Stag and Dagger Festival Glasgow 2011
Review by Pauline Keightley
This was the third Glasgow Stag and Dagger Festival; it took place over seven venues across the city including: O2 ABC1, O2 ABC2, The Art School, The Vic Bar, Stereo, Nice n Sleazy and The Captains Rest. A wristband costing £8 allowed access to all the gigs.
Stag and Dagger hold their main event in London with Glasgow as the location for thieir second event. I read recently that Glasgow is second only to London in the UK for the numbers attending cultural events (this study included theatres, galleries and concerts). The music festival was certainly very well attended.
I headed first to the main venue at the ABC, where I caught Clinic, Admiral Fallow, Rachel Sermanni, Withered Hand and headliners, Warpaint from LA, the first girl band I've taken shots of. I had first heard Rachel Sermanni at the Celtic Connection Festival at the Danny Kyle Open Stage back in 2009 and I was impressed with her subtle voice. Rachel was able to hold the audience's attention in the packed and noisy venue with only her guitar to accompany her singing. She also performed a duet with Louis Abbott, lead singer with Admiral Fallow.
After this gig I made my way up to the Art School venue to see Broken Records, Sons and Daughters and Chad Valley. I've taken photos of Broken Records at several gigs in both Edinburgh and Glasgow over the past few years and find them a great subject. I always enjoy their set and their charged, melodic sound. Brothers, Jamie and Rory, have excellent stage presence.
I had also seen Admiral Fallow before at King Tuts and in 2010 at the T Break Stage. They have strong musicianship, tuneful melodies and very good vocal harmonies. Warpaint have an ethereal sound and describe themselves as experimental art rock. They were in soft-blue stage lighting, which wasn't so easy to photograph!
Later I met Jamie Sutherland of Broken Records at the Art School and wished I'd had prints for him - and what a charming guy he is too! I made it to a further venue and managed to see part of Chad Valley's energised and fun electronic set in the Vic Bar.
One of the main reasons I enjoy music photography is following emerging artists. Although I enjoy many artists I particularly like artists that have honesty and something new to say with their voice and songs.. Fortunately for Scotland we have a healthy grassroots music scene, which is respected the world over. Glasgow also benefits from having a good number of accessible small and mid-size venues.
PKIMAGE photography, Glasgow - photographic artist of mainly music, portraits and events. Please visit my website to see my photo work and to get in touch with any questions.
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