’t quite made the big time but you really felt like they should. Fast forward to last year’s Download and they were definitely well on their way. In those five, intervening years, The Struts had been opening for the likes of the Stones and the Foo Fighters and really growing a fan base for their particular brand of classic glam rock, particularly in the US. Another year on and I’m heading to Stylus, a students union venue in Leeds to photograph them for the Guardian. The place was packed and the atmosphere in there was amazing. As the Guardian review sums up – “They’re not original but they are a fantastic live act and they will rock you”. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/feb/18/the-struts-review-stylus-leeds

The Struts Luke Spiller

The Struts Luke Spiller

Supporting The Struts, from New Zealand, Kelsy Karter. Before the gig all I knew about her was that she’d had a picture of Harry Styles tattooed onto her face to. As it turns out, that was a ‘fake news’ publicity stunt to promote the single she’d written about the One Direction singer. And actually, I thought she was great – really enjoyed the performance and she just seemed completely herself and at home up there.

Kelsy Karter in concert @ University of Leeds stylus Britian 16.02.19

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Nikon Z 6 test shoot on Snow Patrol.

Mirrorless camera systems. For anyone who’s not a photography nerd they’ve been around for a couple of years and, in theory offer great quality pictures but with a few additional benefits over more traditional D-SLRs. One of these benefits is that the mirrorless technology means you don’t get the usual shutter clunk; they are super quiet, which is an attractive prospect for someone like me shooting in a live music and broadcast context. So when Nikon asked me to test their latest mirrorless edition, the Z 6, I actually couldn’t wait to get my hands on it and give it a go.

Snow Patrol 29.01.19 Leeds arena

Snow Patrol are currently on a global tour and their management gave me an opportunity to photograph the whole Leeds Arena gig, taking pictures from the pit and roaming across the venue, to compare and contrast the Z 6 with my usual camera the Nikon D5. For me, the difference is pretty subtle, and while I’m definitely not yet ready to give up my D5 the lightness of the Z 6 and that lack of any shutter sound mean that it’s something I’d definitely be keen to use on a regular basis. I did a broadcast studio shoot a couple of days later and the camera performed brilliantly. You can read about that in my News page http://www.traceywelch.co.uk/news/we-are-on-air/ and also find my full gig review, coming soon to N-Photo magazine’s ‘On Assignment’ feature. As for Snow Patrol – well they were, as you’d expect, just as good as ever…

Shot at f4. 1/200 ISO 800

Snow Patrol 29.01.19 Leeds arena

Shot at f4.5 1/125 ISO 800

Snow Patrol 29.01.19 Leeds arena

Shot at f4. 1/160 ISO 400

NIKON D5

 

Snow Patrol 29.01.19 Leeds arena

Shot at f4.5 1/125 ISO 800

Snow Patrol 29.01.19 Leeds arena

Shot at f4. 1/125 ISO 800

Snow Patrol 29.01.19 Leeds arena

Shot at f4. 1/125 ISO 800

 

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Happy New Year, begins with feature in N-Photo Magazine

 

Happy New Year one and all! For me, 2019 has got off to a cracking start, largely thanks to Nikon’s N-Photo magazine. Towards the end of last year they asked me to be the music photography mentor in their regular Apprentice feature. Thanks to Johnny Marr’s management we were able to cover the Sheffield leg of his latest tour. The resultant piece has been published in this month’s edition of N-Photo, complete with some favourite pictures from my personal back catalogue – The Script from T in the Park, Blondie from Groove Armada’s Lovebox festival and the Courteeners, headlining a very special gig at Old Trafford, Manchester. This is one of my own images from the Apprentice session but you can find the full story in the magazine now!

Johnny Marr 13th November 18 02 Academy Sheffield

T in The Park, The Script09.07.11 Main stage

Liam Fray, Daniel Conan Moores, Michael Campbell,

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Rick Astley at Leeds Arena

Rick Astley

So – the final blog of the year goes to…Rick Astley at Leeds Arena. What could be better at this most wonderful time of the year?! And plenty of folk had turned out to enjoy some of the irresistably catchy classics (‘Never gonna give you up’ was number one in no less than 25 countries) and some of Rick’s newer, more soulful material.

He still sounds great, and after three songs in the pit we were free to roam around the venue and stick around for the entire gig. Sadly I had to leave before the end so missed joining in with the “Give you up!” chorus but I did get to enjoy another crowd pleaser ‘Together Forever’ and went home with a far higher dose of feel-good factor than when I arrived. Download may be my spiritual home but there’s something to be said for a genuinely nice bloke with a good voice and a catchy tune or two. Thanks Rick!

Rick Astley

Rick Astley