News / Blog - Gigs & Bands News

It shouldn't be a surprise to me but every year the workload at this time seems to creep up on me from a hidden place!

My Commercial clients suddenly remember that the Autumn is just around the corner with its changeable weather and falling leaves.

So the Elevated photo assignments start to log-jam. And then it is also a busy season for my other work. There are Hillclimbs, the Vale Earth Fair, Jersey Live together with Petit Bot Hillclimb and three more Motorsport events in Alderney just around the corner!

I've just returned from Jersey Live 2015. This was my eighth year of being invited over to photograph the friendly Festival. It's been great catching up with so many now familiar faces.

This year hit another high which, frankly, I hadn't expected. But more on that later as I update my Galleries.

For now I have just added my Press edit of pics... at least it gives a taste of what Jersey Live 2015 offered. Next year I recommend you make the effort to get along :-)
VIEW THE JERSEY LIVE 2015 GALLERIES AS THEY GO LIVE

I really shouldn't moan about it but WOW, things are busy at the moment!

Some of this is of my own making. Maybe I should discipline myself when the work starts to stack up by not taking on the photo-shoots that I do mostly for fun and my own portfolio.

But hey, I really enjoy the Gig and Motorsport photography... I can't just be doing the Commercial work... where's the fun in that?

So once again I have loaded myself with edits that need my time and to add to that I'm off to Jersey Live 2015 to capture all that action too!

I've started editing last weekends work with priority given to the Press and Magazine submissions however a small Gallery featuring the Vale Earth Fair 2015 Press edit is now on-line.

If you're patient I will (eventually) add full coverage of the 2015 Vale Earth Fair, the Motocross 2-Day Event and the Bank Holiday Hillclimb.

You have all that to look forward to!

Patience is a virtue :-)
VIEW THE FIRST PICS OF THE 2015 VALE EARTH FAIR

TEN MILLION has a nice ring to it doesn't it?

How nice it would be to have that many Pounds in the Bank.... even Dollars would be OK for me!

However the chances of a professional photographer ever making that sort of money are pretty unlikely :-(

So when TEN MILLION features anywhere in my working life it will always feel a bit special... and that number has just shown up.

I've been running this web-site since 24th October 2010. It replaced what is now my very dated original web-site (still on-line for nostalgia only).

This means that it's still a couple of months short of five years since www.guernseymotorsport.com went live.

I'm incredibly proud to say that (since the start) this web-site has been viewed an amazing TEN MILLION times!!

The first MILLION views took one year - almost to the day. This current year will see over THREE MILLION views and I am thinking that this is probably where the level will settle... but who knows?

My decision to work full-time as a photographer came about ten years ago when I was 50 years old after I sold a business.

I tried retirement but that was horrible! It might sound like a good idea but I'm someone who has to be creative and challenged. So I turned a hobby into a job... and it has certainly been challenging!

However I have loved nearly every single hour of it... and there are many more hours put into photography than I ever gave to my old 'proper job'. How did that happen?

It must also be said that in the decade that I have relied on photography for my income the whole industry has been shaken up and changed beyond recognition. It now seems that everyone who has a DSLR and a Facebook page is a 'Photographer'.

But I've never regretted the decision to give it a try and I've now established a loyal following and a good sized base of regular Commercial customers for TALLPICTURES.com.

My thirty-five years spent as a retailer have stood me in good stead to respond to competition and (after a short period when I questioned the future viability) I now realise that it isn't what other people are doing, it is about what you do for yourself that either 'makes or breaks' a business.

There's also lots of room in the marketplace for every-one.

I'm now privileged to make an income out of my passion and I genuinely thank all the visitors to this web-site and the many customers who buy pictures.

So that now brings me to the future.

Well I have a couple of very exciting new developments on the way. More about those later :-)

That's it. Sorted.

The 2015 Greenman Chaos Festival is already just a memory. We now have to wait until 2016 for the fun to continue.

But we do have the pictures to jog our memories and I've just completed the galleries for 2015 with the last of the Band pics.

Final updates are for Near Bliss, the ever popular The Recks and Sunday's headliners FlashMob.

So until we meet again in a field up at Pleinmont next year... keep it loud, keep live and keep it green, man :-)
VIEW THE FINAL GREENMAN CHAOS 2015 GALLERIES

Sunday afternoon at Chaos is the traditional time for fun and games... biker style!

