This weekend the world lost a true talent.

I can’t say I was a massive fan of her music. I did like it though and always knew Amy Winehouse was a gifted and unique singer.

Her music isn’t going anywhere though. Her talent lives on in her songs.

These photos were taken three years ago. I’m glad I got to photograph her and hear her voice live.

Rest in peace now, Amy.

I found out I’d be photographing the legend that is Snoop Dogg just a couple of hours before he took to the stage at HMV Institute in Birmingham.

I’ve shot mostly metal bands recently so I was looking forward to shooting something a little different. What I wasn’t ready for was just how brilliant the gig would be! Classic after classic had the whole venue going mental and there was a real party vibe in the place. Fo’shizzle.

Maverick Sabre, remember him?, opened the show with a short but sweet set, and then it was time for the Doggfather himself…

In my life I’ve been to several hundred live gigs. The Chariot‘s gig in Birmingham would be in my top 10. Their album, Long Live, was one of my favourite albums of 2010.

Before the gig I met up with the band for a few quick portraits. They’re great guys. I also grabbed a portrait of support band, MyChildren MyBride.

The gig itself was immense, chaotic, frantic and totally exhilarating… Love that band!

If you’re not afraid of a little chaos and loud, noisy punk rock bands, check out this video from The Chariot’s Australian tour…

My ears are still ringing…

What do you do when you shoot an artist like the amazing Ray LaMontagne but you can only shoot from halfway back in the venue from one side?!

It’s impossible to get the shots I really want to get. I couldn’t really even move. And Ray hardly moves on stage at all either.

So I got what I could get with my 70-200 lens. And I just enjoyed a fantastic singer/songwriter…

Paramore are great to photograph.

Good lighting, loads of energy and a girl called Hayley who’s not too bad looking

I shot them at Birmingham’s LG Arena for Birmingham Live! You can see a review HERE

Saturday night saw the mighty Deftones playing Birmingham’s Academy to a packed house and I was down there to shoot the first 3 songs and then enjoy the show. Which was amazing!

The lighting was extremely tricky for photos so I’m pleased I managed to get a few images I really like…

Photographing bands can be pretty amazing. It can also be a little dangerous on occasion. And that’s why I love shooting the smaller, rowdier gigs. You never know what might happen next.

Converge are a somewhat legendary hardcore band from Massachusetts who have been a force to be reckoned with for 20 years. Their live shows are intense, so when I set out to shoot them at Birmingham Academy this month i wanted to try and capture some of the energy of the show.

I reckon I managed it…

A couple from support band, Kylesa, too…

At the end of June I was lucky enough to finally photograph my favourite band. Twice!

You may have already seen the photos from Belfast Odyssey Arena and, since then, I’ve had a few messages from people waiting to see the Hyde Park photos. So here they are

It’s always a bonus when you get great support acts on the bill, and I was delighted to see another of my fave bands added to the bill… The Gaslight Anthem

Always fun and entertaining… The Hives

The main support was Ben Harper, who was joined on stage by Eddie Vedder for a cover of Queen’s Under Pressure.

And then it was time for the main event… And this setlist..

It was good to meet up with a few friends at the gig too. All in all, not a bad way to spend a Friday

And here’s a photo of me doing my thing, taken by Kerrang! photographer, Chris Casey.

Many thanks to Jen at Rock Sound and Ali at LD Communications.

When I was ten years old Debbie Harry was my first ever schoolboy crush.

All these years later she may not look quite like she did in the Heart Of Glass video but she still rocks.

Here are a few pics from last night’s Blondie gig at Wolverhampton Civic Hall….