2013 Mercury Prize winners Alt-J played a hugely-anticipated show in The Olympia Theatre in Dublin. Expectations were high, the crowd was huge and the band were rather good. A fantastic light show helped things, and gave a great atmosphere to the music. Made my life nice and easy. A band also not known for running around the stage, up PA gantries and the like.
Lot of buzz about these four gentlemen, and the shoot I did with them in Hot Press ended up on the cover. Read the interview with them here.
For this, myself and Mr Dave Keane of The Art Dept decided to go for a more processed ‘cinematic’ feel to the images. Or we were messing with Photoshop, something like that!
Levon Helm Tribute Night, The Sugar Club, Dublin, 19th April 2013 featuring performances from Trouble Pilgrims, Pete Cummins, Graham Hopkins and Joe Doyle from The Frames, Fiachra Gaffney, The Group, The Walls, Gavin Glass, Shane O’Reilly from Bipolar Empire, Republic Of Loose, The Lost Brothers and Valerie Francis.
Johnny Marr, The Academy, Dublin, 27th March 2013
This year’s event in the Olympia Theatre saw Republic Of Loose, The Coronas, Tara Lee, The Frank & Walters, The Strypes, Mundy, Gavin Friday, Kevin Godley, Lisa Hannigan and The Walls.
The Vaccines, Olympia Theatre, Dublin, 8th April 2013
Well, it was the biggest planned group shot I have ever taken… 12,500 people in The O2, Dublin to be more precise. All set up, so during the latter part of the show where the lads normally do a ‘twit pic’, I was quickly ushered onto the stage, and thankfully Danny actually pointed me where to stand! Then, they chatted to the audience, which was weird as I couldn’t really hear anything. Very surreal… Then 13 secs and 44 shots later I got this in amongst it all. All helped by the wonderful planning and co-operation from the band, their crew and record label.
As part of the Hot Press Hot For 2013 issue, I got to snap a few up and coming artists who I was very interested in photographing. First up was Derry based singer/song writer Bridie Monds-Watson aka SOAK. Lots of people in the know have been mentioning her name recently. I got to do a shoot in the Workman’s Club in Dublin when she was in town for a show. Great songs and a crackin’ voice, definitely one to watch.
Have always been a huge fan of Mr Hook, and over the years have managed to snap him in various line-ups and occasions. However, recently it was first time I had a formal session with him. Lovely man, very funny and some great stories about the bass he plays and others that will remain between us!
Decided to put together an inclusive gallery of images taken over the last seven years, including a few from the shoot for Hot Press. With thanks to David Keane in the Art Dept for the processing which really suits the subject.
Irish solo artist Adrian Crowley, who won the Choice Music Prize 2009, was promoting his latest opus ‘I See Three Birds Flying’. The interview took place in the Dawson Lounge on Dame Street in Dublin, which prides itself as being the Capitals smallest pub. So what better place to take the shots!
Light was an issue so used ISO 6400 and 2.8 and asked Adrian to stay as still as he could to allow for the slow shutter speeds. It worked out well and give a great grain and character to the images. Then I brought him around the corner to take some daylight shots for a complete contrast. I often do this if I have time as you get a completely different mood with outdoor photos, and means the designers have some options when laying the mag out.