Everyone is chilled and tired after two days of partying so there is no rush... just time to chill and have a bit of fun.

The trike is sure to make an appearance with its weird steering. Never an easy ride when your sober... add a few beers and its great entertainment :-)

The Tug of War proves that adults and kids are not so different after all :-)

Then the industrial grade Chilli eating contest separates the men from the boys...

Whilst the Greenman Chaos Festival 'headlines' that it is all about the bikes and the bands I think it is all about the general vibe and inclusive atmosphere. I haven't been on a motorbike since my teens (if I did get back in the saddle I think I would quickly become a statistic!) however the Greenman is always welcoming.

Next year you must pay it a visit...

My latest updates to the Chaos galleries are here:
TRIKES - CHILLI & TUG OF WAR... BIKER STYLE

I'm a Guernseyman... and proud of that.

My small Island holds a very special place in my families heart.

And, of course, I know that when it comes to the question of whether Guernsey is better than Jersey.... well do you really need to ask?!!

But I have a bit of a problem.

Last weekend I was at The Fermain Tavern photographing two brilliant bands - one from Guernsey, one from Jersey. I suppose there was bound to be comparison made between the two bands although their music genre's were not really comparable.

First band on the bill were FalenhizzaHorsepower from Jersey. Now this is a band that I have liked and followed for years... from 2008 it seems when I checked my earliest picture in the gallery.

FalenhizzaHorsepower played an incredible set... I mean absolutely amazing. I REALLY love their music!

So the next act, Guernsey's BLAKALASKA had a VERY hard act to follow.

I've loved what BLAKALASKA have been doing since I first 'found' them as BRIGHT_LIGHTS. They have a really modern sound and I've enjoyed their live performances.

However this time around... it hurts me to say this as a Guernseyman, I think it was the Jersey band who stole the show with one of the best live sets I've ever heard... yes they were that good.

It's a shame that on that night BLAKALASKA had to follow such a class band who are at the top of their game. I purchased BLACKALASKA's new 'Machine' EP and I've been playing it 'on repeat' for a couple of days and it highlights how good BLAKALASKA really are.

Maybe we all respond to music based on the 'mood' that we are in at the time and maybe, on another night, I would do the 'right thing' and favour the Guernsey band?

The bottom line is... both bands deserve our support so make sure you catch a gig from either band if you have a chance... they're both quality acts.

I've added pics of both bands to the Gallery:
VIEW PICS OF FALENIZZAHORSEPOWER
VIEW PICS OF BLAKALASKA

If you could charge a Bike & Music Festival with the Trade Descriptions Act then the Greenman MCC 'CHAOS BIKE & MUSIC FESTIVAL' would soon be having their day in court.

The problem is that the word 'CHAOS' in the title really fails to hit the spot.

Given the literal interpretation you would be forgiven to expect mayhem, trouble, bad attitude, intimidation... where would you stop? CHAOS in fact!

But as I have stated many times before, this Festival is everything opposite to the above. The only thing you need to worry about when you attend is that you will need to pace yourself... you wouldn't want to peak too soon as there is so much fun going on... so many bands to see... so much beer to drink.

I've photographed the event many times now and my Galleries should give you a great idea what goes on.

I've begun the updates for 2015... there's more to come yet too :-)

First updates are for bands Stormbringer, Robert J Hunter, Demise of Sanity, Buffalo Huddleston, Citizen-X and Fly Casual.

Click the link to see how the Greenman Chaos Festival doesn't do what it says on the tin :-)
VIEW PICS OF THE GREENMAN CHAOS... WITHOUT THE CHAOS

The Skints had a lot to live up to when they played at the Fermain Tavern last weekend.

There had been quite a lot of hype and anticipation... the word was that they were going to be good. They didn't disappoint!

Big thanks go to the Vale Earth Fair and The Get Down who organised the gig together. Now we have to be patient for the big one... Vale Earth Fair 2015, it wont be long :-)

Pics of The Skints are now online:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF THE SKINTS

It was a case of Lights, Lasers, Music and Party when Hard Riddims and Cage & Stage Promotions presented a night of DJ's and MC's inside the walls of Guernsey's historic Castle Cornet.

