Dot to Dot 2018- Bristol

My second year in a row photographing DHP’s Dot to Dot Festival. It was great to be back shooting the Bristol date of the festival. My favourite thing about D2D festival is all the hidden gem artists you discover in the line up as well as the more well known bands we love. Its the perfect balance.

Bastille- Colston Hall, Bristol

Last week I had the pleasure of photographing Bastille while they were on their "Reorchestrated" in the Colston Hall, Bristol.

Supporting Bastille was the incredible Charlie Barnes and close friends of the band To Kill A King.

To Kill A King

Charlie Barnes

Massive thank you to everyone involved in making it possible for me to be able to photograph this night. I would have been impossible without you all x

Farebrother- London, Sebright Arms

It has been a good year for the Bath-based indie rock quartet, with the release of their singles ‘A Little Late’ and ‘Rewind’, they are certainly making their mark on the music scene. Supporting the likes of Anteros and The Sherlocks, not to mention how they were recently showcased on Radio X, 2018 looks set to be a great year for them.

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The group are no strangers to London, having performed there on multiple occasions - most recently supporting Swindon-based indie rock trio YVES at Hoxton Square and for their first headliner at The Finsbury Pub earlier in the year.

The Sunday night gig in the vibrant City of London was definitely something to remember. Kicking their second headliner off with ‘Rapture’, people continued to flock in the dimly lit, underground venue, of The Sebright Arms. Having such a big turnout considering it was a Sunday night provided a warm and friendly atmosphere which enabled Farebrother to perform at their highest level.

“Such a good turnout for a Sunday night.  Sundays just don’t exist where we’re from, so it’s great to see so many faces tonight!” [Tom Hunt– Lead Singer] 

Performing songs such as ‘Driveway’, ‘Fourteen’ and ‘Teenage King’ it was exciting to be able to listen to some new material. Singing with clear enunciation and high tones you can see just why he is the designated front-man of the quartet. Hunt delivers such punchy notes which enable the crowd to embrace the music as smiles beam from their faces and their bodies start to sway in synchrony. As he sings ‘Fourteen’, Tom Jumps off stage and makes his way into the middle of the crowd.

Humour never goes a miss at a concert. During an intermission, the microphone muffles as Tom conducts a small speech jokingly saying how it sounds like Christopher Walken has taken over his voice.

 Finishing the night off with one of their latest hits ‘A Little Late’ - the room is full of enthusiasm, as the energy from both crowd and performers intensifies. With support from the talented After London and P.F. Phillip and The Night Riders, it provides a well-rounded and rather fitting end to the week. Things can only get better and it is exciting to see that the lads have recently been added to the line-up of the highly anticipated “Barn on the Farm Festival 2018” which takes place in July. For such a young and talented group we are all very much eager to see what Farebrother will have in store for us soon.

 

Review- Philip Hiscocks

Photography- Chloe Dunscombe

Farebrother Portraits

I was called up to take some new portraits for Farebrother recently. This was such a fun shoot, taken in the living room of their house with only the one old studio light. Was certainly a challenging shoot, with the compromised space and single, slightly crappy, over-heating light.

Coasts

 Just over a week ago I went down to the Thekla in Bristol to photograph "Coasts" gig. With front man Chris Caines being from just down the road in Keynsham, this was as close to a "hometown show" as the band got on this tour. Coasts took to the stage of the sold out venue with "River Matthews" and "Kovic". 

 Coasts played a brilliant 15 song set, including some never before heard tracks weaved between songs from their self titled debut album, ending the night with their most popular song "Oceans" which had the whole boat jumping and singing along.

Coasts:

Dot To Dot Festival

A week before Dot To Dot Festival got into full swing, I received an email asking if I was interested in shooting for the Bristol festival. Of course my response was a massive yes, and after a few more emails all was set and ready to go!

Farebrother

The night started at the heart of 'DHP Family' Bristol, at the Thekla. I collected my photo pass and got down to Mr. Wolfs to catch 'Farebrother'. After getting into the already busy venue, it wasn't long before the guys jumped on stage, bringing people from all corners of the venue to form a, soon to be, large and lively crowd. 

Although both the crowd and band were full of energy and smiles throughout the 30-minute set, there was still even more energy ready to burst out of everyone during the closing song of the gig, debut EP title track 'Rapture'. With the fast paced drumming and guitar riffs kicking in around a minute or so into the song, the crowd mirrored the liveliness of it perfectly! 

Following on from, in my opinion, one of the best sets Farebrother have played, I said goodbye to the guys and got myself down to the O2 Academy for the next act 'Sonny'.

Sonny

Completely unaware Bristol had its own O2 Academy 2 room, I arrived at the venue just in time to catch the last part of the soundcheck. After previously watching and photographing Sonny while he was out on tour with 'Gabrielle Aplin', I was excited to see if these last few months have had an effect on the 18 year old singer's music, and its safe to say they certainly have!

