Category Archives: Gig Photography

Sing City with Beats and Pieces Big Band

December 7, 2017 by admin | Comments Off

Sing City is a weekly song writing and performance workshop for young musicians. It’s run by Brighter Sound and is held at Manchester’s iconic Band on the Wall. The young people who take part are mentored and supported by acclaimed local musicians, Natalie McCool, Phil Howley and James Holt, alongside occasional special guest artists who run one off masterclasses. I went along to photograph one such masterclass, hosted by the Beats and Pieces Big Band – a jazz collective, originating from Manchester who hosted Sing City during a month long European tour. Here are some of my favourite images from the night.

Also posted in Bands, Documentary photography, Events, Music Photography, Uncategorized Tagged Band on the Wall, Beats and Pieces, beats and Pieces Big Band, Brighter Sound, Manchester, Music Photography, Natalie McCool, Sing City |

Pee Wee Ellis FUNK: Foundation, Brighter Sound’s Artistic Director Series #009

August 31, 2017 by admin | Comments Off

A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege of photographing the legendary saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis as part of Brighter Sound’s 9th Artistic Director Series, FUNK: Foundation. Pew Wee was a major part of James Brown’s band in the 1960s and co-wrote several of the Godfather of Soul’s greatest hits. Alongside the supremely talented trumpeter Gary Winters, Pee Wee worked with a group of 15 young musicians over the course of 4 days to create a roof-raising funk-tastic one-off performance at Band on the Wall.

I’ve collated a selection of my favourite images from the residency in the gallery below for you to enjoy. Stay funky people!

Also posted in Bands, Documentary photography, Events, Music Photography, Photography Tagged Band on the Wall, Brighter Sound, Concert, Event Photography, Funk Assembly, Funk Foundation, Gary Winters, Gig, gig photography, Manchester, Music Photography, Pee Wee Ellis, saxophonist |

Eska: Are You Here – Cinemagraphs

June 15, 2017 by admin | Comments Off

Alongside my usual documentary-style photography of the ‘Eska: Are You Here‘ Artistic Director residency from Brighter Sound, I also took some footage to create the following cinemagraphs (featuring the hugely talented Tal Janes, Tomas Pocinho, Marcus Joseph and Joy Ellis).

Cinemagraph of a guitar player, guitarist, Tal Janes, at Brighter Sound Eska: Are You Here, Artistic Director Series, Band on The Wall, Manchester, Rachel Bywater Photography Cinemagraph of a saxophone player, saxophonist, Marcus Joseph, at Brighter Sound Eska: Are You Here, Artistic Director Series, Band on The Wall, Manchester, Rachel Bywater Photography cinemagraph key board player, Joy Ellis, Brighter Sound, band on The Wall, Manchester, Rachel Bywater Photography

Also posted in Bands, cinemagraph, Documentary photography, Events, Music Photography, Photography, Portraits Tagged Band on the Wall, Brighter Sound, cinemagraph, cinemagraphs, Concert, drummer, drums, Eska, Event Photography, Gig, gig photography, guitar, guitarist, keyboard player, Manchester, Music Photography, saxophone, saxophonist |

My Favourite Images of 2016

January 5, 2017 by admin | Comments Off

I’ve put together a collection of my favourite images from 2016, and what a year it was! I got to photograph Grammy award winners, Premiership footballers and Mercury prize nominees; I shot events in museums, laboratories, tv studios, hidden gardens and amongst giant smoke machines; I travelled half way round the world and saw incredible cultural and natural wonders; and I got to meet and work with some truly inspirational people along the way.

I’ve chosen each of the images in the collection below for different reasons. Some because they captured a unique moment, some because they are successful in terms of technique or composition, and some because they transport me back to a special time and place in my life from the past 12 months.

I hope you enjoy looking through these images as much as I enjoyed taking them.

Thanks so much for all your support in 2016. Wishing you all a happy new year and a fabulous 2017!

Rachel x

Also posted in Bands, Documentary photography, Events, Music Photography, Photography, Places, Portraits, Uncategorized, Wedding Photography

My Music, My Manchester

November 10, 2016 by admin | Comments Off

My Music, My Manchester was an ambitious project from a collaboration of partners including My Hub, Brighter Sound and Manchester Camerata, to produce am intensive week long creative residency for a diverse group of young musicians and artists, led by singer, songwriter and activist Meklit , culminating in a very special one off performance at the BBC Philharmonic studio at Media City. You can see some of my favourite images from the workshops at Band on the Wall and the incredible final performance in the gallery below.

