Getting Back to Concerts

I'd taken a self-imposed break from shooting concerts and music photography for the past 10 months. I'd ended up really hacked off at the last festival stuff that I shot and decided that I'd lost my love for this area of photography. Which I think was true. However, and I'm not sure why, I began to think about getting back into music stuff again since about Christmas. Somewhat out of the blue, I got an invite to shoot a french band who were touring Ireland and who were playing in Belfast. Small venue, very low key, very local. What the hell, I said yes and on Saturday I headed off to spend the evening shooting a bunch of bands in Belfast's own Warzone Centre.

Setting Off Sirens

The first band up gave me a chance to get the camera set up for what was a very dark venue with no real stage lighting and a very small stage. I'm ashamed to admit it but I ended up using some very low-power flash in an attempt to fill in the shadows and raise the light on the performers' faces. This worked out pretty well; shooting 1/200, f3.5 and ISO 400-800

The Decline!

The Decline! were who I was there for and they didn't disappoint. Great little band and very nice, friendly guys who were very welcoming and accommodating. The shot directly above is my own favourite from the night, that'd be the singer Kevin.

Running Riot

And to round off the evening, Belfast's own kings of Oi took to the stage. I have a wee sneaking like of Running Riot. They're not flashy or showy but they can't half hammer out some good old-fashioned punk.

Billy Bragg at Belfast Empire

Finally got to see one of my heroes last week when Billy Bragg played the Empire. Ably supported by Paddy Nash (with no Happy Enchiladas in sight), Bragg was on top "angry old man" form, including a full-on spat with the bar staff and Amnesty officials when an Occupy Belfast poster was removed from the stage. Not a man who mellows with age. For once, the lighting in the Empire was good and workable with; no funny colour casts. All the big songs were there, and some versions of songs I wasn't expected. It was billed as a night of protest songs and didn't disappoint - the choice of Roll Over Beethoven as the most important protest song of the century was unusual but when (as Bill pointed out) you consider the effect it had on music in America and particularly the impact it had in getting white people to listen to black music, it's maybe not so strange after all.

Update! I had tweeted a few of these shots tagged with Billy Bragg's name. The man himself got in touch today through Twitter to ask if he oculd use some of my shots and would I mind e-mailing them to him. Result. And on a more practical note, yet another example of how Twitter is a good tool for getting your photographs out there and seen by people.

Sunflowerfest August 2011

We travelled to Tubby's Farm, Hillsborough for our first trip to Sunflowerfest. We also took some children (aged 12 and 8) to test out how family-friendly the event was. The setting was nice, a farm with separate camping fields for general punters and those with families. There was a very good range of activites for the wee ones, and the music was well thought out and ran like clockwork. Main Stage bands were followed by a choice of  acoustic music on the Campfire Stage or something a little louder on the indoor Barn Stage. Spoken word and comedy were also catered for, although I have to admit I didn't get to these. Holistic Therapies and workshops were running across the weekend, if that's your thing.

 Sunflowers were, of course, everywhere which is no bad thing. There were some excellent bands on the main stage, including Sunday Night's headliners, Cashier No9 and Duke Special who performed what was pretty much a greatest hits set accompanied by the one and only Chip "Temperence Society" Bailey.

 'Tric were on stage on Saturday and were what can only be described as an AC/DC tribute band that didn't actually play AC/DC songs.

 Trucker Diablo rocked the mainstage as well, with some straight-ahead rock and roll, complete with an exceptionally hairy guitarist.

 Brother and sister duo Southern played some nice stuff, very "Gerry Anderson" friendly tunes

 Payola were again, a great bit of rock and roll with a front man who was vaguely reminiscent (in looks at least) of the late Jim Morrison.

 And of course, the very pink and quite loud Tanya and the Whiskey Princes.

From a photography point of view, this was a great weekend. Easy access to the fronts of the stages and no hassle from security - there was a nice friendly atmosphere to the whole thing. Some great bands to shoot and as always for an outdoor festival, some amazing characters around who were not camera-shy. Kids loved it, as their first experience of a festival. Maybe Willowstone next year, but don't think they're going to ready for Pigstick for a year or two yet.