The atmosphere came alive with the help of a fantastic Laser & Lighting show by Gareth 'G' Pennington's GLC Lighting & Laser's.

There is something mystical and magical when a modern event is held inside such an historic place as Castle Cornet. The thick, high stone walls might have thought they had seen everything before... including having its top blown off when the gunpowder store took a direct hit from a lightning strike!

But I fancy that the walls had never seen such an impressive Laser and Lighting show! The night was a great success with a great vibe running through the narrow passages and a good sized crowd enjoyed the unique setting.

I was able to pop along for a few minutes and I captured a few pics of the show...
VIEW PICS OF THE HARD RIDDIMS CASTLE CORNET NIGHT

We all love a Eureka moment... well make sure you catch a gig by Eureka Machines if you ever have the chance. They played a storming set at The Fermain Tavern in Guernsey and they are now on my 'must see again' list!

It seems a Bank Holiday Sunday evening is a risky time to put on a gig as the turn-out wasn't that good. Logic would tell you that gig-goers would take full advantage of seeing another visiting band with the luxury of having the Bank Holiday Monday to recover on if things got a bit heavy. But you can never second guess these things :-(

Those faithful few who turned out for the Eureka Machines gig at the Fermain Tavern were in for a real treat as this band kept the crowd entertained in memorable style. I will not miss Eureka Machines if they ever return to Guernsey... I recommend them to you.

Pics are now on-line:
CHECK OUT PICS OF EUREKA MACHINES

Let me ask you to think about this for a moment... that's all the time it should take :-)

What concatenation is there between almost all celebrations and ceremony? (I'll let you look up the word if you need to)!

Or maybe I can make things easier. I'm asking what element links special events by, almost always, playing a part in the occasion.

You shouldn't struggle to come up with the answer... which is Music.

This can take the form of live or recorded, but as you should know if you read this Blog that LIVE is my preference.

There was plenty of the 'live' stuff around town for Guernsey's Liberation Day's celebrations. The music was in many, many forms.

The marching bands were out... no military event could manage without them. Then the Home Front Marquee offered a day of 40's music and song. It was so popular that it was hard to find a spare seat.

But no seating was offered for the final event of Guernsey Liberation 2015 at LibRockLive. This 'mini-festival' showcased six live bands that were intended to keep every-one on their feet and it worked all the way until midnight.

So my day finished with me capturing a few pics of the bands on an impressive stage. I've now added a picture gallery featuring Static Alice, The Recks, Buffalo Huddleston, Asylum Seekas, Fade 2 Grey and King Rat and the Soul Cats.

Check-out the pics here that prove us 'Guerns' know how to party:
VIEW PICS OF LIBROCKLIVE 2015

That was a day to remember... Liberation Guernsey 2015, fantastic!

The day was promoted as a day to celebrate and remember 70 years of freedom and it is likely to be the last one in the current form... but what a way to go out!

With fewer and fewer guernsey residents having personal memories of the liberation of the Island after the occupation during WW2 our national holiday on May 9th will probably be 're-invented' in future years. So this, perhaps, is why the 'Guerns' were out in such huge numbers and with such party spirits all around St Peter Port on Saturday.

The atmosphere was infectious which is just as well because I had a VERY long day working all around the event. The energy and enthusiasm of the crowd kept me going :-)

I was commissioned by the States of Guernsey (together with Chris George) to capture the days colour and atmosphere. I also worked for the Guernsey Press.

This meant me putting in a 21 hour day and my iPhone App recorded a total mileage walked of 14.9 miles... not bad to say that was all done between Market Square and North Beach car-park!! My aching bones and blisters didn't need an App to remind me of the mileage covered!

Now is the time to take a seat to work on the edit of the long days work. I've made a start and the first gallery is now online. This features some of the day-time spectacle. I will be adding another gallery featuring the night-time bands shortly.

Follow the link to view the Liberation Guernsey pics:
VIEW PICS OF THE LIBERATION DAY 2015 CELEBRATIONS

I missed adding a Blog on the day it actually happened but tradition has it that I try and mark each time the viewing counter for this web-site breaks through another MILLION recorded views.

The NINE MILLION figure was smassshed a couple of days ago when I was stacked with the Bank Holiday work. Hence the late Blog.

