How do I sum up 2021? It wasn’t as bad as it could have been. I got back on the stage for speaking and back in the pit for photographing, granted both were under very different circumstances. Live music started back up in May here in the UK and I was off to the races. I saw some of the best shows I’ve ever seen in my life, discovered some new favorite bands, and met lots of new photographer friends. The downside is that there was one show with a major camera malfunction leaving me with a ton of effort but nothing to show for it. It was the first time that I had questioned whether or not I wanted to, or should be doing this moving forward in the new year. Luckily I bounced back with the last gig of the year which ended up being my favorite shoot.
All in I made it to 23 shows, including on festival, shooting a total of around 60 bands/ artists. So here we go, in no particular order, my favorite shots and shows of 2021.
Top shows of 2021
- Richard Ashcroft at the London Palladium
- Sam Fender at Alexandra Palace
- Jesus Jones at the 100 Club
- Hard Rock Hell Sleaze – Wayward Sons, Quireboys, Mercury Riots, Stevie Pearce & the Hooligans and more
- Pigs, Pigs, Pigs, Pigs, Pigs, Pigs, Pigs at the Electric Ballroom
- Sisters of Mercy at the Roundhouse
- Rufus Wainwright at the London Palladium
- The Wildhearts at the Electric Ballroom
- The Charlatans at the O2 Brixton Academy
- Mew at Southbank Center
Top Albums of 2021
- Richard Ashcroft – Acoustic Hymns Vol 1
- Wayward Sons – Even Up the Score
- Sam Fender – Seventeen Going Under
- The Wildhearts – 21st Century Love Songs
- Biffy Clyro – The Myth of the Happily Ever After
- Stevie R Pearce & the Hooligans – Major League Son of a Bitch
- The Middlenight Men
- Franky Perez – Suddenly 44
- LA Guns – Checkered Past
- The Professionals – SNAFU
Top photos below and in the gallery.
