Violet Youth were the first band I photographed properly, it’s always good to catch up with them and tonight they were playing the first ever gig at City Library for World Book Night 2012. Quite impressive.

They sounded great and it was nice to hear newer material.

World Book Night is an annual celebration designed to spread a love of reading and books. To be held in the U.S. as well as the U.K. and Ireland on April 23, 2012. It will see tens of thousands of people go out into their communities to spread the joy and love of reading by giving out free World Book Night paperbacks.

A great idea in my book ;O)

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Camera used: Canon 5D Mark II

Lenses used: Canon 24-70mm f2.8

Comments and feedback are welcome

NEXT UP: ATP Festival – Alexandra Palace

One of THE gigs of the year. I wasn’t expecting to say that but it was. I never expected the massive song after massive song setlist they had, or the festival vibe that Rooftops created. Honestly, you had to be there to realise how good this gig was. The reason I go to gigs is for moments like that, and they don’t happen as often as they should do.

A pig to photograph though.

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Camera used: Canon 5D Mark II

Lenses used: Canon 24-70mm f2.8

Comments and feedback are welcome

NEXT UP: ATP Festival – Alexandra Palace

The most fun I’ve had photographing a gig this year. Fact.

Proving that all great things come from Yorkshire, Hawk Eyes opened the show and sounded amazing. Then Turbowolf came on.
Turbo fuckin’ wolf! The best band I’d not seen live yet. Absolutely AMAZING! They sounded fantastic, they looked like they were having a load of fun and they have a great version of Somebody To Love. I love a good lunatic and front man Chris Georgiadis is exactly like that. Like Zappa in Chris Robinsons body with a penchant for angry metal. Absolutely loved every minute of their set.

Then Andrew WK and his band of merry makers exploded on stage and partied right in our faces. Not a fist was left unpumped and if there was anybody who left not dripping in sweat with a big shit-eating grin on their faces, then they need to have a word with themselves.

The crowd chanted WE WANT FUN all night, and that’s exactly what they got. Such a good night.

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Camera used: Canon 5D Mark II

Lenses used: Canon 24-70mm f2.8

Comments and feedback are welcome

NEXT UP: Violet Youth @ Central Library

Had another AMAZING weekend at Hammerfest.

Pontins in Prestatyn is the perfect home for a metal festival, and the benefit of having a chalet to stumble back to is only one of the reasons. Metal Hammer consistently put on fantastic bills across the weekend and I was lucky enough to shoot some old favourites, some new discoveries and a bucket-list band… Anthrax \m/

Some great highlights from across the weekend, of which there will be a full review soon, including Oaf (especially their soundcheck) Anthrax obviously, a great set from Senser and another stand out, full on show from the never disappointing Skindred. These are some of my favourite shots from the weekend. Enjoy.

Can’t wait for Hammerfest V/

\m/ (**.) \m/

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Camera used: Canon 5D Mark II

Lenses used: Canon 24-70mm f2.8

Comments and feedback are welcome

NEXT UP: YM@6 – Manchester Apollo

Tattoos, tea parties and Terrorvision… triffic!

If you know me, you know Terrorvision are one of my favourite bands EVER. So to get the chance to shoot them again was a massive buzz. This was quite possibly one of the most Spinal Tap Terrorvision gigs I’ve been to as it was held at an exhibition centre as part of a tattoo convention, and we were led through countless corridors into a curtained area where the gig was being held. It felt bizarre.

But Terrorvision can shake the foundations of any venue they play in, and this was no exception.

As a fan the setlist was unbelievable, plenty of oldies, even dating back to favourites like Human Being and Urban Space Crime which sounded fookin amazing. Of course, all the mahoosive hits were there too.

I’m just surprised they didn’t play Tea Dance.

I cannot wait to see them back at Download in June, it’s gonna be a massive party – make sure you’re there and we’ll have a dance together \m/

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Camera used: Canon 5D Mark II

Lenses used: Canon 24-70mm f2.8

Comments and feedback are welcome

NEXT UP: Hammerfest 4 @ Pontins Prestatyn

Rich Robinson is an absolute hero of mine, being one half of the driving force of The Black Crowes with his brother Chris, one of my ALL time favourite bands ever. So it was an absolute privilege to get the chance to photograph his set on his current solo tour, at a really cool local venue that made this intimate gig feel even more special.

