tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80632099155085362942024-02-06T22:36:25.017-08:00Toon's Tunes (cameras and cargos)Alison Toon Photographerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14312622637296166412noreply@blogger.comBlogger1076125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063209915508536294.post-60692943169946036072022-11-27T07:12:00.002-08:002022-11-27T07:12:21.969-08:00Christmas Cromer Pier Show 2022 - Opening Night!<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Cromer Pier Show Christmas 2022" height="337" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/65fb06ec-676e-40f5-bc99-3437ef806c57/HR-CromerPierChristmas2022-26Nov2022-1968_large.jpg" width="600" /></p><p>First night of the <a href="https://www.cromerpier.co.uk/cromer-pier-show/the-cromer-pier-show-2023/cromer-pier-christmas-show/" target="_blank">Cromer Pier Christmas Show for 2022 </a>- and it's a brilliant show! Everything comes together beautifully: comedy and classics, intrigue and illusion, dance and delight. The Pavilion Theatre - right at the end of <a href="https://www.cromerpier.co.uk/" target="_blank">Cromer's Victorian pier</a> - was full of people for this opening show, all clearly having as much fun as I did. </p><p>The show is traditional variety but bang up to date: excellent lights and sound and winter-festive sparkle throughout. Very much worth travelling to see - and it's for all the family. British entertainment at it's best! Directed by Rob McVeigh and produced by Openwide Coastal Ltd, with a whole team of people front and back stage on costume, sound, and lights, the production is exactly what's needed to bring winter cheer in the dark days before Christmas. Brilliant! I loved it!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Cromer Pier Show Christmas 2022" height="375" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/9341d79d-e21b-425a-85b3-13429ed506aa/HR-CromerPierChristmas2022-26Nov2022-1853_large.jpg" width="600" /></p><p><a href="https://www.ollyday.com/shows/" target="_blank">Olly Day</a> is, as always, laugh-out-loud hilarious. The Twelve Days of Christmas performed by Olly, saxophonist Chloe Edwards-Wood, and illusionist Danny Hunt is a ridiculously-funny highlight. There are no lords a leaping, but there are loo rolls, mops, and of course, the famous Cromer crabs. Who knew.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Cromer Pier Show Christmas 2022" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/4b0d42dd-a866-4352-95c8-eb03cf046324/HR-CromerPierChristmas2022-26Nov2022-1813-2_large.jpg" width="600" /></p><p>The Cromer Pier Show Ensemble's six dancers - Georgie, Samantha, Samuel, Lucy, Kia, and Ciaran - beautifully fluid and making the stage as bright, emotional, and moving as any West End performance. Choreographed by the show's co-director Amy Grimshaw, the dancers even include ghostly spirits during Scrooge's appearance in the show!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Cromer Pier Show Christmas 2022" height="337" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/21d4a507-64d3-4dcc-b43d-37d06c6728ac/HR-CromerPierChristmas2022-26Nov2022-1932_large.jpg" width="600" /></p><p>Vocalists Hayley Moss and Ben Killingback soar - Hayley, quite literally, rising above the stage on a crescent moon. Ben, Olly, and the male members of the dance Ensemble's rendition of Sounds of Silence is dark and intense, fitting the lyrics like the song was made for them.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Amethyst, Illusionists, Cromer Pier Show Christmas 2022" height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/2d3e8a6b-7098-412e-a930-260d2fd6e27b/HR-CromerPierChristmas2022-26Nov2022-1934-2_large.jpg" width="600" /></p><p>The illusionists, <a href="https://www.amethystmagic.com/" target="_blank">Amethyst</a>, (Danny and Stephanie) are something really special. From the first-act magic kettle that pours any drink that you are thinking of, through to a truly how-the-heck-did-they-do-that??? moment in the second half of the show, they are magically mind-boggling and I'm not going to tell you what that mindblowing moment is - you have to come see. But I'm still scratching my head wondering, how on earth was that even possible??? </p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Cromer Pier Show Christmas 2022" height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/dcb4266c-f0eb-48cb-8761-32b343851286/HR-CromerPierChristmas2022-26Nov2022-1865-2_large.jpg" width="600" /></p><p>A wonderful evening out! Put a date for the show on your Christmas list: the show runs from now until 30th December, with both matinee and evening performances. <a href="https://www.cromerpier.co.uk/cromer-pier-show/the-cromer-pier-show-2023/cromer-pier-christmas-show/" target="_blank">Book tickets here.</a> You don't need an excuse to come to the seaside at any time of the year - just do it!</p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Cromer Pier Show Christmas 2022" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/966ee740-5162-4793-8c00-e96052727b2e/HR-CromerPierChristmas2022-26Nov2022-1955-2_large.jpg" width="600" /></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Alison Toon Photographerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14312622637296166412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063209915508536294.post-82313005437748708722022-05-16T13:05:00.004-07:002022-05-16T13:06:48.497-07:00Gary Numan at the LCR, Norwich, 15 May 2022<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/gary-numan/gary-numan-at-uea-norwich-2022/-/medias/973d0df9-f711-4eb0-b4be-6bf218628ce7-gary-numan" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Gary Numan" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/973d0df9-f711-4eb0-b4be-6bf218628ce7/HR-GaryNuman-UEA-Norwich-15May2022-0252_large.jpg" srcset="//di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/973d0df9-f711-4eb0-b4be-6bf218628ce7/HR-GaryNuman-UEA-Norwich-15May2022-0252_large.jpg 600w, //di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/973d0df9-f711-4eb0-b4be-6bf218628ce7/HR-GaryNuman-UEA-Norwich-15May2022-0252_medium.jpg 400w, //di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/973d0df9-f711-4eb0-b4be-6bf218628ce7/HR-GaryNuman-UEA-Norwich-15May2022-0252_xlarge.jpg 800w, //di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/973d0df9-f711-4eb0-b4be-6bf218628ce7/HR-GaryNuman-UEA-Norwich-15May2022-0252_xgaplus.jpg 1152w" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gary Numan, Norwich</td></tr></tbody></table><p> On tour with the new album, <a href="https://garynuman.com/" target="_blank">Intruder</a>, Gary Numan brought his band and the music to Norwich's sticky-floored venue, the <a href="https://www.ueaticketbookings.co.uk/aboutourvenues/uealcr/" target="_blank">Nick Rayns LCR</a>, on Sunday night. Playing new songs from <a href="https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/gary-numan/2022/nick-rayns-lcr-uea-norwich-england-33b73859.html" target="_blank">Intruder plus a selection from earlier albums</a>, he kept the crowd enthralled. </p><p>We were dancing. You can't help yourself. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/gary-numan/gary-numan-at-uea-norwich-2022/-/medias/4c6606cc-77ad-43dc-8212-6c460f872d72-gary-numan" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Gary Numan" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/4c6606cc-77ad-43dc-8212-6c460f872d72/HR-GaryNuman-UEA-Norwich-15May2022-0124_large.jpg" srcset="//di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/4c6606cc-77ad-43dc-8212-6c460f872d72/HR-GaryNuman-UEA-Norwich-15May2022-0124_large.jpg 600w, //di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/4c6606cc-77ad-43dc-8212-6c460f872d72/HR-GaryNuman-UEA-Norwich-15May2022-0124_medium.jpg 400w, //di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/4c6606cc-77ad-43dc-8212-6c460f872d72/HR-GaryNuman-UEA-Norwich-15May2022-0124_xlarge.jpg 800w, //di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/4c6606cc-77ad-43dc-8212-6c460f872d72/HR-GaryNuman-UEA-Norwich-15May2022-0124_xgaplus.jpg 1152w" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gary Numan and band, Norwich</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Lights, action, music - brilliant night!</p><p>There are a few more dates left on the UK in the tour before Gary Numan heads off for an extensive tour of Europe, then more dates in the US: check for a date near you here: <a href="https://garynuman.com/tours/" target="_blank">https://garynuman.com/tours/</a></p><p>Many more photos in the hoto gallery: <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/gary-numan/gary-numan-at-uea-norwich-2022" target="_blank">Gary Numan, Norwich UK, 15 May 2022</a></p>
<p></p><p style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/gary-numan/gary-numan-at-uea-norwich-2022/-/medias/287a51e0-f15b-440c-93df-0777c43d5ffb-gary-numan"><img alt="Gary Numan" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/287a51e0-f15b-440c-93df-0777c43d5ffb/HR-GaryNuman-UEA-Norwich-15May2022-0170_large.jpg" srcset="//di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/287a51e0-f15b-440c-93df-0777c43d5ffb/HR-GaryNuman-UEA-Norwich-15May2022-0170_large.jpg 600w, //di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/287a51e0-f15b-440c-93df-0777c43d5ffb/HR-GaryNuman-UEA-Norwich-15May2022-0170_medium.jpg 400w, //di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/287a51e0-f15b-440c-93df-0777c43d5ffb/HR-GaryNuman-UEA-Norwich-15May2022-0170_xlarge.jpg 800w, //di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/287a51e0-f15b-440c-93df-0777c43d5ffb/HR-GaryNuman-UEA-Norwich-15May2022-0170_xgaplus.jpg 1152w" width="600" /></a>
</p><p></p>Alison Toon Photographerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14312622637296166412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063209915508536294.post-52992849409174857162022-03-24T06:35:00.002-07:002022-03-24T06:35:28.863-07:00Supergroup cover The Beatles “Come Together” to raise money: Ukraine<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1463146022/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 470px; width: 350px;"><a href="https://copinternational.bandcamp.com/album/come-together">Come Together by Lifeline International</a></iframe></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">Music label </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">COP International Records </span></span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">is pleased to </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">announce the release of “Come Together (We Will Stop You),” a new single by the supergroup Lifeline International that features an all-star lineup of alternative rock musicians. </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">The band i</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">ncludes members of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">Rammstein, Faith No More, Stabbing Westward,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">The Hardkiss (From Ukraine), Gravity Kills and Lisa K.</span></span></p><div style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Created as a “mission of humanity” to help the millions of people who are suffering in Ukraine and beyond, this modern spin on The Beatles’ classic “Come Together” is the brainchild of </span><span style="color: black;">COP International Records </span><span style="color: black;">founder Christian Petke and the legendary music producer </span><span style="color: black;">John Fryer.</span> <span style="color: black;">The single is now available for purchase on </span><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://copinternational.bandcamp.com/album/come-together" target="_blank">COP International’s</a></span><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://copinternational.bandcamp.com/album/come-together" target="_blank"> Bandcamp page</a>, and will soon be </span><span style="color: black;">followed by other major digital music services, with 100% of the proceeds will donated to </span><span style="color: black;">UNICEF.</span></span><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;"> </span></div><div style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </div>Alison Toon Photographerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14312622637296166412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063209915508536294.post-17382312225244522372021-12-14T00:01:00.000-08:002021-12-14T00:01:06.241-08:00Darby and Walk The Line - a rising star<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/the-bloodshake-chorus/bloodshake-chorus-cromer-social-club-2018/-/medias/699490c1-c609-476f-9884-1e4a4e1cceeb-the-bloodshake-chorus" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Bloodshake Chorus" height="267" src="https://d3e1m60ptf1oym.cloudfront.net/699490c1-c609-476f-9884-1e4a4e1cceeb/HR-BloodshakeChorus-CromerSC-14Jul2018-5512_large.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Darby, Bloodshake Chorus</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p> You may have heard me raving about a Norfolk band, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheBloodshakeChorus" target="_blank">The Bloodshake Chorus</a>; my <a href="https://www.camerasandcargos.com/2018/07/review-bloodshake-chorus-at-cromer.html" target="_blank">first live show</a> after returning to the UK from California, and I've also caught them at <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/the-bloodshake-chorus/bloodshake-chorus-bearded-theory-2019" target="_blank">Bearded Theory festival</a> and <a href="https://www.camerasandcargos.com/2019/08/the-bloodshake-chorus-at-cromer-carnival.html" target="_blank">Cromer Carnival</a>. But last night the entire world (at least, that part of the entire world that watches ITV talent/entertainment shows) saw and heard the powerhouse that is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DarbyOfficial" target="_blank">Darby</a>. Vocalist with Bloodshake Chorus, performing on his own - with one piano, no huge production - on ITV's (very strange) new show, <a href="https://www.itv.com/hub/walk-the-line/10a1814" target="_blank">Walk The Line</a>. Singing the beautiful song, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_(Who_Have_Nothing)" target="_blank">I Who Have Nothing</a>, covered by many - most famously by Shirley Bassey - but never as strongly as this.</p>
In case you missed it, you can experience Darby's performance here:<div> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QKrAprTLgTY" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div>
<p> Standing ovation from the judges. Collective gasps from the audience.</p><p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/DarbyOfficial" target="_blank">No, Darby didn't go through to the next round</a> - he was the one who the previous night's winner, Ella, had to beat. She went through. Don't ask me why. Don't ask t<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=darby%20walktheline&src=typed_query" target="_blank">he many folks who commented on #walktheline on Twitter either</a> - Darby's performance was hugely appreciated. I just have to put it down to TV "talent" shows not being entirely about the talent, the voice, the performance, the music. We've seen it too often - it's more about the story that a performer tells to give them the edge - Simon Cowan's idea of entertainment, and why I rarely watch these shows (other than the early sessions of The Voice, when the judges have their backs turned... but even that is all sad stories. Every person on this planet has a story to tell - let's hear it in the music, please). I cringe too much when someone sings in that very-slightly-off-key way, tells a sad story, then wins.</p><p>In my mind, Darby won this show hands down: not by going through to the next round or by winning half a million pounds (though I'm sure that would have been a very useful sum to put in the bank): rather, by exposing his musical soul and magical voice to so many people. </p><p>My understanding is that t<a href="https://twitter.com/I_am_darby_" target="_blank">here's a single to be released soon</a>:</p><p style="text-align: center;"> <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zgv-9qz6OQU" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> </p><div>Listen to it. "Like" it. Follow Darby on <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=darby%20walktheline&src=typed_query" target="_blank">Facebook</a> (look out for the wonderful song with RedNek), <a href="https://twitter.com/I_am_darby_" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, and whereever else you find him on social media. This man is a star. He's rising.</div><div><br />
