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On Friday night I photographed Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters at Colston Hall in Bristol:

Opening the show was Seth Lakeman:

Seth Lakeman by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Seth Lakeman by Mike Evans, on Flickr

I last saw Robert Plant live on the Page & Plant Walking Into Clarksdale tour at Wembley Arena in November 1998, I never thought then I'd end up photographing him in concert one day.

Billed as Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters his band consists of :

Justin Adams - Guitar
John Baggott - Keyboards
Billy Fuller - Bass
Clive Deamer - Drums
Liam "Skin" Tyson - Guitars

Seth Lakeman also played on select songs:

IMG_7038 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_7267 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_7113 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_7108 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

You can read the review my photos were used for at Bristol247.com

You can see more Robert Plant photos either on Facebook or Flickr

You can see more Seth Lakeman photos either on Facebook or Flickr

Last night I photographed John Mitchell's Lonely Robot live at Thekla with Craig Blundell on Drums, Liam Holmes on Keyboards and Steve Vantsis on bass.

You can read Bristol 247's review of the gig here:
https://www.bristol247.com/culture/music/review-lonely-robot-thekla/

Here's a few of my photos:

IMG_1068 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_1239 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_1447 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_1192 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_1375 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_1494 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

See more photos either on Flickr or Facebook

Support was from Tilt, see those photos HERE

Monday night I photographed King's X at Bristol Bierkeller for Bristol247.com:

IMG_7123 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Doug Pinnick:
IMG_2281 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Ty Tabor:
IMG_2300 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Jerry Gaskill:
IMG_2222 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Full album on Flickr or Facebook

Last night I photographed Snarky Puppy at Tramshed Cardiff.

Support was from House of Waters:
IMG_6812 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_1982 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_2015 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

More photos of House of Waters on flickr or facebook

Snarky Puppy:
IMG_6994 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_6881 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_2067 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_2169 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

More photos on flickr or facebook

Last night I photographed Steve Hackett at Colston Hall:

IMG_1554 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_1745 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_1669 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_6714 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Had permission to shoot the whole show, although nobody told the colston hall staff that who told me it was 3 songs only, I had a chat with the security guys though, asked them where I could from (no pit) and assured them I wouldn't get in anybody's way.  Luckily there was only me and one other photographer there (who only shot the first 3 songs) so they were pretty relaxed and let me carry on shooting.  I take the mick though and just shot 4 songs of the first set and a couple of the 2nd set.

You can see more photos either on FACEBOOK or FLICKR

Ok I've been a bit slow uploading to flickr but I got caught up last night so here's who I've photographed so far in 2017:

On January 12th I photographed Meshuggah at the O2 Academy Bristol:

Meshuggah by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Meshuggah by Mike Evans, on Flickr

They have a cool light show that's great to watch not the easiest to photograph though

More here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskWr3o4U

Next up was Glenn Hughes at The Fleece in Bristol on the 2nd of February:

IMG_2886 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_2811 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

More here: https://www.flickr.com/gp/mikeevstog/M0n4fN

Supporting Glenn Hughes were Stone Broken:

Stone Broken by Mike Evans, on Flickr

More here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskWzJoDn

Next up on the 11th of February was Anthrax at the O2 Academy Bristol:

IMG_3938 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_5485 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

More here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskWr4Yuf

Supporting Anthrax was The Raven Age:

IMG_3307 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

This guitar player has a famous dad

More here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskWr4AVU

Next was Black Star Riders at Tramshed Cardiff on the 2nd of March:

IMG_6770 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_6790 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

More here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskTDyPUt

Supporting Black Star Riders were The Amorettes and Gun:

IMG_5567 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_6167 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

More Amorettes here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskTALHMn

More Gun here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskWzLQeX

The last gig I shot was the Devin Townsend Project at Colston Hall Bristol:

IMG_8913 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_9360 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

I got both those shots printed at 18x12" and they look great 

More DTP here: https://www.flickr.com/gp/mikeevstog/pf228s

Supporting Devin were Leprous:

IMG_5769 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

and TesseracT:

IMG_8729 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

More Leprous here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskWzMaH6

More TesseracT here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskRy8BjX

So in October I along with many other people pre-ordered the DJI Mavic Pro drone.  After the inevitable delays as DJI struggled to keep up with demand I eventually took delivery late in December.

