2023 has been a particular yr for all of us. The persevering with struggle in Ukraine and the atrocities in Gaza plus the clear indicators of the local weather disaster overshadows a lot of what occurred throughout the yr. However regardless of all this, there have been live shows and festivals that made it worthwhile to go to. Listed below are the primary 30 of my favourite photographs from 2023 – most of them shot for Getty Photos.
I’ve attended 16 festivals and photographed all collectively 300 + live shows at these festivals and totally different different venues. Pop, rock, metallic, jazz, classical, people music, Americana – many various genres and likewise totally different environments. Personally I like this variety, throughout the years it has change into an increasing number of tough to say what sort of music I really like probably the most. I believe the reply have to be “good music”! However once I {photograph} live shows, the visible half additionally turns into essential, generally 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 live shows 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 among the finalists Navasard Hakobyan from Armenia on the finals on the nationwide Opera Home. Each Easter I spend 4 days at Rockefeller in Oslo throughout the Inferno Steel competition. Right here is Abbath doing his flame thrower act throughout his set. Summer time is a busy interval with a number of festivals in June, July and August. Right here is among the Anonymous Ghouls of Ghost throughout their live shows at Tons of Rock in Oslo in June.This yr Bruce Springsteen performed two live shows in Oslo, and his guitarist Little Steven took the chance to assist the Cocktaail Slippers at Gamla in Oslo the nights earlier than the live shows. Right here he poses backstage with the band.I noticed Halestorm twice this yr – 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 all the time attempt to seize a number of the followers at festivals and live shows. Listed below are followers of Volbeat ready for the live performance to start out on the Tons of Rock competition.In October I visited the Blues in Cáceres competition in Spain with the band Cat Squirrel. Implausible medieval environment that have been used for a lot of scenes in Sport of Thrones, and the band confirmed the group that they know what they’re doing.In July I photographed Kiss in Tønsberg for Dagsavisen on their farewell tour. Nice present as normal, however we photographers have been aggravated by two videographers who have been blocking our view on a regular basis. Right here is among 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 competition on the similar 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 yr and earlier.Oslo World is considered one of Norway’s most attention-grabbing festivals. This yr’s competition 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’d like to attend one other live performance along 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 yr I obtained 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 sturdy ties to Norway. He performs with the superb Norwegian band The Salmon People who smoke, and I noticed them at Parkteatret in Could.Ledfoot, or Tim Scott McConnell is one other American artist who has moved to Norway, spreading his music all around the nation. Right here he performed an intense live performance on the acoustic stage on the Notodden Blues Pageant.Bluesheaven is a blues competition that’s held in Frederikshavn in Denmark in November yearly. I’ve attended the competition the final three years, and this yr Robert Finley was one of many headliners.Danielle Nicole Schnebelen used to play within the trio Trampled Beneath Foot along with her two brothers. Now she has her personal group, and she or he performed at Bluesheaven with Monster Mike Welch as a visitor.Patti Smith has performed in Norway many occasions, and she or he is all the time welcome again. Right here she performs a live performance at Sentrum Scene in Oslo in June.In Could I noticed a few artists which can be often outdoors of my common musical curiosity, however who nonetheless impressed me. One in every of these was Macklemore. Ava Max was the opposite “shock” artist for me at Sentrum Scene in Could. Good present, nice dancers and nice visuals.The Norwegian Radio Orcheatra, KORK, are among the finest and most versatile orchestras within the western world. They do every kind of live shows with genres rangin from modern music, baroque, jazz, metallic (with Dimmu Borgir) classical music and well-liked music with totally different soloists. Right here I photographed them at a live performance with Ingebjørg Bratland at an out of doors live performance on high of Oslo in August.Often the drummer, and sometimes the keyboardist in bands, are positioned in the back of the stage and are tough to see from the photograph pit. However generally I get to shoot from the again of the stage, and right here is Lars Christian Narum from Hellbillies in motion throughout the band’s live performance on the Notodden Blues Pageant in August.Sam Smith is an attention-grabbing artist with a incredible voice. I noticed them sing at a live performance at Oslo Spektrum in Could.Rival Sons are one other laborious hitting and tight band that I like to {photograph}. This yr’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 eventually obtained to see her at Blues in Hell in September. Nice voice and likewise nice stage presence.