I was impressed by his level of talent and musical ability the first time around, but even more so this second time. Sonny, who has brought back rock and soul music to not only the young generation but to everyone of all ages, opened his set with tracks from his debut EP 'Hopeless Romance' but also added his incredible cover of the 'Sam Sparro' song Black and Gold to the setlist, which had the crowd singing along cheerfully.

Parcels

A quick photo drop and schedule change later, I was back at the Thekla and ready to photograph 'Parcels'. 

Unsure on what their music was like, I was eager to find out. As the young, Australian 5-piece band entered Thekla's stage, which was now packed with keyboards and microphones, it was clear to see that their fashion style would complement their musical style very well. If it wasn't the bright clothing of the quintet, it would be the long hair and Chevron style facial hair to give away that we were about to feel some serious 1970s vibes from the speakers suspended from the ceiling.

As soon as the very first few notes had reached the crowd, Thekla burst into an energetic and colourful disco that is best described as Retro-Funk Electro-Pop. It was incredible and fascinating to watch Parcels as they transported a venue full of people back in time with ease. The band's amazing energy was being reflected back to the stage in the form of perfectly executed disco dance moves from the crowd.

Confidence Man

The description I was given for 'Confidence Man' included the words "Dress up", " Energetic", and "dance-y". When I walked into the ram packed upstairs room of The Louisiana, I didn't quite expect those words to be true to the extent they were! Both the musicians on drums and synths performed with black veils covering their faces while the two vocalists, who go under the stage names "Janet Planet and Sugar Bones", took over the front half of the stage with their eccentric dance moves. 

The Australian band, formed from a mix of members who have previously performed in bands such as The Belligerents, Moses Gunn Collective and the Jungle Giants, performed their perfectly timed, choreographed moves together as they belted out their Electro-pop tracks to an upbeat and ecstatic crowd. 

Jakl

For the last part of the night I photographed 'Jakl' at HY-Brazil Music Club. The Margate based musician and songwriter performed a beautiful solo set to crowd of mixed ages. The relaxed crowd were fitting for the singer's calming acoustic songs while a couple people began to slow dance near the front of the stage. 

 

 

Huge thanks to everyone at DHP Family for getting me involved in this years Dot To Dot festival! 

Farebrother Portaits

Back at the end of May Farebrother opened the Moles Club stage at Queens Square for Bath Festival. After a brilliant and energetic set the band and I went for a wander out of the festival to take some portraits.

Into The Ark

After first meeting Into The Ark back in early 2016, when they were touring the UK with Eliza and the Bear, it has been amazing to see Dane and Taylor achieve so much in such a short amount of time. From busking on the streets of Wales to becoming runners up in this years series of 'The Voice UK'.

Now they're out on their own headline tour and I got to go along, with my camera, to the Bristol date. The sold out gig at The Crofters Rights was filled with the duo's old fans, new fans, friends and family.

But before Into The Ark took to the stage to play both original songs and the covers that many were familiar with from the voice, Emi McDade opened the night with a beautiful solo set. Emi has her first headline show coming up next month on the 10th June! Tickets: tinyurl.com/k7jkkub

Farebrother

Record Store Day launch party hosted by Covers Vinyl and Raves From The Grave at The Granary Bar.

Gabrielle Aplin

There is so much musical talent in and around Bath, with Gabreille Aplin being one of many incredible artists to come out of this little corner of the South West. Having been to many of her shows in the past,  I have been lucky enough to see her play all sorts of gigs, from a small acoustic set in the back of our local HMV store, to watching her take to the stage at a the Royal Albert Hall in London. 

Queues of eager fans stretched so far down the street that they began to loop around the corner and into the narrow side roads of Bath's Westgate street. After Komedia opened their doors to the sell out gig, it wasn't long before the venue was packed with excited fans and Aplin family members. 

After two beautiful opening sets from Jake Meeking, another talented South West musician, and Sonny, a 17 year old singer-songwriter with an exciting year ahead, Gabreille Aplin took to the stage with her impressive band. Introducing her 14 song set with her latest album title track 'Light Up The Dark', fans instantly picked up on the four catchy and familiar opening chords blasting out of Aplin's guitar.

Ending the first half of her, what had already been magical set, the band exit the stage leaving Gabrielle to perform a three song solo section of both new and old tracks, including, 'How Do You Feel Today'. 

Later in the night, when the time came for Gabrielle to return to the stage for a two song encore, one fan, desperate to hear her famous 'Frankie Goes To Hollywood' cover, shouts "John Lewis", referencing the 2012 Christmas advert featuring her beautifully delicate piano cover of, 'The Power Of Love'. As the encore came to a close she finished off the night with her appropriately titled song 'Home', which inevitably made the eyes of fans, and even a few members of the venue staff, fill with tears.

 It is safe to say it was a wonderful night and Gabrielle is definitely doing the South West proud. 

 

With support from

Sonny-

Jake Meeking-