Like what you see? Follow me on facebook and instagram!

my-manchester-my-music-logos

Also posted in Bands, Documentary photography, Events, Music Photography Tagged Band on the Wall, BBC Philharmonic, Brighter Sound, Concert, Event Photography, Gig, gig photography, Manchester, Meklit, Music Photography, My Hub, My Music My Manchester |

Imogen Heap Residency with Brighter Sound

October 20, 2016 by admin | Comments Off

Earlier this month I had the pleasure of working with Brighter Sound again, this time documenting their latest Artistic Director residency, with singer and composer Imogen Heap. Under Imogen’s guidance, in just 5 days a group of 10 talented young musicians, who had never met before, managed to write, produce and release a song, film and edit a music video, create the single cover art, produce an exhibition and put on a live show at Manchester’s Band on The Wall. It was an incredible achievement and a real privilege top document. They named their band Frink Frink and their song, Marble, is now available to purchase on itunes and all good online music stores.

You can see a selection of my favourite images from the residency below.

If you like these images please follow me on facebook and instagram

Also posted in Bands, Documentary photography, Events, Music Photography Tagged Band on the Wall, Brighter Sound, Concert, Event Photography, Frink Frink, Gig, gig photography, Imogen Heap, Manchester, Marble, Music Photography |

Moovin Festival 2016

September 1, 2016 by admin | Comments Off

Last weekend was Moovin 2016, a little music festival tucked away on a farm at the end of small country park in Stockport. It was an amazing, if occasionally soggy weekend, featuring performances from Congo Natty, Beardyman, Finlay Quaye, Channel One Soundsystem, Honeyfeet, Extra Love, Dust Junkys, Riot Jazz and Mr Wilson’s Second liners, to name but a few…

You can see my favourite images from the weekend in the gallery below.

Also posted in Bands, Documentary photography, Events, Music Photography

Science in The City Late – Anna Meredith’s residency with Brighter Sound

August 4, 2016 by admin | Comments Off

Commissioned by Brighter Sound, Anna Meredith’s four-day residency with a group of young female musicians, visual artists and sound engineers, culminated in a special, one-off performance at Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry as part of Science in the City Late. The music and art they created was inspired by graphene and the incredible Wonder Materials exhibition. The exhibition was open all evening alongside a range of weird and wonderful exhibits and stalls including opportunities to try 3d-printed chocolate and insect sushi.

You can see a selection of my favourite images from the night below.

Also posted in Documentary photography, Events, Music Photography, Places, Uncategorized Tagged Anna Meredith, Brighter Sound, Graphene, Manchester, MOSI, Museum of Science and Industry, Science in the City, Science in the city late, Wonder Materials |

Velvet Badger 2016

July 16, 2016 by admin | Comments Off

Last weekend was the 2016 Velvet Badger Festival. You can see my photos of the slightly soggy, but still entirely marvellous, weekend below.

If you’d like to feast your eyes on the wonderment that was the first Velvet Badger, you can do so here.

Also posted in Bands, Documentary photography, Events, Music Photography Tagged Beware Monsters, Caulbearers, DJ Xander, Festival Photography, Gideon Conn, Henge, Massive Badgers, Microfestival, Mr Wilsaons One Liners, Mystic Brewery, Paddy Steer, Public Sector, Publik Sektor, Rik Warren, Thing, Tim Jones and the Dark Lanters, Travelling Light Circus, Velvet Badger, Velvet Badger 2016 |

Test Card Live, BBC Music Day

June 6, 2016 by admin | Comments Off

On Friday I had the pleasure of working with the ever-excellent Brighter Sound again, photographing Test Card Live – a showcase of audiovisual performances as part of BBC Music Day. The event started with a workshop in analogue electronics and graphical sound from Noise Orchestra, followed by performances from some hugely talented artists including Benjamen Finney and Michael-Jon Mizra, both Brighter sound commissions. You can see some of my favourite images from the night below.