News / Blog - Gigs & Bands News

Last Friday I made my first visit in 2026 to a gig. Yeh!

The Christmas/New Year break always leaves me eager to get back out there and this years first event was at St James... and it set a high standard.

We were down in The Pit, which really is a great venue. The line-up featured a window to the future with a couple of new bands on show.

The three bands on the bill were Vessels, Hanging Pieces and Sleep Thief. I'm sure they will play again on a stage near you during the next few months. Keep your ear to the ground and make sure you catch one of their performances.

I've added new galleries to the website featuring the bands. If you fancy looking at them click this link and use the search box to find them.
CLICK TO VISIT THE WEBSITE

One of the final events in the Guernsey School of Popular Music's calendar is also one of my favourites of the year.

The event is titled 'Music for Everyone' and that pretty well sums it up.

The format of the show, which is held in the theatre at Beau Sejour, is to give individual students the chance to perform as part of a professional band made up of SoPM tutors.

Once the students have 'done their thing' they recount what their own musical journey has been like on the road to taking the spotlight on stage.

After the event I'm always so impressed how well the 'Music for Everyone' title perfectly tells the story.

My photos of the 2025 show are now online:
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2025 GUERNSEY SoPM MUSIC FOR EVERYONE SHOW

The Guernsey School of Popular Music now has a traditional weekend where students talents are showcased in front of family and friends.

Part of the weekend includes a 'Battle of the Bands' event. This is presented on the big stage at Beau Sejour which offers amazing sound quality complemented with professional lighting... the result is a night to remember for all those involved.

I kept my own tradition going by photographing the whole night and the photos are now online. Just click the link if you want to see the results of all the talented students hard work:
CLICK TO VIEW THE GUERNSEY SoPM BATTLE OF THE BANDS

The festive season kicked off quite early this year with the Guernsey School of Popular Music's Christmas Concert.

In what I think was a brilliant move the Guernsey School of Popular Music included their Christmas Concert into their weekend of events at Beau Sejour.

As we were still in November this benchmark meant that the festive season must have begun!

And judged by the other guideline as to whether it's too early, the fact that M&S have started advertising Christmas everything was fine!

My photos of the SoPM Guernsey Christmas Concert can be viewed by clicking the link:
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2025 SoPM GUERNSEY CHRISTMAS CONCERT

The Global Collection Festival was created five years ago by Jon Bisson and Gregory Harrison.

Their original concept has grown and developed since then but it is still centred around three venues within St James Guernsey, The Whittacker Hall, The Pit and The Café.

Additional performances could also be enjoyed at the Old Government House Hotel.

The 2025 edition of the GCF was held over three days and nights and featured an amazing line-up of exciting artists and I'm certain that every one of the music lovers who attended during the three days would have discovered a new act to follow!

Thank you St James for enriching our lives once again.

You can view my photos of the 2025 GCF in the Galleries below.....
CLICK TO VIEW PHOTOS OF THE 2025 GLOBAL COLLECTION FESTIVAL

The axe's (of the guitar variety) where out for a fight in Jersey when the Jersey School of Popular Music held the annual 'Battle of the Jersey School Bands' at Haute Vallée School theatre.

This years event was the best ever and was great fun to photograph.

Now this is just an idea.... but maybe we could have a 'Battle of the Bands' inter-insular someday?

Now there's an idea SoPM!

You can view the Jersey BotB's Galleries by clicking this link:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE JERSEY BATTLE OF THE JERSEY SCHOOL BANDS

The GFC Women maintained their unbeaten record so far this season when they played the visiting team, AFC Stoneham, at Victoria Park.

The 1-1 draw was a fair representation of the closely fought game where both teams performed well. Whilst this game didn't produce the goal fest that had come before it was encouraging that the GFC Women where able to adapt to a tighter game.

Well done to the ladies. Lets hope the good form lasts. You have certainly captured the interest among local supporters who look forward to the next game at Victoria Park.

I've added a new gallery featuring the GFC Women v AFC Stoneham. Click the link to view them:
CLICK TO VIEW PHOTOS OF GFC WOMAN v AFC STONEHAM

Tantale's recent gigs have seen them as headliners, a role that they rise to with style. They have more than a decade of experience and deserve the recognition that they've earned.

But last weekend Tantale took a supporting role at the return gig of The Recks at St James Guernsey.

The combination of these two great local bands created an night to remember... and I'm not the only one who thinks so. The comments on social media have all been fervent, thrilled and excited.

I've just uploaded a few pics of the TANTALE set. Click the link if you want to take a look:
CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST TANTALE PHOTOS

The Recks are perhaps the most photographed band in my galleries. I think the number of photos now exceeds 1,200!!

The Recks have played at festivals and gigs across the Channel Islands and UK and have earned a loyal following. The Covid years seriously interrupted their momentum and plans and the band disappeared from the scene.

However in 2025 they were back with a legendary gig at St James.

Hopefully this signals that more is to come......
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LATEST PHOTOS OF THE RECKS

With the my hard drives bursting at the seams with a backlog of edits I'm almost of a mind that I should just take a rest from covering events (to catch up)!

But of course it is the taking of the photos that is the best and most enjoyable part of my work! So, no, I've got to find another solution, somehow.

A great example of the fun that can be had whilst 'working' has to be the annual Vale Earth Fair. The 2025 edition was incredible and so was the amount of photos I captured... around 700! But I was there for twelve hours!!

Of course this made for a massive and slow edit which had to be fitted around the other jobs. But it's all sorted and the completed Vale Earth Fair galleries can now be viewed. If you're interested just click the link:
CLICK TO VIEW THE COMPLETE VALE EARTH FAIR 2025 GALLERIES

Photos of the Channel Islands longest running Music Festival are now online.