Previous reviews: </div><div><a href="https://www.camerasandcargos.com/2019/08/the-bloodshake-chorus-at-cromer-carnival.html" target="_blank">Bloodshake Chorus at Cromer Carnival</a> <div><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/the-bloodshake-chorus/bloodshake-chorus-bearded-theory-2019" target="_blank">Bloodshake Chorus at Bearded Theory 2019</a> </div><div><a href="https://www.camerasandcargos.com/2018/07/review-bloodshake-chorus-at-cromer.html" target="_blank">Bloodshake Chorus at Cromer Social Club</a></div></div></div>Alison Toon Photographerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14312622637296166412noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063209915508536294.post-38769639606912920332021-12-11T09:30:00.003-08:002021-12-11T09:44:40.022-08:00Cromer Pier Christmas Show 2021: review and photos<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows/cromer-pier-christmas-show-2021/-/medias/ff6124e3-1920-4848-824f-1c628331221f-cromer-pier-christmas-show-2021" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cromer Pier Christmas Show 2021" height="337" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/ff6124e3-1920-4848-824f-1c628331221f/HR-CromerPier-ChristmasShow-10Dec2021-6356_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cromer Pier Christmas Show 2021</td></tr></tbody></table><p>You know it's nearly Christmas when you see the <a href="https://www.cromerpier.co.uk/cromer-pier-show/the-cromer-pier-show-2021/cromer-pier-christmas-show/" target="_blank">Cromer Pier Christmas Show</a> - it's back and it's fun and it's a fast-moving, traditional variety show with something for everyone. Host <a href="https://www.ollyday.com/" target="_blank">Olly Day</a> is hilarious and now I know that I really, really must call the town Croomer if I ever want to be considered any sort of an almost-local-incomer. We really needed the Croomer Barbie outfit walking on the pier to the show on Friday night (thermal undies, waterproofs, and an umbrella that turns inside-out) because it was a cold, damp, and blustery night, but the show and the <a href="https://www.cromerpier.co.uk/about-us/pavilion-theatre/" target="_blank">Pavilion Theatre</a> itself were enough to warm us to the heart.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows/cromer-pier-christmas-show-2021/-/medias/f4b2389f-8ba0-4073-903a-ed1f4b832fd0-rob-mcveigh-vocalist" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rob McVeigh, vocalist" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/f4b2389f-8ba0-4073-903a-ed1f4b832fd0/HR-CromerPier-ChristmasShow-10Dec2021-4205_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rob McVeigh, vocalist and director, with the Cromer Pier Ensemble dancers<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Instant costume changes and delightful scenery, lighting, and backdrops transported us from one Christmas world to another, and another, and another. Yes, I saw Santa. You have to look out for him: he's very, very fast. Practicing for the big night.</div><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows/cromer-pier-christmas-show-2021/-/medias/cedd4aa1-884d-4eb6-9bf7-96ff01d8dc7d-olly-day-and-jo-little" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Olly Day and Jo Little" height="429" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/cedd4aa1-884d-4eb6-9bf7-96ff01d8dc7d/HR-CromerPier-ChristmasShow-10Dec2021-4078_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Host Olly Day and comic and singer Jo Little</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Comedy, dance, song, magic and illusion; rinse and repeat. All with a Christmas theme. We even went for a ride on the Polar Express. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows/cromer-pier-christmas-show-2021/-/medias/d8f9e985-04ae-4ab5-9bf2-ce91e7361011-cromer-pier-christmas-show-2021" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cromer Pier Christmas Show 2021" height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/d8f9e985-04ae-4ab5-9bf2-ce91e7361011/HR-CromerPier-ChristmasShow-10Dec2021-6316_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cromer Pier Show dancers plus fire-eater Rebecca Foyle</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>
I'm always impressed by the dancers at the Cromer Pier shows: summer or winter, they move from ballet to jazz and rock-and-roll with such supple ease. They make Cromer's Pavilion Theatre feel like it's in London's West end rather than being in the unique situation at the end of a Victorian pier out over the North Sea. Yes, it's the only end-of-the-pier variety show in the world!</div><div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows/cromer-pier-christmas-show-2021/-/medias/7b701066-3eac-46f8-b4d1-c546fa7a19a8-olly-day-comedien-and-host" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Olly Day, comedien and host" height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/7b701066-3eac-46f8-b4d1-c546fa7a19a8/HR-CromerPier-ChristmasShow-10Dec2021-6338_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olly Day and his volunteer selection device. And a snowman.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Despite the pandemic, there's still audience participation from a (great) distance: <a href="https://www.ollyday.com/" target="_blank">Olly Day</a> chose a volunteer (at least I think she volunteered but I don't think there was much of an option!) using a new Covid-safe device. And then had us all scratching our heads at his sleight of hand with a giant card trick - how did he do that??? </p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows/cromer-pier-christmas-show-2021/-/medias/5155ced7-8dd0-472b-9088-01b1287cb25a-hayley-moss-soprano" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Hayley Moss, soprano" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/5155ced7-8dd0-472b-9088-01b1287cb25a/HR-CromerPier-ChristmasShow-10Dec2021-6063_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soprano Hayley Moss</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Beautiful singing from soprano <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Hayley-Moss-Soprano-768884076475624" target="_blank">Hayley Moss</a>, vocalist and director of the show <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mcveigh28" target="_blank">Rob McVeigh</a>, and comic <a href="https://www.speaksvolumes.co.uk/jo-little/" target="_blank">Jo Little</a>. I loved the a-capella version of Leonard Cohen's Halleluja (and was delighted to hear the original lyrics - too many covers have messed with them).</p><p>At the end of the show, Olly Day paid tribute to people lost over the past two years: this includes two stars of shows past, Phil Butler and Paul Eastwood. It showed how much of a close community the members of the show casts are - and how much the pier shows are a part of the hearts of everyone who lives here or visits on holiday.</p>
<p>The new lighting and large backdrop screen that were installed over the pandemic while the Pavilion Theatre was shut really enhance the shows; and the Christmas Show has extra magic, with fairy lights all around the theatre and coloured icicles that echo the stage lighting. Lovely job with the lights and sound! </p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows/cromer-pier-christmas-show-2021/-/medias/3b8d23dd-7181-4d58-8a1a-5c43f790348c-rob-mcveigh-vocalist" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rob McVeigh, vocalist" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/3b8d23dd-7181-4d58-8a1a-5c43f790348c/HR-CromerPier-ChristmasShow-10Dec2021-6147_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cromer Pier Christmas Show 2021</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The <a href="https://www.cromerpier.co.uk/cromer-pier-show/the-cromer-pier-show-2021/cromer-pier-christmas-show/" target="_blank">Cromer Pier Christmas Show</a> continues until 30th December with both matinee and evening shows. The show lasts about two hours with a short interval where you can feast on ice cream or visit the iconic bar at the end of the pier. <a href="https://cromer.ticketsolve.com/shows/873618077/events/128312783?_ga=2.39879714.1841819556.1639242514-1249038342.1639242513" target="_blank">Check out the days and times and book your tickets here!</a></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows/cromer-pier-christmas-show-2021/-/medias/57dd8d74-229f-4697-8840-3e45b28569a5-cromer-pier-christmas-show-2021" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cromer Pier Christmas Show 2021" height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/57dd8d74-229f-4697-8840-3e45b28569a5/HR-CromerPier-ChristmasShow-10Dec2021-6400_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finale with confetti!!!</td></tr></tbody></table><p> More photos from the Cromer Pier Christmas Show 2021: <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows/cromer-pier-christmas-show-2021" target="_blank">photo gallery click here.</a></p><p> Photo galleries from other Cromer Pier shows: <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows" target="_blank">all the Cromer Pier show gallerie</a>s.</p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows/cromer-pier-christmas-show-2021/-/medias/e372a131-4e7e-4f56-ad09-b09d97262bc9-taylor-morgan-magician-and-illusionist" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Taylor Morgan, magician and illusionist" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/e372a131-4e7e-4f56-ad09-b09d97262bc9/HR-CromerPier-ChristmasShow-10Dec2021-6264_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magician and illusionist Taylor Morgan</td></tr></tbody></table>
</div>Alison Toon Photographerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14312622637296166412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063209915508536294.post-19362305867823214512021-12-03T01:08:00.000-08:002021-12-03T01:08:15.963-08:00Marillion, London Hammersmith: The Light was Saved!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion/marillion-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-tour-20/saturday-marillion-at-hammersmith-london-27-nov-/-/medias/6a1887a6-691d-430e-87cd-f715e16995c1-marillion-hammersmith-london" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Marillion, Hammersmith, London" height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/6a1887a6-691d-430e-87cd-f715e16995c1/HR-Marillion-HammersmithOdeon-27Nov2021-5862_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Confetti... Marillion, Hammersmith, London</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">And so the tour came to a glorious end: the Eventim Apollo, or as so many still call it, the Hammersmith Odeon or Hammy O, filled with a snowstorm of falling confetti. Crowded with fans - many travelling from afar from the event, travel rules permitting - and watched by many more around the world through a livestream event, <a href="https://marillion.com" target="_blank">Marillion completed their Light At The End Of The Tunnel UK</a> tour.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion/marillion-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-tour-20/saturday-marillion-at-hammersmith-london-27-nov-/-/medias/b97d92e0-67b9-450d-b66b-aa32633a4050-steve-rothery-guitar-marillion" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Steve Rothery, guitar, Marillion" height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/b97d92e0-67b9-450d-b66b-aa32633a4050/HR-HammersmithOdeon-27Nov2021-4651_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Kelly and Steve Rothery, Marillion, Hammersmith</td></tr></tbody></table><p> With a setlist that spanned the band's repertoire (you'll find all the setlists on <a href="https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/marillion/2021/eventim-apollo-london-england-38a553f.html" target="_blank">setlist.fm including the one for Saturday at the Hammy O</a>), you could see the happiness in the band members faces at being back on stage, back on the road. Happiness is the road, right? A wonderful light show complements the music and delights the audience. The livestream captured the show in a way that I haven't seen any other livestream do - and I've watched and listened to a few since Covid broke our world. Saturday was a superb evening.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion/marillion-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-tour-20/saturday-marillion-at-hammersmith-london-27-nov-/-/medias/37516183-5a8a-4518-b185-85f499776bc3-steve-hogarth-vocals-marillion" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Steve Hogarth, vocals, Marillion" height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/37516183-5a8a-4518-b185-85f499776bc3/HR-Marillion-HammersmithOdeon-27Nov2021-5374_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve Hogarth (Mr H), Marillion, Hammersmith</td></tr></tbody></table><p> As bands start touring again, there are still risks that Covid will get in the way. It's nigh on impossible to obtain tour insurance in the UK right now: so many tours have had to be cancelled due to a member testing positive for Covid, or dates rescheduled. Marillion got around this in a very creative way: <a href="https://www.camerasandcargos.com/2021/10/the-covid-effect-how-do-you-insure-your.html" target="_blank">they launched a campaign called Lightsavers</a> where the tour was underwritten by fans who contributed various amounts of money to help pay the costs if anything happened to stop the tour. The money wasn't needed: Saturday night proved that it can happen, with the band in a tight bubble throughout. It can't have been easy - but it did work. (The pledged money from Lightsavers has already been returned to the donors!) Is this the way to insure tours for the future, without the big-money insurance companies and bankers? That's yet to be seen.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion/marillion-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-tour-20/friday-marillion-at-hammersmith-london-26-nov-20/-/medias/30e39698-3bbd-47cd-b928-c6bc392c11bd-pete-trewavas-bass-marillion" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pete Trewavas, bass, Marillion" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/30e39698-3bbd-47cd-b928-c6bc392c11bd/HR-Marillion-HammersmithOdeon-26Nov2021-3150_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pete Trewavas, Marillion, Hammersmith</td></tr></tbody></table><p> So what's next? The new album, <a href="https://www.marillion.com/pre-order/" target="_blank">An Hour Before It's Dark</a>, is scheduled for release early next year (one song played live for the first time during this tour, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4VfrnTvm9Y" target="_blank">Be Hard On Yourself</a> - click to listen to it). (The album is already recorded - just waiting for the manufacturing world to get its supply chain act together again.) Then there are <a href="https://marillionweekend.com/" target="_blank">the Marillion Weekends</a> in Lodz, Poland; Stockholm, Sweden; Leicester, England; Lisbon, Portugal; Montreal, Canada next year, and then Port Zelande, the Netherlands, in 2023. Videos are available through <a href="https://marillionvod.uscreen.io/" target="_blank">The Space, Marillion's official video-on-demand service</a>. And if you haven't done so yet, catch up on their entire <a href="https://marillion.com/music/discography.htm" target="_blank">musical portfolio</a>. There's even a <a href="https://marillion.com/music.htm" target="_blank">crash course for newbies!</a></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion/marillion-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-tour-20/saturday-marillion-at-hammersmith-london-27-nov-/-/medias/6630abe4-7188-4184-b1d1-14ffb7a0adc5-ian-mosley-drums-marillion" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ian Mosley, drums, Marillion" height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/6630abe4-7188-4184-b1d1-14ffb7a0adc5/HR-Marillion-HammersmithOdeon-27Nov2021-3974_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ian Mosley, Marillion, Hammersmith</td></tr></tbody></table><p> I was lucky enough to see and photograph four events on this tour: at <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion/marillion-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-tour-20/marillion-at-hull-city-hall-2021" target="_blank">Hull City Hall</a>, <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion/marillion-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-tour-20/marillion-at-cambridge-corn-exchange-2021" target="_blank">Cambridge Corn Exchange</a>, and both <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion/marillion-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-tour-20/friday-marillion-at-hammersmith-london-26-nov-20" target="_blank">Friday</a> and <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion/marillion-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-tour-20/saturday-marillion-at-hammersmith-london-27-nov-" target="_blank">Saturday</a> nights at the Hammersmith Odeon. Can't wait till the next time.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion/marillion-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-tour-20/saturday-marillion-at-hammersmith-london-27-nov-/-/medias/0401b781-b0be-449d-ae84-55b8484b4695-marillion-hammersmith-london" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Marillion, Hammersmith, London" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/0401b781-b0be-449d-ae84-55b8484b4695/HR-Marillion-HammersmithOdeon-27Nov2021-5783_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marillion and the pretty lights, Hammersmith, London</td></tr></tbody></table><p> All<a href="http://alisontoon.com" target="_blank"> Alison Toon Photographer</a> photos from Marillion's Light At The End Of The Tunnel tour: <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion/marillion-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-tour-20" target="_blank">Hull, Cambridge, London</a>.</p><p> All Marillion photos: <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion" target="_blank">Marillion photo galleries</a>.</p><p> Prints and downloads are available by permission of the band.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion/marillion-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-tour-20/saturday-marillion-at-hammersmith-london-27-nov-/-/medias/5aafcb46-2eb0-4156-9ad9-43193a42a83c-marillion-hammersmith-london" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Marillion, Hammersmith, London" height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/5aafcb46-2eb0-4156-9ad9-43193a42a83c/HR-HammersmithOdeon-27Nov2021-4977_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marillion, Hammersmith, London, 2021</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p>Alison Toon Photographerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14312622637296166412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063209915508536294.post-82470136117310001552021-12-01T07:55:00.001-08:002021-12-01T07:55:22.667-08:00On tour and in Norwich tonight - Tigercub<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://scontent.fltn3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/131354022_4030687583634389_5301665125079230181_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=09cbfe&_nc_ohc=VA617b5YKmkAX8OsG9L&_nc_ht=scontent.fltn3-2.fna&oh=d9e4e200ce2c1647fbd1e4b5b2d25a91&oe=61CEAD84" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="799" height="320" src="https://scontent.fltn3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/131354022_4030687583634389_5301665125079230181_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=09cbfe&_nc_ohc=VA617b5YKmkAX8OsG9L&_nc_ht=scontent.fltn3-2.fna&oh=d9e4e200ce2c1647fbd1e4b5b2d25a91&oe=61CEAD84" width="320" /></a></p><p>Hot off a tour with <a href="https://www.royalbloodband.com/" target="_blank">Royal Blood</a> and riding on top reviews from their release <a href="https://www.tigercubtigercub.com/" target="_blank">As Blue As Indigo</a> earlier this year, Tigercub have just begun their first headlining tour in four years - including a date in Norwich, at the <a href="https://www.ueaticketbookings.co.uk/aboutourvenues/waterfront/" target="_blank">Waterfront</a>, tonight and culminating on December 14th at the Lafayette in London. There may still be a ticket available - check them out - it's going to be a fun show!