Category Archives: News

Blog, Blog123, Music, News, Photography |

|

At home in Sheffield with the Arctic Monkeys.

Arctic monkeys 19.09.18 Sheffield Arena

Night two of the Arctic Monkeys UK tour. Such is the home support in Sheffield they managed to sell out the Motorpoint Arena for four, consecutive nights. I guess, it made a nice change from being constantly on the road and after almost five years a decent, home visit was long overdue.

Despite the challenging light I sneaked in a couple of decent shots. The jury’s out on Alex ‘s new look but the music is as resonant as ever and they deliver a great mix of stuff going back to those first album classics. Always good to be there.

Arctic monkeys 19.09.18 Sheffield Arena

Arctic monkeys 19.09.18 Sheffield Arena

Arctic monkeys 19.09.18 Sheffield Arena

Arctic monkeys 19.09.18 Sheffield Arena

 

 

Blog, Blog123, Events, Music, News, Photography |

|

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,

Blog, Blog123, Events, Music, News, Photography |

|

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

Blog, Blog123, News, Photography, Video |

|

A new film following Damo Suzuki – get involved

Damo Suzuki Hebden bridge Trade Club 05.08.17

I’ve known photographer and film maker Michelle Heighway for a few years now. We got to know each other at Bingley Festival and since then have kept in touch, regularly bumping into each other on the Festival circuit. Michelle’s currently in the final stages of production for ‘Energy’, her 2nd feature about the life and times of Krautrock Legend, Damo Suzuki who continues to pursue a life of performance despite his ongoing battle with colon cancer.

Michelle’s highly acclaimed film ‘Mr Somebody?’ was selected for the Sheffield Documentary Film Festival and Leeds International Film Festival. In this film she examines the past, present and future of Suzuki’s influential art and music, and capturing his singular outlook on creativity, protest, and alternatives to mainstream thought. Michelle’s looking for crowdfunding to take the film through to a launch in December next year and I’ve given Energy a very small nudge in the right direction with some press photographs. It was great to see Michelle at work and to meet Suzuki, former lead of the legendary band CAN, and his partner Elke. A donation to the campaign will earn you perks including original artwork and limited edition t-shirts. And how brilliant to know that when the film launches you’ll have played your part in making it happen! https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/energy-a-documentary-about-damo-suzuki#/

Damo Suzuki Hebden bridge Trade Club 05.08.17

Blog, Blog123, Events, News, Photography |

|

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

Blog, Blog123, Events, Music, News, Photography |

|

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

 

Blog, Blog123, Music, News, Photography |

|

Reflections.

 

Putting together a collection of work for a book is always an interesting exercise. For the first A3 one I produced, I focussed mainly on music and even with 60 pages to play with I struggled to narrow it down to a final selection. It’s great to have your best pictures from 10 years in one place and in print but an A3 hardback book is not the most portable portfolio to cart around. So…a couple of years on, I’m now finalising an A5 version. I’m keeping the cover, designed by Rob O’Connor at Stylorouge, but shifting the main focus to my favourite commercial and editorial work. With only 30 pages to play with it has been even harder to make those editorial decisions. Blondie have still found their way in there though! Here are a couple more shots that have made the final cut.

Everything Everything Manchester 18.04.17

Mark E Smith The boardwalk Sheffield around 1999

This month I’ve also been digging through my archive to find some shots of the Fall’s legendary frontman Mark E Smith who died last month. This picture was taken back in the 90’s in the days of film; the venue is now also sadly departed. RIP Mark E. Smith.

Blog, Blog123, Music, News, Photography |

|

Winding up 2017: Kasabian, Robert Plant and Liam Gallagher

Yes, I know we’re already well into 2018 but before I turn my back on 2017 I’ve got one or two fairly significant loose ends to tidy up…starting with Kasabian at Leeds Arena. Great lighting for this one so the only handicaps were the amount of movement and energy on stage and plenty of jostling for position in the pit. Possibly the one led to the other…all things considered though I’m happy with the shots.

Tom Meighan

Sergio Pizzorno

Next up we’re hopping over to a more intimate encounter with Robert Plant at Sheffield City Hall. As you can imagine, with support from Seth Lakeman the show was sold out well in advance and Percy did not disappoint. Sadly the same can’t be said for the lighting here which came in a blanket of blue and red which kind of flattened everything on stage. Opting for black and white in post production really helped to lift the depth and contrast in the images.

Robert Plant

And finally, arriving at Leeds Arena with the inevitable swagger and plenty of Oasis classics in the set list, Liam Gallagher. Great to be there for the first leg of his latest tour.

Liam Gallagher

Liam Gallagher