So here we have the latest landmark and it seems to confirm that when the TEN MILLION mark is passed that will herald a new 'twelve month' best of THREE MILLION views in one year! Nice.

You may have noticed that I quite like the word 'MILLION' as I have used it (in Internet swearing CAPITALS) so many times already in this Blog!

Thanks a MILLION (just one more for luck!) for the continued interest in my work and I hope you find the time to visit again soon.

Here is a link to some of the previous MILLION marking Blogs:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PREVIOUS MILLION MARKING BLOGS

Our small Island always amazes me by the huge amount of activities it offers to those who make a small effort to attend or partake in them.

Last weekend was a great example with another packed diary to choose from.

In the end I found myself photographing Daz Carre as he finished his 24 hour run at Footes Lane in aid of the Rhys Daniels Trust. Daz's achievement was not far short of super-human and was best seen in the context of what people were doing in the London Marathon... that was just a stroll in the park compared to what Daz achieved!

I also photographed The Mouse Outfit on the Fermain Tavern stage at the latest Get Down. That was another brilliant night, thanks to Andre 'oneofakind' De Carteret :-)

Sunday offered plenty of entertainment too.

The Guernsey Powerboat Association organised an open day to showcase the start of their new race season. The line-up of boats was very impressive and there was an air of excited anticipation in the pits. With new headline sponsors Stanley Gibbons Investment on board 2015 will be their best yet.

Between all the chasing around I also photographed the first (I guess of many) Guernsey Velo Club Urban Downhill Mountain-bike races in Castle Cornet held as part of the Heritage Festival in association with Adventure Cycles & Visit Guernsey. 'Conquer the Castle' was raced through the historic passages and gateways of Guernsey's main castle and drew a large crowd of spectators.

Like I said, Guernsey is never short of things to do...
VIEW PICS OF THE CONQUER THE CASTLE MTB EVENT
VIEW PICS OF DAZ CARRE FINISHING HIS 24 HOUR CHARITY RUN
VIEW PICS OF THE GUERNSEY POWERBOAT ASSOCIATIONS OPEN DAY

If someone was to ask the question 'Why do we need the Fermain Tavern'? Last Friday would have to be the answer!

It was last Friday that the 'Tav' presented another famous band (another one of many). This time it was The Blockheads... yes you all know them from the days when they were Ian Dury's band.

The Blockheads won't mind if I suggest that they have been around a bit. They have certainly amassed a good collection of experiences along the way and perhaps more importantly they have a stockpile of talent that can be brought to any of their live performances. And there are some pretty good songs in their repertoire too ;-)

This is a guaranteed combination to lift a gig into something special... and it did just that on Friday.

So, to get back to my earlier question. The 'full-house' of punters who enjoyed the rare talents of the Blockheads were able to savour all this locally in our 'very own' Fermain Tavern!

That fact alone should tell you why we need the Fermain Tavern... and why we need it to stay as our premier live venue. At a Fermain gig you get the chance to stand just three feet from popular music's new and established icons. How privileged does that make us?

The point is that NO OTHER Guernsey venue will ever replace what we already have here at the 'Tav'. The only other venue that very occasionally puts on a worthy (that's questionable) original band might be Beau Sejour... but really, there is no comparison and nothing remotely regular in their promotions.

But more to the point is the question, 'Where is the atmosphere when you have to stand in a Sports Hall drinking out of plastic cups'?

Please remember what we have in the Fermain Tavern. It is a great venue and needs our support. Paul Staples has done a fantastic job to keep the momentum going for the last few years but now it is time for some-else to take over. We must offer our support so that the 'Tav' continues its fine history of Live Music.

I was able to get right up close to the Blockheads and captured a few pics. They are now online:
VIEW PICS OF THE LEGENDARY BLOCKHEADS

A chance meeting today in my town office (The Cock & Bull) reminded me that I still needed to update a couple of Galleries from waaaay back...

Richey Powers is making a return visit to Sark to get together with his band mates in The Recks and he happened to walk into the said town office! Richey is the charismatic frontman of The Recks.

He updated me with some of the festival/gig bookings that The Recks have lined up for 2015 and it is an impressive list. I'll not announce anything here at this time as I'm not sure if the details have been released yet... but it is safe to say that the band is really getting noticed.