</p><p>Here's their latest single, <span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">“I.W.G.F.U.”</span>:</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AKd4E1mA0v4" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><p>... and an example of Tigercub's live show:</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KF-Y4T6bXt4" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><p>Tigercub tour dates this December:</p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">01: Norwich, England - The Waterfront</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">02: Leeds, England - Brudenell</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">03: Sheffield, England - The Leadmill</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">04: Glasgow, Scotland - King Tut's Wah Wah Hut</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">05: Newcastle, England - The Think Tank</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">06: Birmingham, England - Dead Wax</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">07: Nottingham, England - Bodega Social Club</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">08: Manchester, England - The Deaf Institute</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">10: Cardiff, Wales - Clwb Ifor Bach</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">11: Southampton, England - The Joiners </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">12: Exeter, Devon, England - The Cavern </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">14: London, England - Lafayette</span></p>Alison Toon Photographerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14312622637296166412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063209915508536294.post-84405780901229801932021-11-22T00:49:00.000-08:002021-11-22T00:49:13.587-08:00Marillion, Cambridge Corn Exchange: The Light At The End Of The Tunnel tour 2021<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion/marillion-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-tour-20/marillion-at-cambridge-corn-exchange-2021/-/medias/47487f02-29a5-4f10-aa40-61c887efd141-steve-hogarth-vocals-marillion" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Steve Hogarth, vocals, Marillion" height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/47487f02-29a5-4f10-aa40-61c887efd141/HR-Cambridge-20Nov2021-2533_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marillion, Cambridge Corn Exchange, 2021<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Another wonderful show on the Marillion "Light At The End Of The Tunnel" tour. Beautiful lighting too!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Full photo gallery here: <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion/marillion-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-tour-20/marillion-at-cambridge-corn-exchange-2021" target="_blank">Marillion in Cambridge, 2021</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">More Marillion dates from this tour: <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion/marillion-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-tour-20" target="_blank">Marillion Light At The End Of The Tunnel UK Tour 2021</a> </div><div style="text-align: left;">All Marillion photos: <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion" target="_blank">http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion</a></div></td></tr></tbody></table>
Alison Toon Photographerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14312622637296166412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063209915508536294.post-28756396586670716892021-11-16T01:41:00.002-08:002021-11-16T01:46:17.526-08:00There is light at the end of the tunnel! Marillion at Hull City Hall, 14 November<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion/marillion-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-tour-20/marillion-at-hull-city-hall-2021/-/medias/3cc214dd-c3be-4d08-b17d-dae0d9dfe14e-marillion-hull-uk" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Marillion, Hull, UK" height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/3cc214dd-c3be-4d08-b17d-dae0d9dfe14e/HR-Marillion-Hull-14Nov2021-2277_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marillion, Hull City Hall, 14 November 2021</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p><a href="https://marillion.com" target="_blank">Marillion </a>opened their <a href="https://marillion.com/tour/index.htm" target="_blank">Light At The End Of The Tunnel</a> tour on Sunday night at <a href="https://www.hulltheatres.co.uk/" target="_blank">Hull City Hall</a>. The happiness in performing live after more than 700 days was palpable - both from the band, and from the fans who had travelled from near and far for this first event of the tour - and for the first live playing of the new song, Be Hard on Yourself, from the upcoming studio album <a href="https://marillion.ear-music.net/" target="_blank">An Hour Before It's Dark</a>.</p><p>Energetic, beautiful, inspiring performance from the band. A joyful event; people together in music after so very long in the dark.</p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion/marillion-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-tour-20/marillion-at-hull-city-hall-2021/-/medias/c0f79b68-a8f2-47a6-86bf-bc57f7bc3e27-steve-hogarth-vocals-marillion" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Steve Hogarth, vocals, Marillion" height="429" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/c0f79b68-a8f2-47a6-86bf-bc57f7bc3e27/HR-Marillion-Hull-14Nov2021-2369-2_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve Hogarth, Marillion</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Without sharing the setlist here - many who follow the band want to be surprised as the tour unfolds - it's a journey of memorable, favourite songs from the band's extensive catalog. All met by standing ovations, again and again. </p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion/marillion-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-tour-20/marillion-at-hull-city-hall-2021/-/medias/afe4914c-dbeb-4903-a5bb-ad271e4a8689-steve-rothery-guitar-marillion" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Steve Rothery, guitar, Marillion" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/afe4914c-dbeb-4903-a5bb-ad271e4a8689/HR-Marillion-Hull-14Nov2021-2183-2_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve Rothery, Marillion<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>
The tour -<a href="https://www.camerasandcargos.com/2021/10/the-covid-effect-how-do-you-insure-your.html" target="_blank"> underwritten by fans through the Lightsavers campaign</a>, a groundbreaking replacement for impossible-to-obtain tour insurance - continues until 27th November. There are a <a href="https://marillion.com/tour/index.htm" target="_blank">very few tickets</a> left: catch one of these shows if you can, it's a wonderful experience and there are fans around the world who have contributed to making it happen, even knowing they cannot be here in the UK themselves.<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion/marillion-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-tour-20/marillion-at-hull-city-hall-2021/-/medias/898dea63-9c7f-45bd-94c1-a1241406ea81-mark-kelly-keyboards-marillion" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mark Kelly, keyboards, Marillion" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/898dea63-9c7f-45bd-94c1-a1241406ea81/HR-Marillion-Hull-14Nov2021-2260-2_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Kelly, Marillion<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"></div></td><td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion/marillion-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-tour-20/marillion-at-hull-city-hall-2021/-/medias/bc07cd96-e880-45de-bd9a-2c7fe9733ff6-ian-mosley-drums-marillion" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ian Mosley, drums, Marillion" height="450" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/bc07cd96-e880-45de-bd9a-2c7fe9733ff6/HR-Marillion-Hull-14Nov2021-1953_large.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ian Mosley and Mark Kelly, Marillion<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div>Happy and moving music. A celebration of the return to live performance. There really is a light at the end of the tunnel that we've all been struggling through for the past two years. </div><div><br /></div><div>Be Hard on Yourself's debut performance met by great appreciation from the audience; huge new song and now the anticipation for the new album grows. An Hour Before It's Dark will be released early in 2022: <a href="https://www.marillion.com/pre-order/" target="_blank">look out for updates here</a>. And if you haven't already, <a href="https://marillion.ear-music.net/" target="_blank">place a pre-order</a> to receive the album as soon as it's released. There are some cool bundles!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion/marillion-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-tour-20/marillion-at-hull-city-hall-2021/-/medias/1696e9e5-65ca-434e-b453-d7212e607764-pete-trewavas-bass-marillion" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pete Trewavas, bass, Marillion" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/1696e9e5-65ca-434e-b453-d7212e607764/HR-Marillion-Hull-14Nov2021-2172-2_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pete Trewavas, Marillion</td></tr></tbody></table><p>It's a new day for us all - a couple of very small bloopers during the show made the event so very human. People in the audience not knowing quite how to greet longtime friends, hugs or no hugs? Elbow bumps, fist bumps, waves and cheers and smiles; photographer-me no longer used to the weight of the kit when moving around the venue and rusty at just-about everything. </p><p>(Just to be silly, I clocked my activity on my sports watch: over a mile inside the venue, up and down, and that was taking it easy - yes, wearing a mask after climbing from the stalls to the top of the gallery felt tough, but it's part of the photo-ninja kit these days - and part of our responsibility, surely, to keeping everyone as safe as possible.) </p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion/marillion-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-tour-20/marillion-at-hull-city-hall-2021/-/medias/03edeb9a-8e03-4a38-a01e-1fa4f9963609-marillion-hull-uk" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Marillion, Hull, UK" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/03edeb9a-8e03-4a38-a01e-1fa4f9963609/HR-Marillion-Hull-14Nov2021-2427_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Audience celebrating Marillion's return to live shows, Hull</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Full photo gallery from the show in Hull here:<a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion/marillion-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-tour-20/marillion-at-hull-city-hall-2021" target="_blank"> Marillion Hull 2021</a> </p><p>More Marillion photos: <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion" target="_blank">Marillion photo galleries</a></p>
<p>Further shows from the Light At The End Of The Tunnel Tour <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion/marillion-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-tour-20" target="_blank">will appear here</a>. </p></div></div>Alison Toon Photographerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14312622637296166412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063209915508536294.post-20898374340636835972021-10-08T13:08:00.000-07:002021-10-08T13:08:29.978-07:00The Covid Effect: How do you insure your tour/festival? Marillion solved it.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion/marillion-with-friends-from-the-orchestra-tour-2/marillion-with-friends-from-the-orchestra-southe/-/medias/67ad156c-49f1-4858-9e68-068b1ad02a01-marillion-with-friends-from-the-orchestra-southend-cliffs-pavi" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Marillion with Friends from the Orchestra, Southend Cliffs Pavilion" height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/67ad156c-49f1-4858-9e68-068b1ad02a01/HR-MarillionWithFriends-Southend-15Nov2019-8224-8224_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marillion and Friends from the Orchestra, Southend, UK, 2019</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">If you've experienced the frustration of paying for a ticket to a concert or festival since the pandemic began - and then had it cancelled, or postponed, you've probably lost money. Unrefundable tickets aside, there's hotel bookings, travel plans, days off work that you weren't able to readjust, etc. etc. etc. From a fan's perspective it's upsetting - especially if it's for a band you've hoped to see live for years, and have no clue if you'll get the chance again. But it isn't likely to bankrupt you.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Imagine the costs involved for the musicians and their management. Upfront costs booking/reserving venues, lighting equipment and sound engineers, and everything involved in the logistics. It all costs a fortune to set up - with a lot of expenses that must be paid before the performers sell a single ticket or play a single concert. And if a show is cancelled, it's not just refunded tickets and logistical costs that must still be paid, but also loss of the all-important merch sales that make up so much of musician's income since streaming decimated the value of their music revenue. </p><p style="text-align: left;">In the past, touring bands and festivals have been able to arrange insurance just-in-case something happens - it was a low risk for insurance companies to underwrite. Then COVID. And now, with the world gradually starting to open up again, it's difficult, unimaginabley expensive, or even totally impossible, to obtain this essential insurance.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.marillion.com/lightsavers/images/LightHeader.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="95" data-original-width="800" height="77" src="https://www.marillion.com/lightsavers/images/LightHeader.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Bands are touring; bands are taking all precautions - full vaccination, "bubbles" for the band, no meet-and-greets - but we're seeing tours affected by the virus on a daily basis. Musicians or their touring team testing positive and having to miss a few dates (<a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/korns-jonathan-davis-tests-positive-for-covid-19-1212962/" target="_blank">Korn</a>, <a href="https://www.nme.com/news/music/corey-taylor-thinks-he-contracted-coronavirus-from-selfish-audience-member-3032732" target="_blank">Corey Taylor</a>, <a href="https://www.fromashestonew.com/" target="_blank">From Ashes to New,</a> <a href="https://www.nme.com/news/music/genesis-postpone-remaining-uk-farewell-tour-dates-due-to-positive-covid-test-3066074" target="_blank">Genesis</a> - the list goes on) before returning to their scheduled dates. Festivals have been rewriting their lineups with great flexibility (<a href="https://aftershockfestival.com" target="_blank">Aftershock</a>, <a href="https://louderthanlifefestival.com/" target="_blank">Louder Than Life</a>). Entire tours cancelled or delayed due to other health reasons where the pandemic has played a part, or simply because the time doesn't feel right or the risk of cancellation is too great (<a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/my-chemical-romance-postpone-tour-2022-1156983/" target="_blank">My Chemical Romance</a>, <a href="https://loudwire.com/ministry-2021-tour-helmet-front-line-assembly/" target="_blank">Ministry</a>, <a href="https://www.fnm.com/" target="_blank">Faith No More</a>). How can musicans survive financially if they must take on the entire burden of the cost of touring without insurance?</p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.marillion.com/" target="_blank">Marillion - crowdsourcing pioneers - and their manager Lucy Jordache</a> came up with a solution. Their Light as the End of the Tunnel tour kicks off in November, but was impossible to insure. This week, they launched the aptly-named <a href="https://www.marillion.com/lightsavers/" target="_blank">Lightsavers </a>campaign: fans pledge money and act as a crowd-insurance fund, indemnifying the losses if the concerts are affected by COVID. The money is going into escrow: if all goes as expected and the tour rocks around the UK without a problem, then the fans receive their pledges back. If the money is needed to pay unavoidable costs due to a COVID issue, then <a href="https://www.marillion.com/" target="_blank">Marillion </a>uses the pledge account to pay.</p><p style="text-align: left;">All pledgers receive something in return (in addition to feeling good about helping the band out and making sure the tour goes ahead). Depending on the pledge amount there are gifts ranging from seeing your name in a tour program to a personal meeting with the band through Zoom. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Guess what? The highest-price pledges sold out within hours. And within 24 hours, the band were well on their way to raising their target amount. It seems to be working, incredibly well.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion/marillion-with-friends-from-the-orchestra-tour-2/marillion-rah-monday/-/medias/acece314-11ff-4a5a-b6f8-fcb81e5bac54-marillion-with-friends-from-the-orchestra-royal-albert-hall-l" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Marillion with Friends from the Orchestra, Royal Albert Hall, London" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/acece314-11ff-4a5a-b6f8-fcb81e5bac54/Marillion-RAH-London-18Nov2019-9449_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marillion at the Royal Albert Hall, London, 2019</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;">