Here is my first upload to youtube of footage shot with the drone:

https://youtu.be/GMbVHk3kUK4

https://youtu.be/Rapm2IXgqBE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmzJyYk7A64

Saturday I was back at the Tramshed in Cardiff to photograph Marillion:

Marillion by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Marillion by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Marillion by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Marillion by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Marillion by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Marillion by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Marillion by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Marillion by Mike Evans, on Flickr

There were plenty of other musicians at this gig, I got to talk to Rob Reed, Chris Fry, Matt Cohen and Geoff Downes ( I showed him one of the photos I took of him with Yes at Colston Hall, he seemed to like it  )

See lots more on flickr or facebook

Last Friday I got to be one of only two photographers photographing Black Stone Cherry at Colston Hall, Bristol:

This was an evening with Black Stone Cherry where they started the show by playing an acoustic set before an intermission and then an electric set:

Black Stone Cherry by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Black Stone Cherry by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Black Stone Cherry by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Black Stone Cherry by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Black Stone Cherry by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Black Stone Cherry by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Black Stone Cherry by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Black Stone Cherry by Mike Evans, on Flickr

See more on flickr or facebook

I photographed Lazuli for the 2nd time when they played in Bristol at the end of November:

Lazuli by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Lazuli by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Lazuli by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Lazuli by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Lazuli by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Lazuli by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Lazuli by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Lazuli by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Our Nellie was there getting to enjoy the gig rather than working for a change 

You can see more photos either on flickr or facebook

So last night I made a quick trip to Bristol to photograph Lordi, sadly I could only stay for two songs as I had to catch the last train home at 10:55pm and Lordi didn't come on stage till 10:20pm:

Mr Lordi invites you in:
22-IMG_9965 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Guitar player Amen:
3-IMG_9844 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

OX on bass:
18-IMG_9929 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Hella on keys:
16-IMG_9911 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Bristol bierkeller has the worlds smallest pit and with 6 of us in there you can't move around, ordinarily when this happens I leave the pit from one side walk around the back of the crowd and re-enter the bit from the other side but as I was tight on time I didn't get a chance to do this:

38-IMG_3648 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

More photos onfacebook or flickr

Last night I got to photograph Delain supported by Evergrey (one of my favourite bands) and Kobra and The Lotus (KATL).

KATL are Canadian and they opened the show:

This is Kobra Paige lead singer of KATL:

IMG_9825 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_2953 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_2940 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

More photo of KATL on facebook or flickr

Next up were Evergrey from Sweden, this was my 7th time seeing Evergrey but my first time photographing them:

Tom Englund lead vocals and guitar:
IMG_0564 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Lead Guitar player Henrik Danhage:
IMG_0105 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Drummer Jonas Ekdal:
IMG_0051 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

See more Evergrey photos on facebook or flickr

Headliners Delain were touring in support of their latest album Moonbathers:

IMG_0933 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Charlotte Wessels:

IMG_0825 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_0720 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Merel Bechtold:
IMG_3414 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Martjin Westerholt:
IMG_0861 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

See more Delain on facebook or flickr

So this week I've photographed two gigs at The Marble Factory in Bristol.

Tuesday was Blues Pills:

IMG_2264 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Front woman Elin Larsson is all hair flicking, bouncing energy on stage with a great voice:

IMG_8413 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_8623 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

See more on Flickr

Thursday it was Lacuna Coil, they were supported by first:

Genus Ordinis Dei

6-IMG_8692 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Being the first of the 3 bands they didn't get very good lighting, so I didn't shoot many photos you can see those I did take HERE

Next up were Forever Still a band I photographed earlier this year in Swansea

28a-IMG_2658 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

18-IMG_8783 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

16-IMG_8771 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Having photographed them before, they knew me so I got to chat to them after the gig and take this photo:
28b-IMG_9156 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

See more Forever Still on Flickr

Next up were headliners Lacuna Coil:

30-IMG_8920 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

31-IMG_8944 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

40-IMG_9025 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

52-IMG_9127 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

51-IMG_9121 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

55-IMG_9152 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

See more Lacuna Coil photos on Flickr

So this week I've photographed three gigs in Cardiff.

Starting Monday with Paul Gilbert at The Globe:

01_IMG_1527 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Yes that is Paul Gilbert under the mask, see:
08_IMG_1553 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

The massive medley he started with featured some drill action:

IMG_6438 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

See more of Paul Gilbert on facebook or flickr

Wednesday night was UFO at the Tramshed:

IMG_1835 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Phil Mogg, 68 years old and still gigging. Well done that man
IMG_7349 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_7336 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

More UFO on Facebook or Flickr

The Saturday was back to the Globe for Anathema:

Opted to shoot from the balcony rather than the front, as you'll see it was a sold out show and the globe was packed:
IMG_1896 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_1972 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_7715 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_7726 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_7802 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

See more Anathema onFacebook or on Flickr

Did spot a Falling Satellites t-shirt amongst the crowd on the balcony, anyone from here?

