Kool & The Gang

Playing a longer set than the other bands after a 20 minute interval Kool & The Gang were the only complete band of the evening.  While their songs weren't my favourites, without question they put on the best show of the evening.  Brilliant performances from everyone.  The climax of which was having everyone back up on stage for the grande finale "Celebration".

Sister Sledge

Not really my cup of tea, but damn can these girls sing and dance.  Brilliant performance by the girls of Sister Sledge.

Howard Jones

Some days later and I've still got some of Howard Jones songs stuck in my head.  Damn you Howard!

ABC

Singing the hit songs, All of my Heart, Poison Arrow and The Look of Love, Martin Fry from 1980's group ABC was one of my favourites of the night.  Top singing, top 80's classics.

I was told on the night by one of the promoters that Martin wanted a new headshot from my photos on the night.  Whether or not that happens remains to be seen, but it was certainly good motivation for me to try and get some good headshots for him on the night.

Go West

The third of seven 80's bands on the night was Go West.  I didn't notice it at the time, but singer Peter Cox puts so much effort into his singing, really makes for great images.

Four more bands to come over the next couple of days, ABC, Howard Jones, Sister Sledge and the finale Kool & The Gang.

The Christians

A couple of photos of Garry Christian from The Christians set at the 80's Rewind concert at the Bournemouth BIC.

T'Pau

On Thursday I had the privilege of photographing lots of 1980's pop legends, all under the same roof at the same time at the Bournemouth BIC.

I'll be sharing a few pictures a day of each of the acts, starting with the first group of the night, T'Pau.

I felt a connection with T'Pau because it was partly because of Carol Decker that I was there that evening.  I've been following her on Twitter for a little while now, and had seen her tweets about the 80's concerts she was involved with.  I sent her an @message asking who I should contact for a photo pass, she replied, and the rest is history.

Come back over the next 6 days for photos from The Christians, Go West, Howard Jones, ABC, Sister Sledge & Kool and the Gang.

Update:  T'Pau played, "Sex Talk", "Heart and Soul" and of course "China In Your Hand".

The legend that is Rolf

Digging again through my archives I found these photographs I'd taken of living legend Rolf Harris when he played a gig at the Eastleigh Summer Festival back in 2003.   Concert photography is hard enough at the best of times, and its not made any easier when you're shooting from the back row of the audience, from the wrong angle, and still trying to get some good shots off.

It was the second time I'd seen Rolf in concert, the first being on the main Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury festival a couple of years earlier.  He was there with his didgeridoo and wobbleboard, singing all his old classics, "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport", "Sun Arise", "Jake the Peg", "Fine Day", and "Two Little Boys".

Peter Gabriel at WOMAD

For as long as I can remember I've had a wish to photograph a big name concert and also to photograph Peter Gabriel in concert. On the 25th July 2009 at the Charlton Park WOMAD festival both of those ambitions merged into one and became a reality. Normally getting a decent camera into a concert and using it is all but impossible without a media pass. I'd tried in vain to get myself media accreditation in the days prior to the concert but in the end I was happy to have been turned down. The press were only allowed to shoot the first 3 songs and then they were gone.

With the help from Alan and Ian, two friends I have met at other Peter Gabriel concerts over the years, and a trick of bringing back two glasses of beer for them enabled me to get within 3 rows of the stage without actually having to wait there for 5 hours.

Peter and his band came on stage around 21:30 and played for around 90 minutes. The set list went something like this;

Boy In The Bubble
The Book Of Love
Darkness
Come Talk To Me
Steam
Downside Up
Games Without Frontiers
No Self-Control
Big Time
Washing Of The Water
The Tower That Ate People
San Jacinto
Red Rain
Solsbury Hill
Biko

A couple of links of interest. Firstly to WOMAD, and secondly to an organisation that Peter strongly supports Witness.org.

I'm really happy with the results but you be the judge - take a look for yourself.