</p><p style="text-align: left;">Is this the tour insurance model for the future? <a href="https://www.marillion.com/" target="_blank">Marillion </a>have an incredibly loyal and global fan base, some of whom have pledged to the <a href="https://www.marillion.com/lightsavers/" target="_blank">Lightsavers </a>fund without a hope of travelling to the UK for this tour. It is going to work for this band. Whether it's a sustainable long-term model, and one that can be adopted by other musicians or festival organizers - or rather, if it really should be how bands must procure insurance from now on - has yet to be seen.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Maybe it's time to displace the <a href="https://www.marillion.com/music/lyric.htm?id=1113" target="_blank">New Kings</a> of banking and insurance. Maybe this is one step in the right direction.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Full details of the <a href="https://www.marillion.com/lightsavers/" target="_blank">Lightsavers </a>campaign - and how to participate: <a href="https://www.marillion.com/lightsavers/" target="_blank">Marillion Lightsavers</a></p><p style="text-align: left;">Marillion tour dates: <a href="https://www.marillion.com/tour/index.htm" target="_blank">Marillion Light at the End of the Tunnel tour</a></p><p style="text-align: left;">Marillion photo galleries: <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion" target="_blank">http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion</a></p><p><br /></p>Alison Toon Photographerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14312622637296166412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063209915508536294.post-38696414432818876942021-08-22T09:25:00.000-07:002021-08-22T09:25:34.346-07:00Cromer Pier Show is back - and it rocks!!!<div class="separator"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows/cromer-pier-summer-2021/-/medias/fcdc0237-1c84-4606-824b-acdcc1bd605b-cromer-pier-show-summer-2021" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="Cromer Pier Show summer 2021" height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/fcdc0237-1c84-4606-824b-acdcc1bd605b/HR-CromerPierShow-21Aug2021-0610_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Les Miserables, Cromer Pier Show</td></tr></tbody></table><p> Now open and performing throughout the summer until the beginning of October, <a href="https://www.cromerpier.co.uk/cromer-pier-show/the-cromer-pier-show-2021/" target="_blank">Cromer's famous and unique end-of-the-pier variety show</a> is back! New cast, new acts, new production, and a lovely new lighting rig and large screen too - the show opens with a video montage look back over the past eighteen months and the return to the stage. It's been a long time coming.</p>
<p>
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows/cromer-pier-summer-2021/-/medias/e8b36385-889d-4339-a3f4-7419690632d4-phil-butler-and-max-fulham-cromer-pier-show" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Phil Butler and Max Fulham, Cromer Pier Show" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/e8b36385-889d-4339-a3f4-7419690632d4/HR-CromerPierShow-21Aug2021-1742_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Host Phil Butler and ventriloquist Max Fulham</td></tr></tbody></table><center>
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<p>Compere and host <a href="https://philbutler.website" target="_blank">Phil Butler</a> brings comedy, magic, and artistry to his fifth season on the pier. Rubik's cubes, playing-card-mind-reading, and painting with sand plus making us laugh? Yes, you have to see it!</p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows/cromer-pier-summer-2021/-/medias/b3e3c2bd-9243-4fac-943e-9c48c8880a56-max-fulham-ventriloquist-cromer-pier-show" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Max Fulham, ventriloquist, Cromer Pier Show" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/b3e3c2bd-9243-4fac-943e-9c48c8880a56/HR-CromerPierShow-21Aug2021-2015_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max Fulham and Grandad</td></tr></tbody></table><center>
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<p>In a slight change to previous years' summer shows, this time there's a new special guest each week - so if you're in Cromer for a two week holiday go to the show twice to see the different acts! Last night's special guest - ventriloquist <a href="https://maxfulham.co.uk" target="_blank">Max Fulham</a> and his monkey, grandad (fully clothed and cover-my-eyes, in a red Speedo), pedal bin, and fly were exceptional. Funny, clever, and so talented. Look out for Max (and all his friends) - they will be going far.</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows/cromer-pier-summer-2021/-/medias/9c0c8fc3-1eab-492d-9aff-834aa6bf48af-duo-fusion-uk-cirque-aerial-and-acrobatic-cromer-pier-show" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Duo Fusion UK, cirque, aerial and acrobatic, Cromer Pier Show" height="450" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/9c0c8fc3-1eab-492d-9aff-834aa6bf48af/HR-CromerPierShow-21Aug2021-0239_large.jpg" width="348" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Duo Fusion UK</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p>For the first time at Cromer Pier,<a href="https://facebook.com/duofusionuk" target="_blank"> Duo Fusion UK</a>: an aerial and acrobatic show of flexibility, strength, agility, beauty, and - ultimately - trust. Suspended above the stage performing moves that would have graced the Olympics gymnastics floor, with no net, Connor and Tiffany made us all hold our breaths. Incredible!</p>
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<a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows/cromer-pier-summer-2021/-/medias/f4d37492-0e46-4001-968c-4c5135046695-reiss-thomson-dancer-cromer-pier-show"><img alt="Reiss Thomson, dancer, Cromer Pier Show" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/f4d37492-0e46-4001-968c-4c5135046695/HR-CromerPierShow-21Aug2021-1816_large.jpg" width="600" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows/cromer-pier-summer-2021/-/medias/a482c0ff-0bfe-4208-a5bb-08b103a9134a-cromer-pier-show-summer-2021" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cromer Pier Show summer 2021" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/a482c0ff-0bfe-4208-a5bb-08b103a9134a/HR-CromerPierShow-21Aug2021-0512_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cromer Pier Show dancers</td></tr></tbody></table><center>
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<p>The dance that's a big part of the <a href="https://www.cromerpier.co.uk/cromer-pier-show/the-cromer-pier-show-2021/" target="_blank">Cromer Pier Show</a> is beautifully choreographed throughout. Such a big show fits onto the end of a pier in the North Sea is always intriguing to me. The Irish dance set was stunning; nothing like any other Irish dance I've ever seen, this was dark with a touch of menace and totally brilliant. </p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows/cromer-pier-summer-2021/-/medias/1bf527f5-d028-4fec-a118-c09181b5b84f-rob-mcveigh-lead-vocalist-cromer-pier-show" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rob McVeigh, lead vocalist, Cromer Pier Show" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/1bf527f5-d028-4fec-a118-c09181b5b84f/HR-CromerPierShow-21Aug2021-1868_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marina Lawrence-Mahrra and Rob McVeigh in a scene from Mary Poppins</td></tr></tbody></table><center>
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<p>This season's lead vocalists are <a href="https://www.instagram.com/marina_antoinette_lm/?hl=en" target="_blank">Marina Lawrence-Mahrra</a> and Rob McVeigh who together with the show's dancers Chris, Emily, Georgie, Luke, and Reiss and the rest of the cast take us on a musical adventure, with the first half of the show being scenes and songs from Mary Poppins and the finale, after two hours of wonderful family entertainment, from Les Miserables.</p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows/cromer-pier-summer-2021/-/medias/57dc4e53-0c53-4d35-84bf-26a8e89e4266-rob-mcveigh-lead-vocalist-cromer-pier-show" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rob McVeigh, lead vocalist, Cromer Pier Show" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/57dc4e53-0c53-4d35-84bf-26a8e89e4266/HR-CromerPierShow-21Aug2021-0596_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rob McVeigh and the ensemble, Les Miserables</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><center><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows/cromer-pier-summer-2021/-/medias/1e4fd003-5fd1-423b-be7c-0c080c2ad6f8-marina-lawrence-mahrra-lead-vocalist-with-emily-hardy-and-geo"><img alt="Marina Lawrence-Mahrra, lead vocalist, with Emily Hardy and Georgie Cox, Cromer Pier Show" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/1e4fd003-5fd1-423b-be7c-0c080c2ad6f8/HR-CromerPierShow-21Aug2021-0434_large.jpg" width="600" /></a>
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<p>Each part of the show is a gem. As a whole, it's the crown jewels - and what shines throughout is the comeraderie and friendship and hard work of the performers. Performing arts - perhaps more than any other profession - have had to overcome enormous challenges since the beginning of the pandemic, just to be able to come back now that the world has started to open up again. We as the audience have missed them - now's the chance to take back the theatre, take back the concerts, support the performers - and just get out and have fun. That's exactly what you'll do at Cromer Pier Show!</p>
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<a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows/cromer-pier-summer-2021/-/medias/be623f22-d3de-45c0-9d2e-9d2095abb8db-cromer-pier-show-summer-2021"><img alt="Cromer Pier Show summer 2021" height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/be623f22-d3de-45c0-9d2e-9d2095abb8db/HR-CromerPierShow-21Aug2021-0634_large.jpg" width="600" /></a>
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<p>All Alison Toon Photographer photos from this summer's show: <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows/cromer-pier-summer-2021" target="_blank">Cromer Pier Show summer 2021</a></p><p>Previous Cromer Pier Shows: <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows?subgallery=02c0d3f4-682b-4793-afd3-d4ecb34dd7b7" target="_blank">Cromer Pier Shows</a></p><p>Book your tickets here: <a href="https://www.cromerpier.co.uk/cromer-pier-show/the-cromer-pier-show-2021/" target="_blank">https://www.cromerpier.co.uk/cromer-pier-show/the-cromer-pier-show-2021/</a></p>
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Alison Toon Photographerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14312622637296166412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063209915508536294.post-84188961958554674712021-08-03T01:27:00.003-07:002021-08-03T01:27:39.230-07:00Old Buckenham Airshow 2021<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/life/california-capital-airshow/typhoon-old-buckenham-airshow-2021/-/medias/a5727935-d2b4-4284-8ab8-f8406ad2b942-union-jack-typhoon-diving" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Union Jack Typhoon diving" height="239" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/a5727935-d2b4-4284-8ab8-f8406ad2b942/HR-Typhoon-OldBuckenham-Airshow2021-31Jul2021-1240-2_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typhoon, Old Buckenham Airshow 2021</td></tr></tbody></table><p> This past weekend, July 31st and August 1st, saw the return of the <a href="https://oldbuckenhamairshow.com/" target="_blank">Old Buckenham Airshow.</a> Pilots making their planes dance against a background of spectacular clouds and breakthrough blue skies. Click on the links for the full photogalleries or <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/life/california-capital-airshow?subgallery=3d489066-bdde-4629-ad48-fb1267b88b6b" target="_blank">go here to see them all</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/life/california-capital-airshow/little-and-large-old-buckenham-airshow-2021/-/medias/b07ef72d-9559-4d0a-b787-80748f58c7fc-little-and-large-extra-duo" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Little and Large Extra Duo" height="337" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/b07ef72d-9559-4d0a-b787-80748f58c7fc/HR-LittleLargeExtraDuo-OldBuckenham-Airshow2021-31Jul2021-0704_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little and Large, Old Buckenham Airshow 2021</td></tr></tbody></table><br />A wonderful, family-friendly sold-out-in-advance event, close to Norwich, England. With acts ranging from the huge <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/life/california-capital-airshow/sally-b-flying-fortress-old-buckenham-airshow-20" target="_blank">Sally-B Flying Fortress</a> - the only 'Fortress regularly seen in Europe - and a zooming, <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/life/california-capital-airshow/typhoon-old-buckenham-airshow-2021">Union Jack Typhoon jet</a> to stunt aerobatics from <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/life/california-capital-airshow/matadors-aerobatics-team-old-buckenam-airshow-20" target="_blank">the Matadors (the guys who fly through hangars)</a>, <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/life/california-capital-airshow/fireflies-aerobatics-display-team-old-buckenham-" target="_blank">Fireflies with lovely synchro</a>, to a <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/life/california-capital-airshow/the-last-dogfight-spitfires-and-other-planes-old" target="_blank">reenactment of the last dogfight of WWII </a>(it involved spotter planes and a service pistol).<div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/life/california-capital-airshow/red-sparrows-display-team-old-buckenham-airshow-/-/medias/c209ce5e-69c6-4274-9a0d-7eafe70fce47-the-red-sparrows" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Red Sparrows" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/c209ce5e-69c6-4274-9a0d-7eafe70fce47/HR-RedSparrows-OldBuckenham-Airshow2021-31Jul2021-1614_large.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Red Sparrows, Old Buckenham Airshow 2021<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/life/california-capital-airshow/matadors-aerobatics-team-old-buckenam-airshow-20/-/medias/4d55cb65-789c-4626-95e3-e2f01fc95667-matadors-aerobatic-team" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Matadors Aerobatic Team" height="267" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/4d55cb65-789c-4626-95e3-e2f01fc95667/HR-Matadors-OldBuckenham-Airshow2021-31Jul2021-0854-Enhanced_large.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matadors, Old Buckenham Airshow 2021</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>There were the Turbulent Team <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/life/california-capital-airshow/turbulent-display-team-old-buckenham-airshow-202" target="_blank">planes chasing balloons and limbo-dancing a few feet from the ground</a>, and a <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/life/california-capital-airshow/little-and-large-old-buckenham-airshow-2021" target="_blank">stunning display of synchronised flying by Little and Large</a> - a full-sized plane flown by the human pilot, and a scale model flown remotely.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/life/california-capital-airshow/staggerwing-old-buckenham-airshow-2021/-/medias/d5a1e7bd-597c-4292-b818-1db87b0b42a8-beechcraft-staggerwing" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Beechcraft Staggerwing" height="267" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/d5a1e7bd-597c-4292-b818-1db87b0b42a8/HR-Staggerwing-OldBuckenham-Airshow2021-31Jul2021-1427_large.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Staggerwing, Old Buckenham Airshow 2021</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /> <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/life/california-capital-airshow/the-last-dogfight-spitfires-and-other-planes-old" target="_blank">Spitfires </a>and a <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/life/california-capital-airshow/hurricane-old-buckenham-airshow-2021" target="_blank">Hurricane </a>and a <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/life/california-capital-airshow/staggerwing-old-buckenham-airshow-2021" target="_blank">lovely, plum-coloured Staggerwing</a>. A <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/life/california-capital-airshow/messerschmitt-old-buckenham-airshow-2021" target="_blank">here-comes-the-baddie Messerschmitt</a>. An <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/life/california-capital-airshow/at-6-old-buckenham-airshow-2021" target="_blank">American AT-6</a>. Even the <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/life/california-capital-airshow/red-sparrows-display-team-old-buckenham-airshow-" target="_blank">Red Sparrows</a>!!! (Yes, you heard that right.) Many more... brilliant day out!</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/life/california-capital-airshow/sally-b-flying-fortress-old-buckenham-airshow-20/-/medias/f547ac2b-c81c-4d22-b7d0-c27da6969384-boeing-b-17-flying-fortress-sally-b" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Boeing B-17" b="" flying="" fortress="" height="338" sally="" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/f547ac2b-c81c-4d22-b7d0-c27da6969384/HR-FlyingFortressSallyB-OldBuckenham-Airshow2021-31Jul2021-0041_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sally-B Flying Fortress, Old Buckenham Airshow 2021</td></tr></tbody></table><p><a href="http://www.oldbuck.com/en/home/" target="_blank">Old Buckenham airfield</a> was built as the wartime home of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/453rd_Bombardment_Group" target="_blank">US Airforce 453rd Bombardment Group</a> and there's <a href="http://www.oldbuck.com/en/museum/" target="_blank">a museum on site</a> (which I must go back to explore). Today it operates as an airfield and training school and an <a href="http://www.oldbuck.com/en/venue/" target="_blank">event venue for just about anything you need space for</a>. </p><p>As always, any errors in naming these planes are mine - please send any corrections!</p><p>Many more photos from this, and other, airshows <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/life/california-capital-airshow" target="_blank">here on the airshow gallery page</a>. </p><p>California Capital Airshow stories <a href="https://www.camerasandcargos.com/2016/10/california-capital-airshow-little-deja.html" target="_blank">here </a>and <a href="https://www.camerasandcargos.com/2017/09/california-capital-airshow-patriots.