2023 has been a particular 12 months for all of us. The persevering with battle in Ukraine and the atrocities in Gaza plus the clear indicators of the local weather disaster overshadows a lot of what occurred through the 12 months. However regardless of all this, there have been concert events and festivals that made it worthwhile to go to. Listed here are the primary 30 of my favourite photographs from 2023 – most of them shot for Getty Pictures.
I’ve attended 16 festivals and photographed all collectively 300 + concert events at these festivals and completely different different venues. Pop, rock, metallic, jazz, classical, folks music, Americana – many alternative genres and likewise completely different environments. Personally I like this range, through the years it has change into an increasing number of tough to say what sort of music I really like essentially the most. I feel the reply should be “good music”! However after I {photograph} concert events, the visible half additionally turns into essential, typically making me love a live performance even when I’m not specifically keen on the precise music that’s carried out.
Dangerous Gyal is a Spanish pop artist from Catalonia. She carried out at Rockefeller in Oslo throughout Oslo World.Max Cavalera used to play in Sepultura and after that in Soulfly. Right here he performed with brother Iggor within the Cavalera Conspiracy at Rockefeller in Oslo.In December we misplaced our Norwegian singer songwriter par excellense, Ole Paus. The primary time I noticed him play was in 1971, and I used to be fortunate to see his live performance at Månefestivalen in Fredrikstad this summer time, which was considered one of his final concert events earlier than he died.In August I used to be the photographer for the Queen Sonja Singing Competitors in Oslo. Nice singers and nice music. Right here is without doubt one of the finalists Navasard Hakobyan from Armenia on the finals on the nationwide Opera Home. Each Easter I spend 4 days at Rockefeller in Oslo through the Inferno Metallic pageant. Right here is Abbath doing his flame thrower act throughout his set. Summer season is a busy interval with a number of festivals in June, July and August. Right here is without doubt one of the Anonymous Ghouls of Ghost throughout their concert events at Tons of Rock in Oslo in June.This 12 months Bruce Springsteen performed two concert events in Oslo, and his guitarist Little Steven took the chance to help the Cocktaail Slippers at Gamla in Oslo the nights earlier than the concert events. Right here he poses backstage with the band.I noticed Halestorm twice this 12 months – first at Tons of Rock this summer time, after which later within the fall. Right here is Lzzy Haley in motion at Sentrum Scene in Oslo.I at all times attempt to seize among the followers at festivals and concert events. Listed here are followers of Volbeat ready for the live performance to begin on the Tons of Rock pageant.In October I visited the Blues in Cáceres pageant in Spain with the band Cat Squirrel. Incredible medieval environment that have been used for a lot of scenes in Recreation of Thrones, and the band confirmed the gang that they know what they’re doing.In July I photographed Kiss in Tønsberg for Dagsavisen on their farewell tour. Nice present as ordinary, however we photographers have been aggravated by two videographers who have been blocking our view on a regular basis. Right here is without doubt one of the few pictures the place they weren’t.The week earlier than the Kiss live performance in Tønsberg, Machine Gun Kelly performed on the Slottsfjell pageant on the identical venue. A magnificient and spectacular present.Machine Gun Kelly’s guitarist Sophie Lloyd – one of many many wonderful feminine rock guitarists that I’ve seen this 12 months and earlier.Oslo World is considered one of Norway’s most fascinating festivals. This 12 months’s pageant opening live performance was with Mari Boine and different Saami artists, amongst them Ella Marie Hætta Isaksen. Mari Boine is our foremost Saami artist, and the live performance was one to recollect.One other spotlight from Oslo World was the closing live performance with the Portugese Fado artist Mariza. This was my second time seeing her, the primary being in Bergen 21 years in the past. I might like to attend one other live performance together with her anytime.Blues in Hell is one other considered one of my favourite Norwegian festivals that I’ve attended because the late 90’s. This 12 months I bought to see the up and coming British guitarist Toby Lee. In January I noticed Apocalyptica at Sentrum Scene in Oslo. At all times superb to see and listen to what you are able to do with three cellos on stage!Luke Elliot is an American artist with robust ties to Norway. He performs with the wonderful Norwegian band The Salmon People who smoke, and I noticed them at Parkteatret in Might.Ledfoot, or Tim Scott McConnell is one other American artist who has moved to Norway, spreading his music everywhere in the nation. Right here he performed an intense live performance on the acoustic stage on the Notodden Blues Pageant.Bluesheaven is a blues pageant that’s held in Frederikshavn in Denmark in November yearly. I’ve attended the pageant the final three years, and this 12 months Robert Finley was one of many headliners.Danielle Nicole Schnebelen used to play within the trio Trampled Beneath Foot together with her two brothers. Now she has her personal group, and he or she performed at Bluesheaven with Monster Mike Welch as a visitor.Patti Smith has performed in Norway many occasions, and he or she is at all times welcome again. Right here she performs a live performance at Sentrum Scene in Oslo in June.In Might I noticed a few artists which are normally outdoors of my common musical curiosity, however who nonetheless impressed me. One among these was Macklemore. Ava Max was the opposite “shock” artist for me at Sentrum Scene in Might. Good present, nice dancers and nice visuals.The Norwegian Radio Orcheatra, KORK, are the most effective and most versatile orchestras within the western world. They do all types of concert events with genres rangin from up to date music, baroque, jazz, metallic (with Dimmu Borgir) classical music and common music with completely different soloists. Right here I photographed them at a live performance with Ingebjørg Bratland at an outside live performance on high of Oslo in August.Normally the drummer, and infrequently the keyboardist in bands, are positioned in the back of the stage and are tough to see from the photograph pit. However typically I get to shoot from the again of the stage, and right here is Lars Christian Narum from Hellbillies in motion through the band’s live performance on the Notodden Blues Pageant in August.Sam Smith is an fascinating artist with a implausible voice. I noticed them sing at a live performance at Oslo Spektrum in Might.Rival Sons are one other arduous hitting and tight band that I like to {photograph}. This 12 months’s present with them have been at Sentrum Scene in Oslo in November.I had heard many good issues about Sari Schorr as an artist and at last bought to see her at Blues in Hell in September. Nice voice and likewise nice stage presence.
