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.