Front Row Gigs: 2015

Jenny Hval, Manchester, June 2015

Backstage feature. Damn, but these were great to watch, and to photograph. At the end I thanked Jenny for being so forthcoming with access. She replied that surrounding herself with such sharing people made it easier to welcome newcomers into the group. I'm a newly minted lifelong fan

http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/photos/live-photo-gallery/jenny-hval-backstage-with-best-fit

Liverpool Sound City: Day 3

The move to the new site proved a resounding success, despite some problems with sound bleed between stages. The photo is the excellent Findlay

Gallery at http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/photos/festival-galleries/liverpool-sound-city-day-3

Liverpool Sound City: Day 2

Including compulsory pics of Wayne Coyne in a giant inflatable space hopper
The bigger thrill for me was to finally meet up with Becky Becky

http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/photos/festival-galleries/liverpool-sound-city-day-2

Liverpool Sound City: Day 1

Musical love affair of the day was definitely with George The Poet

http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/photos/festival-galleries/liverpool-sound-city-day-1

Lowell, the Fleece, Bristol, May 2015

Having recently interviewed Lowell (Link HERE) and being a fairly massive fan of her music, I jumped at the chance to detour to Bristol recently to catch one of 3 UK dates. Shot for Best Fit
http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/photos/live-photo-gallery/lowell-at-the-fleece-in-bristol
Watch out for this woman, she's going to be huge...

Calexico, Albert Hall, Manchester, May 2015

For TLOBF, also licensed to and used by Shindig Magazine (print) and BodySpace.net (Portugal)

http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/photos/live-photo-gallery/calexico-at-manchesters-albert-hall

Laura Marling, Albert Hall, Manchester, 25 April 2015

My oh my, this is a high stage. Thank heavens for long lenses

http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/photos/live-photo-gallery/laura-marling-at-manchesters-albert-hall

CuckooLander - Manchester, 31 March 2015

CuckooLander were opening for Charli XCX and I was lucky enough to do a BTS feature for The Line Of Best Fit. Full set HERE The portraits were shot with natural evening light coming in sideways through a window in front of Holly here.

Turbowolf, Ritz Manchester, 25 Feb 2015

Turbowolf opening for DFA1979 at Manchester Ritz. Hard lighting, but great fun to shoot.

For TLOBF, full gallery HERE

Hannah Lou Clark - Liverpool, Feb 2015

What an excellent treat to see Hannah Lou Clark north of the Watford Gap. Actually that looks set to be put right big style, she's just announced full UK tour dates in March with Lonely The Brave. We had a bit of a chat too, but good as my word, I ain't writing any more, just taking piccies, which you can see HERE. Shot for The Line Of Best Fit

Hooton Tennis Club, Liverpool, Feb 2015

Hooton Tennis Club are making waves. Last night was the launch party for their first single - I didn't quite realise they were that new, the bloggy-sphere has obvs been working overtime on their behalf. Shot for Line Of Best Fit, full set here

Public Service Broadcasting - Behind The Scenes, Liverpool, Feb 2015

Woot, woot. Anastasia and I got to go back-stage at the Echo Arena in Liverpool. Public Service Broadcasting were on their first night as openers for somebody called Kaiser Chiefs. Actually, props to Kaisers for having the chutzpah to take PSB out with them. I got to take some piccies, while Anastasia did this frankly awesome interview right HERE

Slow Club, Liverpool, Feb 2015

Genuine charm from Slow Club, upstairs at EVAC on a busy night in Liverpool. The photopit is tiny enough at the best of times, but tonight they'd pushed a stage extension into it, so I was stuck in one place, hunched up against the stage, until the encore. Still great fun though. Full set HERE

Happyness, Liverpool, Feb 2015

Happyness

I like these guys. To start with I thought they were possibly just an attitude, but the more I hear them, the more I really, really like them. They seem to have overcome some initial hype and are now happily paying / playing their dues up and down the land. Full set HERE

ALVVAYS - Behind the scenes in Leeds, Jan 2015

Time for veggie curry all round

I keep on meeting people that I consider 'the nicest folk in rock'n'roll' then someone else comes along to top it. Having said that, I don't think it would be humanly possible to meet a genuinely nicer bunch than Alvvays. I had toddled over to Leeds, getting there early enough for sound-check around 4pm. I had the treat of listening to that while taking a few photos, then hung around with the band backstage. When they went out to eat, they invited me along. I managed to resist the temptation to Instagram the food - ha, fie on that!!! Veggie curry all round - we ordered 6 different main courses then passed the dishes clockwise round the table. Back at the venue, I witnessed the rock excess of Canada's finest playing Pick-A-Pig (no I'd never heard of it either) Cheers guys!

Shot for THE LINE OF BEST FIT - the GALLERY is HERE

Stars - Behind The Scenes, Manchester, January 2015

Stars backstage pre-gig. It was cold in there!

My first shoot of 2015, and a very special one indeed. Stars count as my favourite band in the world ever, one of only two that I have crossed seas to see. It was also full circle in that it was a Stars gig in Manchester in 2007 that spurred me to write my first music blog and post online my first shaky gig photos.
I was - not so much nervous, as - determined to make a good job of it, and worried in case it went tits up. I needn't have worried, the band were lovely, especially Torquil and Amy, and they all insisted that I was welcome to shoot whatever and wherever I wanted. That sort of express permission just helps the camera to stay in your hand, and keep coming up to your eye.

SHOT FOR THE LINE OF BEST FIT, GALLERY HERE

Front Row Gigs