Lancaster Music Festival

[Chris Bennett]

I heard that the organisers were looking for volunteers to take photos for the annual festival, so I turned out to a meeting in a pub, late one afternoon a fortnight ago. The agenda for the meeting was wider than just photography, but there was basically a head count and the five of us snappers present were pronounced to be 'in'.

The festival takes place over an extended weekend, building up from perhaps a couple of dozen gigs on the Thursday, winding up to a frenzy of activity over the Saturday and Sunday, and then a quiet, but still active Monday. The slogan on the back of the team T-shirts was 'Take Monday Off!'

My wife and I went to the launch party on the Wednesday and I took a camera to snap off a few shots of the entertainment.


Sold to the Sky

I took a camera with an old manual focus lens and, in those two hours, I learnt a lot that I came to rely upon over the weekend!

On Thursday night, it was bucketing down with rain, but we got to three gigs and turned up for two where the acts were absent because of the weather and bad delays on the motorway.


Interlude - Church Street Stutters


Atomic Brass



Manta Rays


This thread is one of instalments - check back for the next one!

 

[Pete Askew]

I'm looking forward to the rest of these, Chris. Love the blurred drummer in the first and the last captures a live event well I think. My favourite though of these is the shot of Atomic Brass.

 

[Chris Bennett]

Thanks Pete, it's nice to have the feedback (pun (sort of) intended!)

 

[Chris Bennett]

Friday Night


Kaeli Earle Trio (above and below)




Memphis Cruisers

 

[Brian Moore]

I'm not sure what to make of "Interlude-Church Street Stutters" but the rest are excellent. I agree with Pete about the Atomic Brass but the girl with the stand up bass is also great. A fine set overall!

 

[Chris Bennett]

Thanks Brian.
More to follow.

 

[Chris Bennett]

These, for example...

Amber Suns

 

[Chris Bennett]

Gloria

 

[Chris Bennett]

Lowes

 

[Chris Bennett]

Glasspop







John Dhali

 

[Chris Bennett]

Sensory Hoverload






Waco

 

[Chris Bennett]

Uptown Monotones

 

[Chris Bennett]

The Lovely Eggs

 

[Chris Bennett]

Finally, the crowd...

 

[Rhonda Smith]

Terrific series. Looks like fun was had by all. I like that you included the audience as well.

 

[Chris Bennett]

Thanks a lot. It was my first attempt at this sort of thing and I enjoyed it immensely. The bigger venue gigs were great as there was a pit where I was free to run around unhindered. As an audience member, I prefer really small venues, but with a camera, it's full of problems.

 

[Brian Moore]

You got a large % of "keepers" Chris. Well done!

 

[Rhonda Smith]

The first time can be nervewracking. It gets easier with time and experience.

 

[Chris Bennett]

Thanks Brian.

 

[Chris Bennett]

The first time can be nervewracking. It gets easier with time and experience.

Thanks for the advice. Well, yes, I hope to be able to do more of this in future.