Courteeners come home
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Courteeners 05.06.15 Manchester Heaton Park.
Another shoot for Q last month and I had a lot of fun with the Courteeners out at Heaton Park, Manchester. Heaton Park really is like going home for lead singer Liam Fray and the band, They had parties and played pitch and putt there as kids. So not surprisingly they were in a great mood when I joined them for the pre-gig pictures, really relaxed, enthusiastic and up for trying different things. We found some great backdrops and settings – the shots here didn’t make the cut for the mag but they’re some of my favourites.
Courteeners 05.06.15 Manchester Heaton Park.
Courteeners 05.06.15 Manchester Heaton Park.
Before the band headed on stage I talked to Liam about getting a specific shot at the end of the gig where they would turn round to face the back of the stage with the crowd behind them. I wasn’t sure it would happen but it’s always worth setting things up beforehand just in case. The atmosphere up there was brilliant.
Courteeners 05.06.15 Manchester Heaton Park.
Courteeners 05.06.15 Manchester Heaton Park.
Courteeners 05.06.15 Manchester Heaton Park.
As we reached the end of the set, the fans were in raptures and I yelled to Liam – “Do the shot, do the shot!” He turned around and yelled at me to get on the drum riser…which was not easy as it’s 3 or 4 feet high..but I got up there and we did the shot. Brilliant! It’s great when everything comes together – good light on stage, lovely band, time and space to work. The band were all friendly, chatty, genuinely interested in what I was up to and when I left I got a big thank you and hugs all round. Perfect night which turned into a double page in Q…check it out in the August edition!
Courteeners 05.06.15 Manchester Heaton Park.