The Vale Earth Fair consistently presents a great line-up of bands. The Castle Stage headliners for 2025 were the Dub Pistols with strong support from Big Special and The Lovely Eggs with Meryl Streek headlining the Next UP Stage.

But the line-ups always feature many of the Channel Islands best and favourite bands and for 2025 we saw The Risk, Buffalo Huddleston, Apothis, Ukuladeez, Dodgy Jammers and many more.

Central ethos of the VEF organisers is how they support good causes with consideration give to their impact on the planet. In fact they were well ahead of the times as this has been part of their beliefs going back nearly five decades!

Click this link to view the 2025 VEF:
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2025 VALE EARTH FAIR

With the 2025 Vale Earth Fair just around the corner I thought I should make one last effort to finish and update the Chaos 20-25 Festival photo gallery.

I'm sure I will have another mega edit awaiting me after the VEF but that will have to wait until my VEF Real Ale induced headache has eased!

For now you can view photos of the legendary (and last) Chaos Festival by clicking this link:
CLICK TO VIEW THE CHAOS 20-25 FESTIVAL PHOTO GALLERIES

It's the season when the School of Popular Music Guernsey and the School of Popular Music Jersey organise their Summer Schools.

The students are promised a full and varied week. The aim is to work towards a final night of performances where the newly created bands can showcase the work that they have done during the week.

I've just photographed the Jersey SoPM Summer Gig and I've added a gallery of photos of the performances:
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2025 JERSEY SUMMER SCHOOL GIG PHOTOS

I've just discovered one of the most enjoyable Music Festivals and its future is uncertain!

This is a great shame as the landlords of the L'Auberge Du Nord on Jersey are just leaving the tenancy!

But let's not worry about that right now. I'm still so excited that I was able to get along to Bergefest 3 as the all-day event hosted an amazing line-up of acts. Three were from the UK and Karma Sheen, Waco and Dungeön were great new finds for me.

I wasn't totally distracted by the music and I did photograph all the bands.... lucky me as I can now look at my photos to remember this great festival....

If you are interested too, click the link below to view all the Galleries:
CLICK TO VIEW PHOTOS OF BERGEFEST 3

July seems to bring endless highlights and events to photograph.

Inevitably as I can't be in front of the screen editing whilst I'm out doing the fun part of my job.... actually taking photos (and having a good time) there is a backlog of updates to the website.

But I promise I haven't been sleeping (although god knows I could do with a few good nights worth).

However I'm really enjoying the Chaos Music & Bike Festival edit as it was such good fun this year.

I've started on day two, Saturday, and you will find all the latest photos by clicking this link:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LATEST CHAOS FESTIVAL PHOTOS

With the legendary Greenman Chaos Band & Bike Festival coming to an end in 2025 there was an air of sadness around the Pleinmont cliff-top festival site.

But that didn't last too long as we all realised that we had a duty to send it off in biker style.... loud, lively, burnouts, bands, beer and partying... oh and more beer!

It's fair to say that everyone stepped up to the challenge and many great memories were added to the pile.

As usual my edit is massive and it will take some time to complete but it is always worth a new look at the gallery to see the latest updates....
CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST CHAOS FESTIVAL PHOTOS

It's already coming up to a week gone since the 2025 Guernsey Together Festival. Time really fly's by when I'm gardening! Well it has been a great week to get out and catch up with the weeding!

But I've now also caught up with the editing!

This years GTF vintage was just a one-day affair but the festival still managed to include most of what we were expecting. This festival is all about keeping it local and celebrating our local bands.

The line-up kept the chilled crowd entertained and there was a great family atmosphere. Even the sun turned up this time!

And I've just noticed that the dates for 2026 have been announced so it looks like Guernsey Together has more left in the tank. See you there next year?

Click this link to view all my photos:
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2025 GUERNSEY TOGETHER FESTIVAL

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTOS OF GURRIERS
If we needed proof that music needs to be experienced live then we were given it when a select sold-out crowd experienced Gurriers playing in The Pit at St James recently.

I know I'm stating the obvious but we should remember that mankind has been creating music from the start of time. And all through the ages those rhythms and sounds were enjoyed 'live' and together with others.

That is until the recorded forms of music arrived. It is only (relatively) recently that the majority of people only ever experience music listening to these 'packaged performances'... and very often alone!

So to get to my point. The line-up at St James offered three amazing bands to enjoy (in company). Just like it was made for!

Hanging Pieces and Pillars did a great job as support acts but Gurriers topped the night with a performance that left no-one wanting anything... apart from an encore!

Thank you St James for letting us experience live music just as it should be served!

I photographed all three Bands and these links will take you to the Galleries:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTOS OF PILLARS

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTOS OF HANGING PIECES

Unique has visited his followers after '40 of Your Earth Years'.

For two nights we were entertained by all the classics..... Inchman, Rhinoceros Baby, I got Younger and many more.

I captured a few photos of this rare visit. Click the link if you are interested:
CLICK TO VIEW PHOTOS OF UNIQUE'S RECENT VISIT

....and to follow up on my previous question asking 'How can a small Island keep producing so many good bands?' Well maybe I have some of the answer.

For a decade now our youngsters have had access to specialist modern music schools. Gone is the expectation that formal music training is the only route to a fulfilling musical life! It has been proven that a new approach such as the one championed by the School of Popular Music will nurture the talent of the future.

I recently photographed the SoPM Easter Gig, something I've been doing for a decade, and over the years I've witnessed first hand where the next bands will come from!

There's a new Gallery of my photos online if you want an early look at the future stars....
CLICK TO VIEW THE SoPM EASTER GIG PHOTOS