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</p></div></div>Alison Toon Photographerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14312622637296166412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063209915508536294.post-78141757257767485202021-07-20T00:40:00.001-07:002021-07-20T00:40:19.355-07:00Live music is back!!! The Legends Festival, Cromer<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/legends-festival/people-of-legends-festival-cromer-2021/-/medias/72de6cf2-1aea-4d1b-bde3-d1aaf2002bb0-cromer-uk-17-and-18-july-2021-people-having-fun-at-the-legen" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;"><img alt="CROMER, UK: 17 and 18 July 2021, people having fun at the Legends Festival, Cromer Hall, Norfolk, England." height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/72de6cf2-1aea-4d1b-bde3-d1aaf2002bb0/HR-People-LegendsFestival-CromerHall-18Jul2021-8992_large.jpg" width="600" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">People having fun at the Legends Festival, Cromer, 2021</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;"> The return of live music - after many, many months without it - is something to celebrate. My last festival was<a href="https://www.camerasandcargos.com/2019/10/first-day-of-aftershock-2019.html" target="_blank"> Aftershock 2019</a>, last concert <a href="https://www.camerasandcargos.com/2020/01/insomnium-at-waterfront-norwich-england.html" target="_blank">Insomnium</a> in January 2020 and I know everyone has similar stories to tell. So this weekend's<a href="https://www.legendsfestival.co.uk/norfolk/" target="_blank"> Legends Festival at Cromer Hall, Cromer, Norfolk </a>was a delight. Well organized, lots of space, a natural festival setting with a gentle slope allowing everyone to see the stage. Everyone brought seats, picnic blankets, even tables laden with food for all the family. Some of the photos taken with the long zoom look like everyone was close together - not so, we sat, stood, and danced in groups with lots of room between. So happy for people to be together again, enjoying the music, and having loads of fun - that's really the point of festivals, right? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">Birthday parties, hen parties, and general happiness. People of all ages from tiny kids suitably equipped with ear protectors right through to seniors rocking out to the music of Queen, the Beatles, and ABBA. The festival is all tribute bands; singalong, dance-along music.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">Day one began with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TributetoColdplay" target="_blank">Cloneplay</a>, a Coldplay tribute - one of those bands where, unless you're a major fan, you don't always remember all the many hits that they had, until you hear them again - at least, that's how it is for me. Of course! Yellow! and then of course! the next and the next and the next.</span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/legends-festival/cloneplay/-/medias/e7dbd37c-3375-4c30-8cea-a63a650b12bd-cloneplay"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;"><img alt="Cloneplay" height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/e7dbd37c-3375-4c30-8cea-a63a650b12bd/HR-Cloneplay-LegendsFestival-17Jul2021-17Jul2021-8966_large.jpg" width="600" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">Then <a href="https://www.facebook.com/wildboys80sband" target="_blank">Wildboys </a>were scheduled to play but had to drop out due to someone testing positive for Covid - that's going to happen these days - but the festival organizers brought in the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Amazing80sLive" target="_blank">Amazing 80's</a> at short notice, and they really, really shone. Non-stop high energy hits from all of the 80s, from synthpop and new age to two-tone and hairbands. </span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/legends-festival/amazing-80s/-/medias/6cf1caf3-7f35-4904-9bd4-17076a8b31e6-amazing-80s"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;"><img alt="Amazing 80s" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/6cf1caf3-7f35-4904-9bd4-17076a8b31e6/HR-Amazing80s-LegendsFestival-17Jul2021-17Jul2021-8645_large.jpg" width="600" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">And the icing on the cake: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ukqueenband" target="_blank">UK Queen</a>, with vocals and sound so very reminiscent of the real thing. Made me want to hear UK Queen and <a href="https://www.camerasandcargos.com/2015/07/queen-nation-best-tribute-band-ever-yes.html" target="_blank">Queen Nation</a> play a tribute show together. </span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/legends-festival/uk-queen-2021/-/medias/00df4e0d-eb28-48cb-a1a1-3de4563ef904-alexander-koronka-vocals-uk-queen"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;"><img alt="Alexander Koronka, vocals, UK Queen" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/00df4e0d-eb28-48cb-a1a1-3de4563ef904/HR-UKQueen-LegendsFestival-17Jul2021-17Jul2021-9470_large.jpg" width="600" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">Day two kicked off with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jimmyloveimpersonator" target="_blank">Jimmy Love as Elton John</a>. He really looked like Elton while making the songs his own. </span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/legends-festival/jimmy-love-as-elton-john/-/medias/221ec49c-d85b-430e-9408-99d3f2004605-jimmy-love-as-elton-john"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;"><img alt="Jimmy Love as Elton John" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/221ec49c-d85b-430e-9408-99d3f2004605/HR-JimmyLoveEltonJohn-LegendsFestival-CromerHall-18Jul2021-9565_large.jpg" width="600" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">Next: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theupbeatbeatles" target="_blank">The Upbeat Beatles</a> - so very cool. Paul McCartney with those eyebrows and playing Hofner bass left-handed? Check. George looking occasionally morose but playing beautiful guitar? Yep! John over on stage left with his famous glasses and sound? Right! And Ringo rocking the drums? Of course! Complete with a video history of Beatlemania they took us through the days of the Beatles, from rock'n'roll in the Cavern, the Sergeant Pepper days, through to the band's breakup. I'd absolutely go see <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theupbeatbeatles" target="_blank">Upbeat Beatles</a> again.</span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/legends-festival/the-upbeat-beatles/-/medias/a300bf00-c804-4b2e-926c-dc117bc1c4fd-the-upbeat-beatles"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;"><img alt="The Upbeat Beatles" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/a300bf00-c804-4b2e-926c-dc117bc1c4fd/HR-UpbeatBeatles-LegendsFestival-CromerHall-18Jul2021-9659_large.jpg" width="600" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">Final act of this year's festival:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AbbaMania" target="_blank"> ABBA Mania</a>. All the ABBA hits, all the moves, all the on-stage relationships between the band members.</span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/legends-festival/abba-mania/-/medias/3e5fc04b-d211-4c32-a14c-d8a326256437-abba-mania"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;"><img alt="ABBA Mania" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/3e5fc04b-d211-4c32-a14c-d8a326256437/HR-ABBAMania-LegendsFestival-CromerHall-18Jul2021-0002_large.jpg" width="600" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">It was a very memorable weekend and I'm already looking forward to next year's. The grounds at Cromer Hall are such a natural place for all sorts of festivals - not just tribute bands - I wonder if we can persuade them to hold more. <a href="https://dannywimmerpresents.com/" target="_blank">A local Danny Wimmer Presents festival would be a joy</a>! Cromer has lots of holiday accomondation, there's local camping, and the access to parking was easy - at least with this past weekend's dry and sunny weather. We couldn't have ordered a better two days of sunshine - it was just right. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">Live music is back, and it's so good.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">Photo galleries:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/legends-festival/people-of-legends-festival-cromer-2021" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">People of Legends Festival 2021</span></a></li><li><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/legends-festival/cloneplay" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">Cloneplay</span></a></li><li><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/legends-festival/amazing-80s" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">Amazing 80's</span></a></li><li><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/legends-festival/jimmy-love-as-elton-john" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">Jimmy Love as Elton John</span></a></li><li><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/legends-festival/the-upbeat-beatles" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">The Upbeat Beatles</span></a></li><li><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/legends-festival/abba-mania" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">ABBA Mania</span></a></li><li><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/legends-festival?subgallery=393bfd7e-5321-4a3b-98d2-03e297131d4a" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">All the festival galleries</span></a></li></ul><p></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/legends-festival/people-of-legends-festival-cromer-2021/-/medias/70be52d1-a79c-418c-a724-e35abfbc0d7f-cromer-uk-17-and-18-july-2021-people-having-fun-at-the-legen"><img alt="CROMER, UK: 17 and 18 July 2021, people having fun at the Legends Festival, Cromer Hall, Norfolk, England." height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/70be52d1-a79c-418c-a724-e35abfbc0d7f/HR-People-LegendsFestival-CromerHall-18Jul2021-9136_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></div>Alison Toon Photographerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14312622637296166412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063209915508536294.post-48082773531931154032021-05-21T01:07:00.002-07:002021-05-21T05:09:19.242-07:00Pop Evil: Versatile, out now (21st May 2021)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/pop-evil/pop-evil-02-islington-london-uk/-/medias/5d95a9a8-460b-4d5a-83c9-e76e199989ea-pop-evil" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pop Evil" height="338" src="https://d3e1m60ptf1oym.cloudfront.net/5d95a9a8-460b-4d5a-83c9-e76e199989ea/PopEvil-O2Islington-1Mar2019-8363_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pop Evil, O2 Islington, London, UK - 2019</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">If you pre-ordered </span><a href="https://popevil.com" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Pop Evil</a><span style="text-align: left;">'s new album, Versatile, today is the day - for a real treat. If you didn't pre-order: today's the day to buy your copy.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span> </span><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A8fW4raUopI" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><span> </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"> <span style="text-align: left;">Available from </span><a href="https://www.popevil-versatile.com/" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">all the usual outlets</a><span style="text-align: left;">.Today!</span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dfC9pnCLuyI" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><p>There is always such an energy, a power, with <a href="https://popevil.com" target="_blank">Pop Evil's music</a> - moving you onwards, forwards, through and through. A driving force, drums and bass behind everything. This is so strong beginning with the opening track, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufJloDF5KgE" target="_blank">Let the Chaos Reign</a>" and even greater in "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlOyRPR0RRU" target="_blank">Work</a>" - if you're looking for a new workout song, this is it. Then it moves into something more gentle; "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3pqiI6PhOE" target="_blank">Inferno</a>" is rather beautiful... there's a distant quality to the song, almost underwater, "slowly sinking in sand".</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/pop-evil/pop-evil-02-islington-london-uk/-/medias/51b1b7e8-bbc6-4496-a2ba-43108ad12833-leigh-kakaty-vocals-pop-evil" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Leigh Kakaty, vocals, Pop Evil" height="225" src="https://d3e1m60ptf1oym.cloudfront.net/51b1b7e8-bbc6-4496-a2ba-43108ad12833/PopEvil-O2Islington-1Mar2019-1775_large.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leigh Kakaty, vocals, Pop Evil<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/pop-evil/pop-evil-02-islington-london-uk/-/medias/6860754c-f3d0-4ba5-971c-45c861f35edc-leigh-kakaty-and-hayley-cramer-pop-evil" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Leigh Kakaty and Hayley Cramer, Pop Evil" height="338" src="https://d3e1m60ptf1oym.cloudfront.net/6860754c-f3d0-4ba5-971c-45c861f35edc/PopEvil-O2Islington-1Mar2019-1944_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leigh Kakaty and Hayley Cramer, Pop Evil</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Several of these songs were released online before today... hearing them within the context of the entire album brings them even more to light.</p>
<p>I apologise... I intended to write a much more in-depth review. Instead, I just want to listen to this music. On repeat. You should try it too.</p><p>Upcoming tour dates: <a href="https://popevil.com/tour-dates/">https://popevil.com/tour-dates/</a> I really, really hope to be at <a href="https://aftershockfestival.com" target="_blank">Aftershock Festival</a>. Fingers crossed, vaccinated, tested... everything crossed that international travel is allowed by then! (As my family is spread across several countries and continents, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/popevil" target="_blank">so is Pop Evil</a>: I'm wondering how the band-family is handling this (drummer <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HayleyCramerDrums" target="_blank">Hayley Cramer </a>is based in the UK; <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_Evil" target="_blank">rest of the band</a> in the USA). </p><p>More Pop Evil:</p><p><a href="https://www.camerasandcargos.com/2019/03/pop-evil-in-uk-o2-academy-islington.html" target="_blank">Concert at the O2, Islington, London UK</a><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.camerasandcargos.com/2016/03/theres-something-about-pop-evil-theres.html" target="_blank">Ace of Spades, Sacramento, California</a></p><p><a href="https://www.camerasandcargos.com/2016/07/pop-evil-did-i-mention-that-i-like-pop.html" target="_blank">Chicago Open Air festival</a></p><p><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/pop-evil" target="_blank">All the Pop Evil photo galleries</a></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/pop-evil/pop-evil-02-islington-london-uk/-/medias/66edc12e-69b9-4072-9a9c-88c9101b0004-matt-dirito-bass-pop-evil" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Matt DiRito, bass, Pop Evil" height="225" src="https://d3e1m60ptf1oym.cloudfront.net/66edc12e-69b9-4072-9a9c-88c9101b0004/PopEvil-O2Islington-1Mar2019-1768_large.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matt DiRito, bass, Pop Evil</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p>
