2020
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A new year and a packed schedule of gigs, starting off with the Kaiser Chiefs in Dublin. Little did we know at that time how much Covid 19 was going to disrupt things. For now though everything was still on schedule.
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Index
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Razorlight
Supporting Kaiser Chiefs
3Arena, Dublin
23 February 2020
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The ground floor at the arena was standing, and I made sure I was there early enough to get a good position. I will often avoid the centre of the stage with large crowds as that’s where a lot of people think they will get the best views. In this case I would find myself to the left of the stage, but within touching distance of the front barrier in giving great views and indeed to opportunity for some great photos. After a local band, Somebody’s Child, the second support was Razorlight.
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Kaiser Chiefs
Duck Tour
3Arena, Dublin
23 February 2020
Music For The Marsden
O2 Arena, London
3 March 2020
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March 2020 and this novel virus, Covid-19, was increasingly making the headlines. There was talk of possible travel restrictions, but none of us knew what was round the corner.
I had a ticket for this event in London. Flights and hotel were booked and at the time it was an easy enough decision to head to London for my first gig at the O2. This was a charity concert, pulled together by Gary Brooker of Procol Harum, in aid of the Royal Marsden Cancer Hospital. It became clear just over 2 years later when Brooker died of cancer, that he had a personal reason to support this charity.
I had the bridge camera with me. Approaching the metal detectors it was clear I could not stash this into a pocket to avoid it being spotted. It was made very clear by security staff that a camera of this size was not acceptable. Despite my protestations there was no way it would be allowed in. One of the supervisors recognised the camera and had an idea of its worth and took it to be locked away for pick up after the event.
Of course I had a reserve camera. My Sony compact. I still had to get that one through security. They asked me if the lens focal length was 55mm or higher. Well it was not a digital SLR and therefore focal length was not particularly relevant. I said straight away it was 50mm and they waved me through. In fact there was sufficient strength in the lens to magnify images many times more than a basic 50mm lens, and indeed better than the 200mm lens I had used back in the 1980s!
I was in the 4th row to the left of the stage, meaning I managed to get some pretty good pictures of the multitude of stars taking part in this event. Many of the artists appear elsewhere on this site and the pictures below are of those who do not.
Bonnie Tyler
Mick Hucknall
Rick Wakeman
Eric Clapton
Van Morrison
Yusuf/Cat Stevens
Finale
Elvis Costello and the Imposters
Just Trust
SEC Armadillo Glasgow
5 March 2020
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My first trip to Scotland for a gig. A flight to Glasgow Airport, a bus into the city centre. I checked into my Travelodge then walked over to the SEC complex. I had to get my ticket from the box office and was surprised to see the numbers already queuing not realising that was for Lewis Capaldi at the adjacent SEC Hydro!
They were only checking bags at the Armadillo and I got in with the bridge camera without issue. I was upstairs and needed the extra magnification and detail that camera delivers. All in all a pleasantly uneventful trip.
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I had another ticket to see Elvis a few days later in Manchester, but by then the turmoil surrounding Covid-19 was well and truly with us. There was no prohibition travelling but I took the decision that discretion was the better part of valour and I stayed in Ireland. There were a number of false dawns over the following 18 months, with gigs for the Stereophonics, the Who, Jeff Lynne’s ELO, Roger Hodgson of Supertramp and a variety of others completely falling by the wayside and many others postponed.
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