So my Galleries have now been updated with a few pics (that had been forgotten) of The Recks playing at The Fermain Tavern. They were supported on this occasion by To the Woods so their Gallery has also had an update.

Check-out the pics here:
VIEW PICS OF THE RECKS
VIEW PICS OF TO THE WOODS

Can I just say a huge thank-you to everyone who has visited this web-site since the weekend. I'm staggered by the enormous interest in my work :-)

The automatic counter that runs at the bottom of the page has shown well over 50,000 new views which makes my efforts all worthwhile!

I hope you have found pictures that interest you and that you are encouraged to make a return visit every so often. I can guarantee that you will always find new updates.

.... oh, and don't forget that you can buy an occasional pic on-line which will encourage me to keep offering up-to-date coverage of all these events ;-)

Thanks again,
Andrew

It has already been mentioned on social media but I want to add my support and agreement.

I want to acknowledge and give credit to the Fermain Tavern in Guernsey for all they do to support a very wide genre of live music on their stage.

There is nothing new in this. There are decades of history to look back through that include many, many different acts, big and small, famous and unknown. This eclectic mix of live entertainment has managed to offer the latest contemporary music a platform to showcase their creativity whilst still finding room for old favourites.

Tom Girard, Guernsey's most prolific commentator on the local music scene both as the BBC Introducing presenter and as the Guernsey Press music critic has already praised the 'Tav' for what they offer. Tom is without doubt the most knowledgeable local man when you refer to our live music scene so if he is impressed you can be sure there is something to shout about!

After putting Tom at the top of the list I come somewhere below when a register is made up of gig-goers... I do see a lot of bands too.

But my interest is in taking pics (that's what I do) and I rarely feel qualified to pass judgement on a musical performance. If a band gets my feet tapping that'll do me ;-)

However even I enjoyed last weekends foray into 'high tech' music at the 'Tav'. Have I just invented a new genre?

The headline band was Semu Ca from Jersey who managed to make amazing sounds from a bunch of multi-cabled kit. Support was from iPad musician Citizen-X... and just to prove that the 'Tav' presents live music in all its forms Tantale offered up their own brand of 'traditional' guitar band originals. There was something for everyone in that line-up.

Keep up the fantastic work Fermain Tavern, you deserve our support.
VIEW PICS OF SEMU CA PLAYING LIVE AT THE FERMAIN TAVERN
VIEW PICS OF TANTALE PLAYING LIVE AT THE FERMAIN TAVERN

I know I've said it before but RentOClean are a really good choice if you want a band to get a party going :-)

This is the task they performed admirably last week-end at the Fermain Tavern when they supported Rumpus for their return to the 'Tavern' stage in Guernsey.

It's always going to be a challenge to 'connect' with a crowd who are eager to see the headliners but RentOClean's set includes several songs that guarantee to get the punters singing along.

There is the added bonus that their return to the stage seems to herald the reappearance of summertime (well maybe I should say spring). Either one means that we can begin to look forward to better days ahead.

I sense a few beers, a few sun-rays, many gigs and a Festival or two will all feature in my future. Party on!
VIEW PICS OF THE PARTY BAND RENTOCLEAN

Rumpus... now that's a good name for a band!

If I put the name into words we come up with something like this...

Rumpus, Noun: disturbance, noise, uproar, confusion, commotion, disruption, furore, rout, row, tumult, fuss, fracas, brawl, brouhaha, ruction, bagarre, ruckus.

I couldn't of put it better myself. But in this case I have Chambers Thesaurus to thank ;-)

Last weekend saw the return of Rumpus to play at the Fermain Tavern after a gap of perhaps six years. Way back then Rumpus were favourite visitors on the local scene.

So last weekend the scene was set. Could this band generate the same enthusiasm after all that time? Were their 'old' fans going to still come out to support Rumpus?

I knew the answer as soon as I walked into the 'Tav'... and that was even before the band took to the stage. In fact it was RentOClean entertaining the punters. Good set BTW.

But back to the headliners. We all know the famous advertising line 'It does what it says on the tin'. Well in this case we have an example of a band doing what they say in their name... you will have to look back up this blog for the full description.

I hope you need no more comment from me. Was it a great night? Do you really have to ask?
VIEW RUMPUS AT THE FERMAIN TAVERN