Wednesday night I was back at the Tramshed in Cardiff to photograph Welsh rock band Feeder:

IMG_1041 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_5530 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_5572 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_5701 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_5747 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_5676 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Full set on Flickr or on Facebook

Thursday night I was at the Exchange venue in Bristol to photograph The Lounge Kittens for Bristol247.com who were reviewing the show.

Opening were local (I think) band Pretty Little Enemy:

IMG_1138-2 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Singer- Louise Body:

IMG_0834 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Guitar player - Georgia Bell:

IMG_1210-2 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Full set of Pretty Little Enemy photos on Flickr or on Facebook

Next up was comedian/Singer/guitar player Jay Foreman he was solo just him and his guitar and the venue was pretty full so I couldn't move around too much so not many different photos I could get so I just tweeted four

The main act for the night were The Lounge Kittens who twitter bio describes them as "Imagine if Richard Cheese seduced all three of the Andrews Sisters...and each had a little Lounge Baby... The Lounge Kittens"

They have a big following on youtube and have played big festivals like Glastonbury, Download and Sonisphere and have appeared on stage with Limp Bizkit and Steel Panther.

They do covers of a wide range of different songs in their own style.  Check out their youtube channel

The Lounge Kittens:

IMG_1336 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_1274-2 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Jenny, AKA Red Kitten:
IMG_1078 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Timia, AKA Blue Kitten:
IMG_1111 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Zan, AKA Pink Kitten:
IMG_1017 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Full set of Lounge Kitten photos on Flickr or on Facebook

Last night I photographed Stream of Passion, Awake by Design and Triaxis at the Bierkeller in Bristol.

You can read Brstol247.com's review of the gig HERE

Triaxis opened the night:

IMG_0685 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_0755 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_4932 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Next up were Awake by Design:

IMG_0807 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_5080 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Then it was headliners Stream of Passion:

IMG_5288 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_5297 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_5482 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

You can view the full album on Facebook HERE or on Flickr HERE

It's funny when I get back to the hotel last night and started looking through my photos I was really unhappy with them.  I thought I'd totally messed up and these were the worst photos I'd taken in a while.  Took me till 2am to pick out a few photos to sent to Bristol247 for the review.

Came home this afternoon and added them to Facebook and as of right now they have over 60 likes which ok isn't a huge amount but it's more than I usually get 

Last night I got to photograph The Divine Comedy at The Tramshed in Cardiff:

IMG_0674 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_0624 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_4433 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_4392 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

You can see the full set on Facebook or Flickr

So last week I was asked to go along to the Ffwrnes Theatre in Llanelli to take some photos of a New Directions Theatrical Society production of Rock of Ages.

The show opened with a blistering version of the guitar intro to David Lee Roth's Just Like Paradise.

The guitar player in the show is probably familiar to quite a few of you as it was Paul Davies formerly of Karnataka and Panic Room:

Rock_Of_Ages-1_IMG_8895 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Rock_Of_Ages-3_IMG_8916 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Playing the male lead of Drew Boley (left in photo below) was Michael Aubin, pictured with him is the character Lonny Barnett played by Ian Roach:
Rock_Of_Ages-21_IMG_9013 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Playing the female lead of Sherrie was Stacey Harris:
Rock_Of_Ages-102_IMG_9313 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

The character of Dennis Dupree was played by Russell Rees:
Rock_Of_Ages-220_IMG_9691 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Stacee Jaxx was played by Duncan Stuart:
Rock_Of_Ages-139_IMG_9420 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

Regina Koontz was played by Bethan Williams:
Rock_Of_Ages-71_IMG_9201 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

The show was directed by Rebecca Wilson who was also the lead choreographer and was part of the ensemble cast:
Rock_Of_Ages-14_IMG_8979 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

You can view the full album of 244 photos on Flickr here

My photos were taken during the last full rehearsal and I had to leave before the end, I went back the following night to watch the show in full on their opening night on Thursday.

Tuesday night photographed the Barenaked Ladies at the Tramshed in Cardiff, which is quickly becoming one of my favourite venues.

IMG_9797 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_9855 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_8853 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_8785 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

IMG_8606 by Mike Evans, on Flickr

See more HERE on Flickr  or HERE on Facebook

Last night I photographed a production of Rock of Ages during the final dress rehearsal  before their opening night tonight.  I'll share those photos once the client I shot them for puts them online.  Going back to the show tonight to see their opening night.