Support came from Dave O’Grady an Irish troubadour with a great folksy, blues sound and a really haunting voice. One I’ll definitely be checking out again soon.

An absolutely brilliant 2 hour set from Rich Robinson later and I was in heaven. A version of Fearless (Pink Floyd), Oh Sweet Nuthin (Velvet Underground) a host of tracks from his latest solo record Through A Crooked Sun and finishing with an exquisite 13 minute jam it was an almost perfect set. Almost perfect as it had everything you’d want from Rich – beautiful sounding bluesy guitar, epic solos and spaced out jams, but it was so close to feeling like a Crowes gig it somehow missed the stage presence and vibe that Chris brings to the party.

Don’t get me wrong this was a fantastic show, and I loved every minute of it, it just left me wanting to see the Crowes again… and I can’t ‘cos they’re on hiatus :O(

Oh, and I got to shake Rich’s hand at the end of his set. Definitely one off the bucket list :O)

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Camera used: Canon 5D Mark II

Lenses used: Canon 24-70mm f2.8

Comments and feedback are welcome

NEXT UP: Rammstein @ Manchester Arena (as a fan…   at the moment)

How much fun are Reel Big Fish huh? Chuffin’ LOADS of fun! That’s how much. To photograph, not so much, but you can’t not come away from one of their shows feeling happy, it’s infectious (in the good way)

highlights for me were a cracking version of Brown Eyed Girl, the frontman looking like Micheal Madsen (had he been cast as Magnum PI) and a guest spot by Laila from Sonic Boom Six on She Has A girlfriend Now.

From a photography point of view, the Academy 2 is always pants for lighting and with so much clutter on stage (mics for brass section etc) it wasn’t set up brilliantly for a nice shoot. Nevermind. I had a blast! :O)

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Camera used: Canon 5D Mark II

Lenses used: Canon 24-70mm f2.8

Comments and feedback are welcome

NEXT UP: The Virginmarys @ Sowerby Bridge WMC

I’ve been majorly impressed with Orange both times I’ve seen them.

Taking the stage to a Who backing track, playing a bunch of great pop punk tracks and finishing with a kick-ass version of The Beatles Help. Yes, a brave move, but one they pull of in style. I’d like to see these guys headlining as both times I’ve seen them their support set has gone by way too quickly.

Ones to watch.

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Camera used: Canon 5D Mark II

Lenses used: Canon 24-70mm f2.8

Comments and feedback are welcome

NEXT UP: The Virginmarys @ Sowerby Bridge WMC

The chance to sing along to some of the best rock songs ever written, courtesy of Phil Lynott, is not something you should ever pass up. Add to that the chance to see Clutch and it’s a complete no brainer! What a gig! Also the other support band Triggerfinger were fantastic too – it’s always good to be blown away by another band you’ve never heard of before.

Neil Fallons voice is one of the most pleasing things on the planet, and Lizzy’s set list was truly phenomenal. Unleashing Jailbreak as your second song shows you must have a shitload of tunes in your locker to follow it. I mean how many bands would love to have a ‘Jailbreak’ to close their sets with let alone get it out of the way so early on.

It’s just a shame from a photographic point of view that all the bands were set up so far back on the stage and the lighting was gash for most of Clutch’s set. Disappointed face :O(

Still, a great night and a truly a great tribute to Phil Lynott and Gary Moore \m/

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Camera used: Canon 5D Mark II

Lenses used: Canon 24-70mm f2.8

Comments and feedback are welcome

NEXT UP: The Virginmarys @ Sowerby Bridge WMC

I’ve got to say, for the first gig of 2012 this was an absolute belter!

Chickenfoot blew me away, Joe Satriani blew my mind and Sammy Hagar nearly blew my eardrums out!

A massive arena-sized rock show in the Academy. Loud, heavy and at times very Zeppeliny they were everything you want from a rock band. If you’re not having fun at a Chickenfoot show then you’re clinically insane, or dead. I really hope they play Download this year \m/

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Camera used: Canon 5D Mark II

Lenses used: Canon 24-70mm f2.8

Comments and feedback are welcome

NEXT UP: ADAM ANT @ Halifax Victoria Theatre (as a fan)