Alison Toon Photographerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14312622637296166412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063209915508536294.post-7090594522338915812021-05-20T10:02:00.003-07:002021-05-20T10:02:58.454-07:00What I've been listening to lately<p> Suddenly. So many new album releases - and so much that I'd just missed. So much good music. Here are just a few that I've been listening to recently.</p><p><a href="http://www.chaoseum.com/" target="_blank">Chaoseum</a>: it was this song that grabbed my attention - sounds so much like Korn - but<a href="https://chaoseum.bandcamp.com/album/second-life" target="_blank"> listen to the entire album Second Life</a>, and their music is their own. The band hails from Switzerland and are very much worth a listen.</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9T6PXX7X2ro" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.paulweller.com/">Paul Weller</a>: his latest album, <a href="https://paulweller.lnk.to/FatPopAlbumWE" target="_blank">Fat Pop</a>, has been on repeat. It's something special and it's very alive. (If like me you have a ticket to his <a href="https://www.paulweller.com/tour/" target="_blank">much-moved tour, the latest dates are here</a>.) To go with the release, the Modfather and friends made this live video:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uCQaEudrbUI" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://myleskennedy.com/" target="_blank">Myles Kennedy</a>: also released last week, Myles' second solo album, <a href="https://myleskennedy.com/" target="_blank">The Ides of March.</a> This one is to listen to over and over again - you discover something new on each listening (and this is exactly how I listen to it - you can't beat vinyl at home). Great voice.:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hAD_82BD7k4" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">And something a little different: <a href="https://glebkolyadin.bandcamp.com/album/water-movements" target="_blank">Gleb Kolyadin's solo album, Water Movements</a>. It's liquid and it's calm and it's beautiful. You may know Gleb Kolyadin from the duo/band <a href="https://www.facebook.com/iamthemorningpage/" target="_blank">Iamthemorning</a>. Listen to Water Movements here:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=631147301/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 470px; width: 350px;"><a href="https://glebkolyadin.bandcamp.com/album/water-movements">water movements by Gleb Kolyadin</a></iframe></div>Alison Toon Photographerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14312622637296166412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063209915508536294.post-11686741849234080472020-12-31T10:09:00.002-08:002020-12-31T10:16:39.753-08:002020 - The Best Bits. One show, a Couch Convention, and some other nuggets<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/insomnium/insomnium-norwich-2020/-/medias/0c6f8d9b-8ecc-428b-a973-45914319726c-markus-vanhala-guitar-insomnium" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;"><img alt="Markus Vanhala, guitar, Insomnium" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/0c6f8d9b-8ecc-428b-a973-45914319726c/Insomnium-NorwichUK-18Jan2020-3459_large.jpg" width="600" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">Markus Vanhala, Insomnium</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;"> 18th January, 2020, at the Waterfront in Norwich, UK. Starting the photographic year with an evening of Finnish metal; <a href="https://www.camerasandcargos.com/2020/01/insomnium-at-waterfront-norwich-england.html" target="_blank">loved the show and you can find the review here</a>. Little did I know that it would be the one and only concert that I would photograph this year. Apart from the odd phone snap of a video stream on the TV... and that's where all our live music was, on screens. At least once people began to realise that the pandemic wouldn't just disappear within a few weeks.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">Two online events that were wonderful: first, <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion" target="_blank">Marillion's </a>Couch Convention in September, a three-day event with not only streamed concerts but support acts, interactive sessions, merch... and confetti: I kid you not, I'm still digging bits of confetti out from under the rug and behind the TV. Sheer genius... it really helps that the worldwide fans are like one huge family and it was a chance to catch up with people that, in a normal year, we might have bumped into at a show. But 2020 was never going to be normal - the Couch Convention showed just how some planning and ingenuity and some wonderful music can make so many people happy. (Through this, and other <a href="https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/win-marillion-lifetime-pass" target="_blank">things like this prize draw</a>, the band has been raising funds to help all the road and stage crew that have been badly affected by the halt in performances and touring.)</span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P4nFgtHS5T4" width="560"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">The second of my favouite online events: Steve H's wonderful H Natural live stream from St John's in Oxford. Just beautiful. (To find out more, and to listen to his podcasts, go here: <a href="http://www.stevehogarth.com/" target="_blank">http://www.stevehogarth.com/</a>.)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">My favourite new album of the year? This... Mother from <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/in-this-moment" target="_blank">In This Moment</a>. I've listened to it - a lot - throughout the year. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S0FrTf-Lqao?controls=0" width="560"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">Just a few best bits... next year will have more. Happy new year to you all!</span></div>Alison Toon Photographerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14312622637296166412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063209915508536294.post-10721514462125061562020-12-30T06:03:00.004-08:002020-12-30T06:16:18.824-08:00The Lost Year, and the Found Photos<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/i-prevail/i-prevail-at-aftershock-2019/-/medias/5859febc-2871-4ca3-959c-be085a68cd76-eric-vanlerberghe-vocals-i-prevail" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><img alt="Eric Vanlerberghe, vocals, I Prevail" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/5859febc-2871-4ca3-959c-be085a68cd76/IPrevail-Aftershock-11Oct2019-3654_large.jpg" title="Eric Vanlerberghe, vocals, I Prevail" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">Eric Vanlerberghe, vocals, I Prevail</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">
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<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;"> Not been writing much: who wants to read about lockdowns and misery and lack of live music? Instead, we keep busy (or not) with other things; tending the garden, walking for miles, working at jobs - those of us lucky-enough to have work that we can do from home, or essential jobs (thank you, all of you) - finding other creative outlets (I spent much time stripping wallpaper and organizing a full refurb of a Victorian property in a seaside town, much less time than usual listening to my usual escape, music, because the lyrics were playing again and again in my head at 3am rather like too-much Tetris, though that seems to have passed, thank you Universe).</span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/miw/motionless-in-white-at-aftershock-2019/-/medias/2f5cc823-3b0c-4c0a-8ee4-b28b9fd11c0e-chris-motionless-cerulli-vocals-motionless-in-white" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;"><img alt="Chris" cerulli="" height="337" in="" motionless="" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/2f5cc823-3b0c-4c0a-8ee4-b28b9fd11c0e/MIW-Aftershock-11Oct2019-3348_large.jpg" vocals="" white="" width="600" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">Chris "Motionless" Cerulli, Motionless In White</span></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">We may look back on 2020 and reminisce, how many concerts did you miss? How many tickets bought, yet still held for next year, or the year after? How many books did you read or TV shows did you binge? How much weight did you drop, or gain? </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/ded/ded-at-aftershock-2019/-/medias/f820d5cd-1dd2-429f-a090-b878846b28ac" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;"><img alt="DED-Aftershock-11Oct2019-3232" height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/f820d5cd-1dd2-429f-a090-b878846b28ac/DED-Aftershock-11Oct2019-3232_large.jpg" width="600" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">Joe Cotela, DED</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">How many people did you lose? (That's going to be the hardest. As a world, a country, a community, a family, as a human being and a humanity.)</span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/chevelle/chevelle-at-aftershock-2019/-/medias/6c111add-9ac8-4c33-a2a2-58ec7460ac30-chevelle" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;"><img alt="Chevelle" height="215" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/6c111add-9ac8-4c33-a2a2-58ec7460ac30/Chevelle-Aftershock-13Oct2019-6713_large.jpg" width="600" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">Chevelle</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">No, I didn't want to write about 2020. So I took a look through the photo archive, and found a few that I had missed editing at the back end of 2019. A little editing burnout; a lot of work to catch up on; some close-to-the-pandemic business trips and heck, just plain forgetfulness. So now here they are; a reminder of festivals past (they are from Aftershock 2019 - this year's festivals were, of course, postponed to 2021).</span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/gojira/gojira-at-aftershock-2019/-/medias/aab22585-f18d-4854-bb67-878248778783-joe-duplantier-vocals-and-guitar-gojira" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;"><img alt="Joe Duplantier, vocals and guitar, Gojira" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/aab22585-f18d-4854-bb67-878248778783/Gojira-Aftershock-13Oct2019-2682_large.jpg" width="600" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">Joe Duplantier, Gojira</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">Here's to the new year; may it bring hope, health, happiness, and music. I hope to see you in the crowd and in the photo pit many more times yet!</span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/blink-182-top/blink-182-at-aftershock-2019/-/medias/e27f56c8-7f83-4672-a68c-e47da9228f24-blink-182" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Blink-182" height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/e27f56c8-7f83-4672-a68c-e47da9228f24/Blink182-Aftershock-12Oct2019-6100_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">Blink-182</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">Photo galleries:</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">-<a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/blink-182-top/blink-182-at-aftershock-2019" target="_blank">Blink-182 at Aftershock 2019</a> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">- <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/chevelle/chevelle-at-aftershock-2019" target="_blank">Chevelle at Aftershock 2019</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">- <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/ded/ded-at-aftershock-2019" target="_blank">DED at Aftershock 2019</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">- <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/gojira/gojira-at-aftershock-2019" target="_blank">Gojira at Aftershock 2019</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">- <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/i-prevail/i-prevail-at-aftershock-2019" target="_blank">I Prevail at Aftershock 2019</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;">- <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/miw/motionless-in-white-at-aftershock-2019" target="_blank">Motionless In White at Aftershock 2019</a></span></div>Alison Toon Photographerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14312622637296166412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063209915508536294.post-52310826932031900862020-03-20T01:39:00.000-07:002020-03-20T01:39:24.375-07:00Concerts in the time of COVID-19: Catfish and the Bottlemen<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/catfish-and-the-bottlemen/cbm-brixton-2015/-/medias/6ee8210f-3f4c-4404-a420-8c069513e3f7-catfish-and-the-bottlemen" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Catfish and the Bottlemen" height="338" src="https://d3e1m60ptf1oym.cloudfront.net/6ee8210f-3f4c-4404-a420-8c069513e3f7/HR-CatfishBottlemen-London-Nov2015-00353_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catfish and the Bottlemen</td></tr>
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Missing your concert fix? Here's one for a grey Friday...<a href="https://catfishandthebottlemen.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3d64c1d2152d725834d0aed4d&id=fdedfe5eb9&e=61c779b977" target="_blank"> Catfish and the Bottlemen in Manchester</a>, UK:<br />
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Show at London Brixton's O2 in 2015: <a href="https://www.camerasandcargos.com/2015/11/catfish-and-bottlemen-brixton-o2.html" target="_blank">https://www.camerasandcargos.com/2015/11/catfish-and-bottlemen-brixton-o2.html</a> plus photos <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/catfish-and-the-bottlemen/cbm-brixton-2015" target="_blank">http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/catfish-and-the-bottlemen/cbm-brixton-2015</a></div>
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Photos from an early-days show in Sacramento, California, 2014 here: <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/catfish-and-the-bottlemen/cbm-sac-2014" target="_blank">http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/catfish-and-the-bottlemen/cbm-sac-2014</a></div>
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Review of the same show: <a href="https://www.camerasandcargos.com/2014/10/catfish-and-bottlemen-sometimes-you.html" target="_blank">https://www.camerasandcargos.com/2014/10/catfish-and-bottlemen-sometimes-you.html</a></div>
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Alison Toon Photographerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14312622637296166412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063209915508536294.post-48019140717419585182020-03-17T10:49:00.001-07:002020-03-17T11:13:41.426-07:00Lamb of God - Memento Mori (Official Music Video) out now!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/lamb-of-god/lamb-of-god-at-aftershock-2019/-/medias/7977c02a-d5d2-4c5f-8adc-6425c78e90ae-lamb-of-god" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Lamb Of God" height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/7977c02a-d5d2-4c5f-8adc-6425c78e90ae/LambOfGod-Aftershock-11Oct2019-4381_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lamb of God, Aftershock 2019</td></tr>
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New single from <a href="https://www.lamb-of-god.com/" target="_blank">Lamb of God</a>, taken from their upcoming new album. Lamb Of God, planned for release May 9th via Epic Records and<a href="http://lambofgod.lnk.to/LOG" target="_blank"> available for pre-order now.</a> Memento Mori has a gentle start... but take a listen... watch... wait for it....<br />
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<i>“There is a vast amount of indisputably real and depressingly negative occurrences happening across the globe,” </i>vocalist D. Randall Blythe explains<i>. “Currently, at the forefront of everyone’s mind is the global COVID-19 pandemic. This is a very real concern, and proper precautions need to be taken by EVERYONE in order to protect those most at risk - the elderly, infirm, and immunocompromised. It is indeed a scary time, but in this hyper-connected age with its 24/7 never-ending news cycle of atrocity, outrage and lurid click-bait headlines (not to mention ill-informed lunatics running amok and spreading misinformation and panic on social media), it is all too easy to lose sight of the fact that life is still carrying on, and good things do in fact still happen.”</i><br />
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<a href="https://twitter.com/lambofgod" target="_blank">Lamb of God</a> are D. Randall Blythe (vocals), Mark Morton (guitar), Willie Adler (guitar), John Campbell (bass) and Art Cruz (drums).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/lamb-of-god/lamb-of-god-at-aftershock-2019/-/medias/603fc268-11f6-4fca-95c2-8d86e757b9dc-lamb-of-god" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Lamb Of God" height="375" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/603fc268-11f6-4fca-95c2-8d86e757b9dc/LambOfGod-Aftershock-11Oct2019-4435_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lamb of God, Aftershock 2019</td></tr>
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Assuming the world returns to some sort of normal, Lamb of God have <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lambofgod/app/123966167614127/" target="_blank">a vast North America tour planned for later this year</a>. Not to be missed!<br />
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Also take a listen to guitarist Mark Morton's recently released solo album, <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anesthetic-Mark-Morton/dp/6317638594/ref=sr_1_2?qid=1584468040&refinements=p_32%3AMark+Morton&s=music&sr=1-2" target="_blank">Anaesthetic</a>: it's a keeper!<br />
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Review and photos from Lamb of God at <a href="http://aftershockfestival.com/" target="_blank">Aftershock festiva</a>l in Sacramento, California: <a href="https://www.camerasandcargos.com/2019/10/aftershock-2019-lamb-of-god.html" target="_blank">https://www.camerasandcargos.com/2019/10/aftershock-2019-lamb-of-god.html</a><br />
Photo gallery: <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/lamb-of-god/lamb-of-god-at-aftershock-2019" target="_blank">http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/lamb-of-god/lamb-of-god-at-aftershock-2019</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">D. Randall Blythe, Lamb of God</td></tr>
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Alison Toon Photographerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14312622637296166412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063209915508536294.post-7994808005458227712020-02-02T06:18:00.001-08:002020-02-02T06:18:35.560-08:00Five Finger Death Punch, Megadeth and Bad Wolves: Cardiff, Wales, UK<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/five-finger-death-punch/ffdp-cardiff-2020/-/medias/c9404f5d-1612-4dfe-b3df-1c266d8bf277-five-finger-death-punch-cardiff-2020" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Five Finger Death Punch, Cardiff, 2020" height="337" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/c9404f5d-1612-4dfe-b3df-1c266d8bf277/FFDP-CardiffWales-Jan2020-096_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Five Finger Death Punch, Cardiff, Wales, 2020</td></tr>
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<a href="https://fivefingerdeathpunch.com/" target="_blank">Five Finger Death Punch</a>, touring Europe and supported by both <a href="https://badwolvesnation.com/" target="_blank">Bad Wolves</a> and <a href="http://megadeth.com/" target="_blank">Megadeth </a>- yes, that Megadeth - zoomed into the UK to play two dates, mid-tour: <a href="https://motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk/" target="_blank">Cardiff's Motorpoint Arena</a> and London's <a href="https://www.ssearena.co.uk/" target="_blank">Wembley SSE Arena</a>. Cardiff was a bit more of an adventure - hadn't been there since many, many years - and a little more personal, with a capacity of 5,000 versus the SSE's 12,500. I'm used to seeing them in front of <a href="https://dannywimmerpresents.com/" target="_blank">tens of thousands at USA festivals</a> so the smaller venue would be cool; Cardiff is reachable by train, road, bus, and plane, accomodation is more affordable than London... and there are dragons... who can resist dragons! So for this tour, Cardiff was my choice, though I'm sure Wembley was stunning and those who were able to experience both shows must have been ecstatic and there was a teeny, weeny bit of green monster wriggling in my thoughts after the Cardiff show - and a question: why didn't I plan on going to both? (Must not be greedy. Must not be greedy. Must not be greedy. Let everyone have their turn.)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/five-finger-death-punch/ffdp-cardiff-2020/-/medias/494e5d40-8980-4446-b234-13dcaca76fd9-five-finger-death-punch-cardiff-2020" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Five Finger Death Punch, Cardiff, 2020" height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/494e5d40-8980-4446-b234-13dcaca76fd9/FFDP-CardiffWales-Jan2020-061_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Five Finger Death Punch, Cardiff, Wales, 2020</td></tr>
