Daylight Music 200

Today was the 200th Daylight Music. To celebrate they had decided to hold a mini photo exhibition with photographs by many of photographers who’d covered the previous 199 gigs. As I’ve photographed a few, they’d included a few of mine. So I had a special interest in this event.

Although, I’ve only covered a few events officially, I’ve actually been to around 40. So it was a difficult choice. To celebrate they’d produced a rather nice photo book and 200 postcards with our photographs on. I have to admit it was nice seeing some of my photos in print. I have thousands of photographs, but rarely print any.

For the 200th they’d managed to get a really decent line up. Opening the event was Louis Barabbas. He was one of the featured photographs. Showing him leaping and doing the splits while playing his guitar. Sadly, he’d hurt his back so this was a ‘less energetic’ performance. But I guess things are relative. He still managed to run around the stage and jump around with more energy than most performers. A very impressive performance.

Next up was French for Rabbits. I’d seen them play a tiny in-store gig at Rough Trade with their full New Zealand band. Today I think it was just the singer with friends. But it was no less good. She has a lovely voice and some nice material that sounded fantastic in the big space of the Union Chapel.

Adrian Crowley had offered to provide a soundscape between acts. Unfortunately, due to laptop issues he was unable to. But ever the trouper, he borrowed a guitar from French for Rabbits and put in a short impromptu performance.

Photo exhibition

Closing the show was an example, of what’s good about Daylight Music. A band called Ex-Easter Island Heads who use guitars as percussion instruments. Very much influenced by classical composers like Steve Reich. It was a very impressive performance that led to a standing ovation and not the type of thing you’d see at a normal mainstream gig or classical concert. Definitely worth catching.