My best shots of 2011

It’s the end of 2011 – the perfect time to showcase my best shots of the year. 2011 has been an excellent one for me gatecrashing gigs with my camera – I’ve shot 32 shows, 1 festival and 90 different bands (I’ve shot a couple of bands more than once). This has been my most prolific year as a music photographer and that’s despite not shooting any gigs in August, September and October due to me getting married and all the busy-ness that causes! Below I’ve posted my best shot from every band’s set I’ve covered at every gig, giving you my 2011 portfolio. Enjoy!

Things started off with Supersuckers at Wolves Civic Hall (opening for Thin Lizzy).

Second on the bill that night, The Union.

Then the headliners, Thin Lizzy.

Gig number two and something very different – JLS at the LG Arena.

Gig three was Band of Horses at the Academy.

Gig four, moving into February, and it was back to the Academy for Angels and Airwaves.

Gig five, again at the Academy, and first on was Voodoo Johnson.

They were supporting the mighty Europe.

Gig six I headed back to Wolverhampton Civic Hall for James Blunt – every housewife’s favourite.

Gig seven, The Streets at a packed out Birmingham Academy.

Into a pop-filled March which started with gig eight – Boyzone at the LG Arena.

Gig nine, again at the LG Arena, was Taylor Swift.

My first visit to the Nottingham Trent Fm Arena took me into double figures – gig ten was Justin Bieber.

Into April for gig eleven, which was Katy Perry at the LG Arena – my first shoot from a mixing desk.

Gig twelve was headlined by the Blackout at the HMV Institute, and was opened by Hyro Da Hero.

The Swellers were next up.

Followed by The Blackout.

Gig thirteen was back at the Academy and was opened by one of my favourites – The Devil Wears Prada.

Next up, Architects.

Third on, the Aussie awesomeness of Parkway Drive.

This one was rounded off by Bring Me The Horizon.

Gig fourteen, on the day off for the Royal wedding, was N-Dubz at the LG Arena.

Gig fifteen, Panic at the Disco at the HMV Institute, took me into May.

Gig sixteen, the live debut of unsigned local boys The Dawn of Olympus, at the Flapper.

Gig seventeen was another trip to the Institute, this time for Snoop Dogg.

Gig eighteen on that glorious Sunday when Birmingham City got relegated, I shot Rush at the LG Arena.

Gig nineteen, still in May, and another storming set from The Dawn of Olympus, this time at Plug.

Gig twenty was my last in May and was Glenn Hughes at the Town Hall – Raven Vandelle opened it up.

Followed by the voice of rock himself, Mr Glenn Hughes.

Into June for gig twenty one and my first time at the Leamington Spa Assembly. The show was headlined by Black Stone Cherry, by it was Black Spiders who opened.

Then onto BSC.

Later in June it was back to Wolverhampton Civic Hall for gig twenty two and another support slot for The Union.

They were followed by headliners Whitesnake, lead by the man I was named after.

Gig twenty three was my first shoot from the crowd job, and it was a special Trivium gig at the Asylum in Birmingham.

For gig twenty four I hopped on a train up to Manchester to shoot Bon Jovi at Old Trafford cricket ground in the rain.

Gig twenty five took me into July and was immense as it was the Foo Fighters’ show at the Milton Keynes bowl. The first band I shot on the day was Death Cab For Cutie.

They were followed by Biffy Clyro.

Then it was down to the Foos.

A week later I headed to Knebworth to shoot my festival – the amazing Sonisphere. Day one was all about the Big Four of thrash, plus the legendary Diamond Head.

Then Anthrax.

Megadeth.

Slayer.

Day one headliners – Metallica!

Day two started with Sylosis.

Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine.

Architects.

Gallows – their final festival show with Frank Carter on vocals.

Cavalera Consipiracy.

Kids in Glass Houses.

Bad Religion.

Sum 41.

YouMeAtSix.

All Time Low.

Weezer.

The Mars Volta.

Day two headliners – Biffy Clyro (second time in a week that I shot them).

Day three kicked off with Volbeat.

Black Tide.

Arch Enemy.

House of Pain.

Parkway Drive.

In Flames.

Mastodon.

Airbourne.

Motorhead.

Opeth.

Limp Bizkit.

Day three headliner for me (I didn’t make the list for Slipknot), Bill Bailey.

Gig twenty six was back in Wolverhampton and was started by Rival Sons.

Next up was Queensryche.

Then it was left to headliners Judas Priest.

I then didn’t shoot another gig until number twenty seven in November at the Birmingham Ballroom, which featured Cytota.

More from The Dawn of Olympus.

Tu Amore.

Oceans Ate Alaska.

Headliners were Mallory Knox.

I was back at the LG Arena for gig twenty eight, which was opened by Fool’s Gold.

They were supporting the mighty Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Gig twenty nine was the poptastic BRMB Live at the LG Arena and was kicked off by Pixie Lott.

Emile Sande.

Tinchy Stryder.

Matt Cardle.

Cher Lloyd.

James Morrison.

The Wanted.

JLS.

Gig thirty was another LG Arena affair and was opened by Cheap Trick.

They were supporting Deep Purple.

Gig thirty one was my only visit to the Academy 2 and was for the Rock Sound Riot Tour, which featured Spycatcher first.

Then Defeater.

Next, the bonkers Trash Talk.

Headliners – the incredible Every Time I Die.

Finally, for gig thirty two it was my only visit to the NIA, waiting for me were openers Darkest Hour.

Second was DevilDriver.

Third were Bring Me The Horizon.

Before my final band of 2011 – Machine Head.

There you have it – quite a ride! In case you’re interested, here’s my top five live shoots of the year:
1. Every Time I Die
2. Foo Fighters
3. Metallica
4. The Devil Wears Prada
5. Parkway Drive at Sonisphere.

Also, while I’m doing lists, here’s my ten favourite albums of 2011, in no particular order other than that in which I think of them:
The Devil Wears Prada – Dead Throne
Anthrax – Worship Music
Mastodon – The Hunter
August Burns Red – Leveller
Rival Sons – Pressure and Time
St Jude – Diary of a Soul Fiend
Megadeth – Th1rt3en
Foo Fighters – Wasting Light
Radiohead – The King of Limbs
Manchester Orchestra – Simple Math

Happy New Year, here’s to an AMAZING 2012 for all of you!