Bands line up to play exclusive photography exhibition gig

Midland rock musicians and the photographers who snap them are launching a unique exhibition celebrating the best of live music photography.

Birmingham Children's HospitalWolverhampton-based bands The Lines and up-and-coming Jump the Shark are playing one-off sets when images in the Midlands Music Photography Exhibition are launched at a private view on Friday (October 26).

The exhibition, at the Custard Factory in Birmingham, runs from October 26 to November 2, and features 60 images that have graced publications in numerous regional, national newspapers and magazines across the UK and worldwide, including NME, Q Magazine and Rolling Stone.

And to celebrate the special relationship between musicians and photographers who capture their gigs, the Midlands very own The Lines are performing an exclusive set from their latest infectious-indie four-track EP.

After attracting the ears of the industry and building on the strong foundation of their ever-growing fanbase The Lines are set to play Wolverhampton Civic Hall on December 15.

Snapping at their heels are young band Jump the Shark, who play the Slade Rooms on December 16, and who will join The Lines to entertain guests at the exhibition launch.

Organised by music photographers, James Watkins and Andy Hughes, the exhibition sees a culmination of 12 photographers from across the Midlands that have photographed some of the biggest names in the music industry over the past two years at iconic venues across the Midlands.

Former Shropshire Star photographer, co-organiser and exhibitor, James Watkins, said, “This exhibition is about showing off the incredible talent that we have behind the lens in the Midlands and I’m so happy to bring together 12 photographers from many disciplines that have shot some of the biggest musical artists and bands on the planet, like The Stone Roses, Foo Fighters, Tinie Tempah, Florence + The Machine, Jessie J, Kasabian and much more.

To have so many great music photographers in the Midlands and to be able to bring them all together under one roof is simply incredible and I’m thrilled that home-grown musicians are performing a couple of exclusive sets at our launch.”

Photographers exhibiting at the show are Steve Thorne, Andy Watson, Jason Sheldon, Tony Wooliscroft, Gobinder Jhitta, Bianca Barrett, Jane Williams, Wayne Fox, Lara Leon Cullen and Steve Gerrard, Andy Hughes and James Watkins.

The photographers involved are from all over the Midlands, including Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Nottingham, Worcester, Telford and surrounding areas.

Co-organiser and exhibitor, Andy Hughes who shoots for The Lines, said, “This is a rate opportunity to show off the amazing images that this group of photographers have in their collections. There’s a real mix of styles and experience with the photographers we have exhibiting, ranging from those that have been in the game for more than 25 years and some that have only just started in the last few years but are climbing their way up the ladder.”

The gallery will be open daily from 10am-5pm from Oct 27th and the exhibition will also raise money for the Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Cancer Centre appeal, with an exhibition catalogue and prize draw tickets being available throughout the week, with proceeds going to the appeal.

For more information on the event and exhibitors, visit the website here.
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