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With show-openers <a href="https://badwolvesnation.com/" target="_blank">Bad Wolves</a> (so much more than their excellent cover of Zombie), and mega-metal-stars Megadeth playing too (with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Mustaine" target="_blank">Dave Mustaine </a>now happily cancer-free), this was a not-to-miss tour.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/five-finger-death-punch/ffdp-cardiff-2020/-/medias/d120ddaf-4d35-4f89-b8a9-93909d39565d-five-finger-death-punch-cardiff-2020" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Five Finger Death Punch, Cardiff, 2020" height="218" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/d120ddaf-4d35-4f89-b8a9-93909d39565d/FFDP-CardiffWales-Jan2020-118_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Five Finger Death Punch, Cardiff, Wales, 2020</td></tr>
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<a href="https://fivefingerdeathpunch.com/" target="_blank">Five Finger Death Punch</a> opened with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLa-KyWT67E" target="_blank">Lift Me Up</a> and the crowd erupted. A <a href="https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/five-finger-death-punch/2020/motorpoint-arena-cardiff-wales-73989609.html" target="_blank">full, high-energy, more-up-than-down FFDP setlist</a> including an acoustic Wrong Side of Heaven and ending with The Bleeding. Accompanying the music; visuals including a giant skull and crossed bats, lasers, blasts of pyro that heated the entire arena; two, yes two, explosions of wonderful confetti; Jason Hook rising way, way up into the sky on the pointy end of a vertig-inducing, tiny platform; dreadlock swirling from Chris Kael's beard and Zoltan Bathory's hair; epic drumming from the new boy, Charlie Engen; and in front of it all, Ivan Moody. Love the hat, Ivan. Love the hat.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/five-finger-death-punch/ffdp-cardiff-2020/-/medias/6eabc7ff-32c1-4fe7-b926-bbf8914778e0-five-finger-death-punch-cardiff-2020" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Five Finger Death Punch, Cardiff, 2020" height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/6eabc7ff-32c1-4fe7-b926-bbf8914778e0/FFDP-CardiffWales-Jan2020-124_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jason Hook, guitar, Five Finger Death Punch</td></tr>
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<a href="https://fivefingerdeathpunch.com/" target="_blank">Five Finger Death Punch</a> have a way of involving every person in the audience; whether it's shining flashlights for a birthday song, celebrating sobriety, or simply singing along to the songs. This, together with knowing<a href="http://5fdp4vets.com/" target="_blank"> just how much they do for military veterans</a> and other causes, make the show is a moving experience; if you haven't seen them yet, a) why not and b) it's about time.<br />
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The <a href="https://fivefingerdeathpunch.com/pages/home#tour" target="_blank">tour continues in Europe throughout February with dates </a>in Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, and Bulgaria. Catch them if you can.<br />
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Five Finger Death Punch have a new album, <a href="https://fivefingerdeathpunch.com/" target="_blank">F8, set for release on 28th February and available for pre-order now</a>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/five-finger-death-punch/ffdp-cardiff-2020/-/medias/f3bbdad5-9336-4c74-99d1-07b0f34430b8-five-finger-death-punch-cardiff-2020" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Five Finger Death Punch, Cardiff, 2020" height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/f3bbdad5-9336-4c74-99d1-07b0f34430b8/FFDP-CardiffWales-Jan2020-221_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Confetti... Five Finger Death Punch, Cardiff, 2020</td></tr>
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Sometimes I'm at a show with an official photo pass and pro cameras; sometimes I'm there to embrace the fan experience. This was definitely the latter - the photos are all phone pics taken from the crowd. <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/five-finger-death-punch/ffdp-cardiff-2020" target="_blank">Atmospheric maybe - zoomable, poster-size quality, definitely not! You'll find a more photos here</a>. I'm very happy to have shared the experience with one daughter who travelled in from France, two best friends from the East Midlands, and a whole slew of fans from all around the UK and further. Music tourism is great - we should have added on a day, and tickets to the Wales-Italy rugby match too (I'm sure some FFDP fans did just that!)<br />
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Photos from previous <a href="https://fivefingerdeathpunch.com/" target="_blank">Five Finger Death Punch</a> shows at Aftershock Festival, Louder Than Life, Chicago Open Air, and Reno Nevada: <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/five-finger-death-punch" target="_blank">http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/five-finger-death-punch</a>. Previous show and <a href="https://www.camerasandcargos.com/2018/05/review-five-finger-death-punch-and.html" target="_blank">release </a>reviews are <a href="https://www.camerasandcargos.com/2014/09/five-finger-death-punched-and-i-didnt.html" target="_blank">scattered throughout this publication</a>.<br />
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Here's a preview from the new album: Inside Out, available now:<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wwroUDmB6wI" width="560"></iframe><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;">
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Just a couple of nothing-to-do-with-the-performance-or-the-band niggles:<br />
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<ul>
<li><b>Timing</b>: people were at the venue early, patiently waiting for 6.30 pm: snaking around the building for what felt like miles. Security clearance was rapid and efficient, and yet so many folks missed part, if not all, of Bad Wolves set - including those who were there specifically to see them. Maybe <a href="https://motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk/" target="_blank">Motorpoint Arena</a> should have opened the doors thirty minutes or an hour sooner. Someone must have known how long it would take to bring a capacity crowd into the venue - it's not rocket science.</li>
<li><b>Beer</b>: I have been to many, many concerts over many, many years, in many countries and venues, and never have I seen so much spilled beer - and dumped plastic cups - all over the floor, in my hair, and over other people and left in puddles at the end of the show. Back in the day, you wanted to drink (and talk loudly), you stayed in the bar and consumed from oft-reused glass mugs; the venue floor was for the music and the music alone. Would I be a party-pooper to say I preferred that? </li>
<li><b>Merch prices</b>: the sticker-shock was palpable. I don't know who set the prices for the UK merch (way higher than USA prices) - it might have been the concession at the venue rather than band management - but if they had <a href="https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/average-uk-salary" target="_blank">thought about the average UK salar</a>y they'd have known just how far out-of reach many of the items were. If you're someone who resisted a purchase because of the cost, perhaps <a href="https://fivefingerdeathpunch.com/pages/home" target="_blank">consider ordering a release bundle for the new album - music and a hoodie together make a much more reasonable offering!</a> (Scroll down to the bottom!) Or at the<a href="https://ffdp.tmstor.es/" target="_blank"> official UK merch store</a> via the website or <a href="https://www.emp.co.uk/band-merch/five-finger-death-punch/" target="_blank">on EMP for licensed merchandise</a>. More affordable if you didn't bring home a treasure from the show!</li>
</ul>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/five-finger-death-punch/ffdp-cardiff-2020/-/medias/82326fd6-8aed-4ec5-a04e-4c2caefb44d7-five-finger-death-punch-cardiff-2020" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Five Finger Death Punch, Cardiff, 2020" height="244" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/82326fd6-8aed-4ec5-a04e-4c2caefb44d7/FFDP-CardiffWales-Jan2020-153_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy fans, FFDP, Cardiff Motionpoint Arena, 2020</td></tr>
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Alison Toon Photographerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14312622637296166412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063209915508536294.post-13739588797763623412020-01-19T08:43:00.001-08:002020-01-19T08:43:33.326-08:00Insomnium: at the Waterfront, Norwich, England<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/insomnium/insomnium-norwich-2020/-/medias/9dc7dfd2-8b4d-407a-ae3c-9d8f64b65e2f-niilo-sevanen-vocals-insomnium" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Niilo Sevänen, vocals, Insomnium" height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/9dc7dfd2-8b4d-407a-ae3c-9d8f64b65e2f/Insomnium-NorwichUK-18Jan2020-3817_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Insomnium at The Waterfront, Norwich, during the Tour Like A Grave tour</td></tr>
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All the way from Finland to Norwich's Waterfront venue, by way of <a href="http://www.insomnium.net/news/42/68/EURO-TOUR-BEGINS-UK-Ireland-and-NORTH-AMERICA-will-follow" target="_blank">about a million European cities - and with a North America tour beginning in March</a> - <a href="http://www.insomnium.net/" target="_blank">Insomnium</a>. With several UK dates still to go - including London tonight. Their eighth studio album, <a href="https://www.backstagerockshop.com/collections/insomnium" target="_blank">Heart Like A Grave</a>, released in November last year, this tour is aptly named Tour Like A Grave - but the music is very, very much alive, and the band are clearly enjoying themselves.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/insomnium/insomnium-norwich-2020/-/medias/50c28030-37af-4227-ac41-58ba8e5a7b68-markus-vanhala-guitar-insomnium" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Markus Vanhala, guitar, Insomnium" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/50c28030-37af-4227-ac41-58ba8e5a7b68/Insomnium-NorwichUK-18Jan2020-3555_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Insomnium, Norwich, England UK</td></tr>
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Vocalist Niilo Sevänen's growls flow like warm honey over a bed of rusty nails, entwined with the melodic riffs of guitarists Markus Vanhala and Jani Liimatainen (Ville Friman is not touring), and the throbbing, drubbing heart of drums driven by Markus Hirvonen. And headbanging is a must, a must.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/insomnium/insomnium-norwich-2020/-/medias/f7649504-9858-40ad-a635-3da7ce7e377a-jani-liimatainen-guitar-insomnium" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Jani Liimatainen, guitar, Insomnium" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/f7649504-9858-40ad-a635-3da7ce7e377a/Insomnium-NorwichUK-18Jan2020-3656_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Insomnium, The Waterfront, Norwich, January 2020</td></tr>
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Heart Like A Grave is at the same time melancholic and beautiful; the hour-long album is one to be listened to many times to hear all the nuances, the layers, the depth... and to explore Finnish poetry and folklore. Here's a taster, the title song, in case you haven't heard them yet:<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xy5KAHD2uak" width="560"></iframe>
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If you have seen the "Scandinavian death metal" categorization of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/insomniumofficial/" target="_blank">Insomnium</a>, (I so detest genre labels), don't let that label define they for you nor dictate whether-or-not to listen. <a href="http://www.insomnium.net/band/biography" target="_blank">Check out the band's influences </a>and a picture will form... whether you like your metal progressive, or your prog more metal, or your hard rock melodic, or your folk heavy-as-hell: Insomnium should fit well with your collection. (And note: the <a href="https://www.backstagerockshop.com/collections/insomnium" target="_blank">artbook version of the CD</a> is a sombre collection of bleak, gorgeous photos and the lyrics to all the songs. It's a keeper.)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/insomnium/insomnium-norwich-2020/-/medias/7989efc5-eaf2-49b2-837f-72aafdfd2976-insomnium" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Insomnium" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/7989efc5-eaf2-49b2-837f-72aafdfd2976/Insomnium-NorwichUK-18Jan2020-3791_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Insomnium and fans, Norwich, UK</td></tr>
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Keep up to date with <a href="http://www.insomnium.net/" target="_blank">Insomnium </a>on their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/insomniumofficial/" target="_blank">Facebook </a>and <a href="https://twitter.com/insomniumband" target="_blank">Twitter </a>and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/insomniumofficial" target="_blank">Instagram</a>.<br />
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More tour dates here: <a href="http://www.insomnium.net/news/42/68/EURO-TOUR-BEGINS-UK-Ireland-and-NORTH-AMERICA-will-follow">http://www.insomnium.net/news/42/68/EURO-TOUR-BEGINS-UK-Ireland-and-NORTH-AMERICA-will-follow</a><br />
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More photos from last night's show in Norwich, UK: <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/insomnium/insomnium-norwich-2020">http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/insomnium/insomnium-norwich-2020</a><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/insomnium/insomnium-norwich-2020/-/medias/beb471a3-a135-408f-91e4-42b556de37b9-niilo-sevanen-vocals-insomnium" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Niilo Sevänen, vocals, Insomnium" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/beb471a3-a135-408f-91e4-42b556de37b9/Insomnium-NorwichUK-18Jan2020-3700_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Insomnium</td></tr>
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Alison Toon Photographerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14312622637296166412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063209915508536294.post-82480837037188749302020-01-17T03:18:00.002-08:002020-01-17T03:18:21.501-08:00Band to look out for: Those Damn Crows: preorder Point of No Return now!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://external-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=AQBQR0TT8POFRUaL&w=476&h=249&url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.scdn.co%2Fimage%2F4bd521aad206ace06c0077d3202e2406a18ee0ad&cfs=1&upscale=1&fallback=news_d_placeholder_publisher&_nc_hash=AQBiPfspx4KFFONj" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="476" height="166" src="https://external-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=AQBQR0TT8POFRUaL&w=476&h=249&url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.scdn.co%2Fimage%2F4bd521aad206ace06c0077d3202e2406a18ee0ad&cfs=1&upscale=1&fallback=news_d_placeholder_publisher&_nc_hash=AQBiPfspx4KFFONj" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hailing from Bridgend, South Wales, <a href="http://thosedamncrows.com/" target="_blank">Those Damn Crows</a> not only have an intriguing, listen-to-me-now name, evocative of a horde of persistent, characterful creatures who once you've noticed them are ever-present, no matter where you look... they have a distinctive sound with songs well worth a listen. Hard rock but very melodic - with wonderful vocals.<br />
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While they've been making their presence known here in the UK, with appearances at <a href="https://downloadfestival.co.uk/" target="_blank">Download </a>last year and other festivals, they'll no doubt appeal to a worldwide audience - are they on a <a href="https://www.siriusxm.com/octane" target="_blank">Sirius XM Octane</a> playlist yet?<br />
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Their debut album, <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Murder-Motive-Those-Damn-Crows/dp/B07DKY35JQ/" target="_blank">Murder and the Motive</a>, was released in October 2018 and the new album,<a href="https://smarturl.it/TDC-PONR" target="_blank"> Point of No Return</a>, drops on February 7th. <a href="https://smarturl.it/TDC-PONR" target="_blank">Available for pre-order now</a> and with a subset of songs already available for <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/1TAAzqlJtyrpUP3IquVbeF" target="_blank">listening on Spotify</a>. Check out the latest, Set in Stone:<br />
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Those Damn Crows are Shane Greenhall (vocals), Ronnie Huxford (drums), Ian 'Shiner' Thomas and David Winchurch (guitars) and LLoyd Wood (bass). Find out more on their <a href="http://thosedamncrows.com/" target="_blank">website</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thosedamncrows/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ThoseDamnCrows" target="_blank">Twitter </a>and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thosedamncrows" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. Also - several interviews with the band on YouTube, including <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZr4fc8RmZU" target="_blank">this one</a> with <a href="https://internetradiouk.com/total-rock/" target="_blank">Total Rock Radio</a>.<br />
