My top ten photographs from SFTOC
Sounds From the Other City 2023
I’m very delighted to say I’ll be photographing Sounds From the Other City again this year and leading a team of photography students from Salford Uni. This Salford festival is one of my favourite jobs of the year and in all my excitement I thought I’d treat you to a blog post…
So here’s a run down of some of my favourite images (in no particular order) taken by me over the last two years and a little bit of the story behind them. It was quite hard to stop at ten…
Revelations by Miss Krystal Balls
SFTOC is a mind, body and soul experience. I can’t divulge the fortune being told here but I can say I’ve bumped into the recipient several times since and these emotions are the real deal!!
2. Plus44Kaligula in Five Four Studios
Five Four Studios is usually a photography studio and lends itself very nicely to fantastic stage shows. The visuals at PLUS44KALIGULA were incredible, however this stark shot is one of my favourites from the show. A happy combination of factors never likely to be repeated : )
3. Tokky Horror at Islington Mill
Islington Mill is my favourite of all the venues at Sounds, because it is always carnage lol. The atmosphere in there is incredible, your lenses always mist up and something special always happens. In 2023 it was Tokky Horror. If you’re a photographer and you haven’t photographed this band yet, sort it out!
4. Rumbi Tauro in Hot Bed Press
A beautiful set by a the talented Rumbi Tauro and I love the timeless and atmospheric vibes in this shot. Rumbi is headlining Band on the Wall this Friday (19th Jan) if you fancy a trip out : )
5. Gaz
Just Gaz of Manchester Psych Fest fame DJing in front of some pots and pans… I did promise him this photo so here you go Gaz!
6. Jessica Winter + Gym Horse = Good Times
At times during this set I was on the ground taking pictures with Jessica balancing above me on that horse, risky business. There is a lot of fun to be had studying the crowd in this shot… I then bumped into Jessica at Blue Dot later in the year and we shared some very nice gin, what a little legend.
7. CURRENTMOODGIRL at Regent Trading Estate
When a performer lets go and puts on a show, you can’t really ask for anything more as a photographer. CURRENTMOODGIRL did that and then some.
8. Repeat customers
I’ve photographed this kid and her Mum at Sounds in 2022 and 2023. I can’t tell you how nice it is to bump into the same faces and see people enjoying themselves year after year. Hoping for the hat trick this year!
9. FFSYTHO?! in 2022
After taking a few shots of FFSYTHO?! and their brave performance despite a broken leg, I was treated to an extremely competent Armagh accent from the artist that I still think about to this day…
10. What it’s all about
Loads of lovely people having a great time with their mates, making new friends, seeing some brilliant new music, bands, DJs, performers and art and supporting a festival run by some of the nicest people I’ve ever met.
See you there on 5th May 2024 : )