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Take a listen!Alison Toon Photographerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14312622637296166412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063209915508536294.post-53751597679710338192019-12-18T09:34:00.001-08:002019-12-18T09:51:12.177-08:00Alter Bridge, Shinedown and The Raven Age at Nottingham's Motionpoint Arena<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/shinedown/shinedown-nottingham-2019/-/medias/fe902ed9-9596-4790-b3c3-3e1cbc947fe9-shinedown" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Shinedown" height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/fe902ed9-9596-4790-b3c3-3e1cbc947fe9/HR-Shinedown-Nottingham-14Dec2019-20_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shinedown with Alter Bridge's Walk The Sky tour, Nottingham UK</td></tr>
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With the original lineup for <a href="https://alterbridge.com/" target="_blank">Alter Bridge's Walk The Sky tour</a> of the UK and Europe being Alter Bridge, <a href="https://www.shinedown.com/" target="_blank">Shinedown</a>, and <a href="https://sevendust.com/" target="_blank">Sevendust</a>, this was not going to be a tour that I would miss; three bands that can easily headline their own tours in the USA, all on the same bill! Sadly, Sevendust had to cancel their participation - drummer Morgan Rose having been taken ill. (<a href="https://www.loudersound.com/news/sevendusts-morgan-rose-out-of-the-woods-after-surgery" target="_blank">Good news is that he is recovering.</a>)<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lPdxNznPuQXLuH6ba2YV4tvQurn6XO9KI6I8ihXd7T2szfv1ciyolS1Gx_-6HLjWYNRZM7DX6K8KJSqvo68X_JXC4dIlCkvYCJlJKLibmRD7OxQhKbcy-BZXZQutOEotYutSGRWpJ-EE/s1600/LR-TheRavenAge-Nottingham-14Dec2019-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lPdxNznPuQXLuH6ba2YV4tvQurn6XO9KI6I8ihXd7T2szfv1ciyolS1Gx_-6HLjWYNRZM7DX6K8KJSqvo68X_JXC4dIlCkvYCJlJKLibmRD7OxQhKbcy-BZXZQutOEotYutSGRWpJ-EE/s400/LR-TheRavenAge-Nottingham-14Dec2019-6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Raven Age, Nottingham</td></tr>
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<a href="https://www.theravenage.com/" target="_blank">The Raven Age, </a><a href="https://www.theravenage.com/" target="_blank">British melodic metalcore </a>with a smidgeon of Iron Maiden-esqe vocals stepped in to open the show and it was wonderful to see an opening act given the benefit of lights appropriate for the arena setting. That doesn't always happen.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/shinedown/shinedown-nottingham-2019/-/medias/f70511c6-f60e-4cf1-9788-305977bb4999-shinedown" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Shinedown" height="297" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/f70511c6-f60e-4cf1-9788-305977bb4999/HR-Shinedown-Nottingham-14Dec2019-15-2_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fan's light show for Shinedown: Nottingham, UK</td></tr>
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<a href="https://www.shinedown.com/" target="_blank">Shinedown </a>put on a huge show: animated, interactive, emotional, exciting and full of bounce. Attention, Attention! <a href="https://www.shinedown.com/" target="_blank">Shinedown </a>are in town! Playing all the rabble-rousers including Monsters, Get Up, and Cut The Cord, they also included their memorable cover of Lynard Skynard's Simple Man. The crowd let Brent Smith and co know that they could have gone on all evening. Shinedown definitely have enough of a UK following these days to have earned their own headline tour one of these days; playing to a capacity crowd in <a href="https://www.motorpointarenanottingham.com/" target="_blank">Motionpoint Arena</a> just took them one huge step closer.<br />
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The were so very cool. I enjoy <a href="https://www.shinedown.com/" target="_blank">Shinedown </a>more and more every time I see them. Even Brent's monologues make me smile these days.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/alter-bridge/alter-bridge-nottingham-2019/-/medias/b7821055-845f-475f-8b86-16303db65c4a-alter-bridge" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Alter Bridge" height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/b7821055-845f-475f-8b86-16303db65c4a/HR-AlterBridge-Nottingham-14Dec2019-44_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alter Bridge, Walk The Sky tour, Nottingham, UK</td></tr>
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But then...<a href="https://alterbridge.com/" target="_blank"> Alter Bridge</a>. Their latest album,<a href="https://alterbridge.com/products/alter-bridge-walk-the-sky-cd" target="_blank"> Walk The Sky</a>, was released <a href="https://alterbridge.com/" target="_blank">just a few weeks ago on October 18th</a>. I have been lucky enough to see and photograph them several times previously in the USA - in festival environments in Chicago and Houston - but never before in a major indoor venue with the incredible light show that was part of Saturday night's experience in Nottingham, UK. The whole show was a stunning experience; being way up in the gods with a view over the crowd to the band, it was Alter Bridge's haunting and inspirational rock through visual fireworks that only added to a very, very memorable evening.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/alter-bridge/alter-bridge-nottingham-2019/-/medias/e35ab9cc-f15a-4e00-962b-3c4da51521ac-alter-bridge" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Alter Bridge" height="225" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/e35ab9cc-f15a-4e00-962b-3c4da51521ac/HR-AlterBridge-Nottingham-14Dec2019-84_large.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alter Bridge, Nottingham UK, 2019</td></tr>
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The <a href="https://alterbridge.com/" target="_blank">Alter Bridge</a> setlist was <a href="https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/alter-bridge/2019/motorpoint-arena-nottingham-england-3b9bb424.html" target="_blank">seventeen songs long</a> and included Burn It Down with Mark Tremonti taking the vocal lead as a twist... but Myles Kennedy's range is always stunning, clear and haunting. You can't fault Alter Bridge; vocals, Tremonti and Kennedy's guitars always different yet complementing each other; Brian Marshall's deep-diving bass, and all underpinned by "Flip" Philips' drums... what a show. What a show!!!<br />
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And they gave us <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSrQlvTfB_4" target="_blank">Blackbird</a>. Yes, they did. I love that song and it has such a very, very special place in so many people's hearts. Thank you for that.<br />
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The Walk The Sky tour continues: tonight in Birmingham, UK, then Friday night at Motorpoint Area in Cardiff, Wales and Saturday at the O2 Arena in London. One of those tours where you wish you could go to each and every venue and experience it all, over and over again.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/alter-bridge/alter-bridge-nottingham-2019/-/medias/95fd0fc9-402b-412d-b877-3bb2d4f97c48-alter-bridge" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Alter Bridge" height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/95fd0fc9-402b-412d-b877-3bb2d4f97c48/HR-AlterBridge-Nottingham-14Dec2019-147_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alter Bridge, Walk The Sky tour, Nottingham UK</td></tr>
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(I was at the show for the music - <a href="http://alisontoon.com/" target="_blank">not as a photographer this time.</a> All photos are taken from the crowd on a Xiaomi Mi 8 phone: they work on a small screen, but don't think of trying to zoom in. How I wish I had been able to cover these performances with proper cameras and the type of access that <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion" target="_blank">Marillion allows me</a>... I never, ever take that type of access for granted.)<br />
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More photos here:<br />
- <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/alter-bridge/alter-bridge-nottingham-2019" target="_blank">Alter Bridge, Nottingham, 2019</a><br />
- <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/shinedown/shinedown-nottingham-2019" target="_blank">Shinedown, Nottingham, 2019</a><br />
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See also:<br />
- <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/alter-bridge" target="_blank">Photos from other Alter Bridge shows</a><br />
- <a href="https://www.camerasandcargos.com/2018/03/new-album-myles-kennedy-year-of-tiger.html" target="_blank">Myles Kennedy, Year of the Tiger</a><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/alter-bridge/alter-bridge-nottingham-2019/-/medias/8cda53fb-c827-446c-acc6-c0033a79350e-alter-bridge" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Alter Bridge" height="337" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/8cda53fb-c827-446c-acc6-c0033a79350e/HR-AlterBridge-Nottingham-14Dec2019-187_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alter Bridge, Nottingham Motionpoint Arena, 2019</td></tr>
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<br />Alison Toon Photographerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14312622637296166412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063209915508536294.post-15087039443980920122019-12-10T10:02:00.003-08:002019-12-10T14:08:06.021-08:00It's (the Cromer Pier) Christmas (Show)!!!!!!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows/cromer-pier-christmas-2019/-/medias/92f9141b-c77d-4c67-bcc3-22a564ff05ce-cromer-pier-christmas-show-2019" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cromer Pier Christmas Show 2019" height="266" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/92f9141b-c77d-4c67-bcc3-22a564ff05ce/HR-CromerPier-ChristmasShow-7Dec2019-1819_large.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cromer Pier Christmas Show 2019</td></tr>
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Christmas is in full swing at the end of <a href="https://www.cromerpier.co.uk/" target="_blank">Cromer Pier</a> - the extra-special, family-fun, super-entertaining, dancing-singing-magical <a href="https://www.cromerpier.co.uk/cromer-pier-show/cromer-pier-christmas-show-2019/" target="_blank">Christmas Show</a>! Starting with Santa and taking a journey through places as diverse as the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia (Laurel and Hardy) and south-east London (Only Fools and Horses), with dance styles from classical ballet to tap and a heck of a lot of acrobatic high kicks and jumps, and card tricks and illusion and fun and a whole load of laughter, the show is a magical machine that transports you, for a couple of hours, out of the mundane day-to-day world into a special place that exists only at the end of the pier, in <a href="https://www.cromerpier.co.uk/" target="_blank">Cromer's Pavilion theatre</a>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows/cromer-pier-christmas-2019/-/medias/b23607da-fba5-4ad8-8db6-7e1586123b29-cromer-pier-christmas-show-2019" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cromer Pier Christmas Show 2019" height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/b23607da-fba5-4ad8-8db6-7e1586123b29/HR-CromerPier-ChristmasShow-7Dec2019-1943_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cromer Pier Christmas Show 2019</td></tr>
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Saturday night, and the 500-seater theatre was full: second show of the day for the talented crew. Compere and local funny man <a href="https://www.ollyday.com/" target="_blank">Olly Day</a> knows this venue well - back for the eleventh time! The <a href="https://www.magicianmarkjames.com/" target="_blank">Modern Magician Mark James</a> returns too and has some great tricks up his sleeve (or in his pocket, or even inside an egg, which he then makes into an omlette): vocalists <a href="https://www.facebook.com/harvey.james.37" target="_blank">Harvey James</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/fjwsoprano" target="_blank">Fiona Jessica Wilson</a> (who also plays a mean electric cello - beautiful sound); young dancers from Cromer's <a href="http://marlenesschoolofdancing.co.uk/" target="_blank">Marlene's School of Dancing</a>, and the wonderful Cromer Pier Show dancers who make the stage feel as big as a ballroom. Light and sound are just perfect for the venue and the whole show flows through rapid scenery and costume changes from beginning to end.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows/cromer-pier-christmas-2019/-/medias/3ced5102-28e8-47fb-9848-13c47f6e4cb2-cromer-pier-christmas-show-2019" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cromer Pier Christmas Show 2019" height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/3ced5102-28e8-47fb-9848-13c47f6e4cb2/HR-CromerPier-ChristmasShow-7Dec2019-1849_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harvey James and Fiona Jessica Wilson, Cromer Pier Christmas Show</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows/cromer-pier-christmas-2019/-/medias/23e7fea5-7622-434e-a54e-5647317ed834-cromer-pier-christmas-show-2019" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cromer Pier Christmas Show 2019" height="225" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/23e7fea5-7622-434e-a54e-5647317ed834/HR-CromerPier-ChristmasShow-7Dec2019-5611_large.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark James, Cromer Pier Christmas Show 2019</td></tr>
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The Twelve Days of Christmas are novel... and hilarious!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows/cromer-pier-christmas-2019/-/medias/1e699136-d4d5-4f66-86ee-00c4b5b5cfe0-cromer-pier-christmas-show-2019" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cromer Pier Christmas Show 2019" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/1e699136-d4d5-4f66-86ee-00c4b5b5cfe0/HR-CromerPier-ChristmasShow-7Dec2019-1896_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cromer Pier Christmas Show Dancers</td></tr>
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I love the ballet; I want to photograph more ballet. Pretty please.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows/cromer-pier-christmas-2019/-/medias/a22bae5c-0a0b-4256-8778-5799f666506c-cromer-pier-christmas-show-2019" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cromer Pier Christmas Show 2019" height="400" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/a22bae5c-0a0b-4256-8778-5799f666506c/HR-CromerPier-ChristmasShow-7Dec2019-5692_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark James and Olly Day, Cromer Pier Christmas Show 2019</td></tr>
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The <a href="https://www.cromerpier.co.uk/cromer-pier-show/cromer-pier-christmas-show-2019/" target="_blank">Cromer Pier Christmas Show</a> is pure entertainment - you won't find anything like it at the end of a pier anywhere else in the world. Grab the opportunity and a ticket for the family: the show runs until the end of December, and you can <a href="https://www.facebook.com/harvey.james.37" target="_blank">book tickets here</a> or at the box office on the pier.<br />
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More photos from <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows/cromer-pier-christmas-2019" target="_blank">this year's Christmas Show here!</a><br />
And photos from earlier <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows" target="_blank">Cromer Pier Shows are here</a>, too.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/cromer-pier-shows/cromer-pier-christmas-2019/-/medias/a51a13bf-4b31-4cb0-b129-688cf01b76ba-cromer-pier-christmas-show-2019" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cromer Pier Christmas Show 2019" height="338" src="https://di262mgurvkjm.cloudfront.net/a51a13bf-4b31-4cb0-b129-688cf01b76ba/HR-CromerPier-ChristmasShow-7Dec2019-2183_large.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cromer Pier Christmas Show 2019</td></tr>
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Alison Toon Photographerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14312622637296166412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063209915508536294.post-16736827857394091262019-11-01T08:28:00.001-07:002019-11-01T08:28:55.582-07:00Marillion with Friends from the Orchestra Tour: first night tonight!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Marillion, Leicester" height="338" src="https://d3e1m60ptf1oym.cloudfront.net/a486cb6a-6267-4b95-9a8e-e77d041264ab/HR-Marillion-Leicester-Sun-30Apr2017-5637_large.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marillion with friends, 2017, Leicester</td></tr>
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<a href="http://marillion.com/" target="_blank">Marillion's </a>tour opens tonight with a sold-out show at the <a href="https://www.liverpoolphil.com/" target="_blank">Royal Philharmonic</a> in Liverpool... continues on Sunday in Nottingham at the <a href="https://trch.co.uk/" target="_blank">Royal Concert Hall</a> and then around the UK, finishing up with two dates at the Royal Albert Hall in London.<br />
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<a href="http://marillion.com/tour/" target="_blank">Find all the tour dates here</a> - there might be one or two tickets available somewhere but you're going to have to search for them as dates are already sold out or have limited availability (and that's because it's going to be an amazing set of concerts: <a href="http://www.marillion.com/shop/albums/intactcd19.htm" target="_blank">here's the link to the accompanying album</a>, on sale now from Racket Records).<br />
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<a href="http://marillion.com/tour/" target="_blank">See you somewhere on the tour!!!</a><br />
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<a href="http://marillion.com/" target="_blank">Marillion </a>photo galleries: <a href="http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion" target="_blank">http://www.alisontoon.com/-/galleries/music/marillion</a>Alison Toon Photographerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14312622637296166412noreply@blogger.com0