Stag and Dagger Festival Glasgow 2011

--> This was the third Glasgow Stag and Dagger event and it was held at 7 venues across the city - O2 ABC1, O2 ABC2, The Art School, The Vic Bar, Stereo, Nice n Sleazy, Captains Rest.  The ticket price of £8 included a wrist band which gave access to all the gigs.  Stag and Dagger hold their main event in London, so it is good to know that they choose Glasgow as their second event.  I read recently that Glasgow is second only to London in the numbers attending Cultural events (this study induced theatre, galleries and concerts)  I headed first to the main venue the ABC and there I heard Clinic, Admiral Fallow, Rachel Sermanni, Withered Hand and headliners Warpaint from LA, the first girl band I've taken shots of.   I then made my way up to the Art School venue to see Broken Records, Sons and Daughters and Chad Valley. 
I had first heard Rachel Sermanni at the Celtic Connection Festival open mic in 2009 and I was impressed there with her subtle voice. Rachel was able to hold the packed venue with her guitar, songs and voice. She also performed one duet song with the lead singer from the band Admiral Fallow, Louis Abbott.
I've taken photos of Broken Records at several gigs in both Edinburgh and Glasgow over the past years. I always enjoy their set with their charged, melodic sound and brothers Jamie and Rory have good stage presence.  Admiral Fallow I had seen live before at King Tuts and in 2010 they picked up attention at the T Break Stage. They have good musicianship, melodies and vocal harmonies. Warpaint impressed the audience and they played an ethereal sound and the band describe themselves as experimental art rock. They were in soft-blue stage lighting which wasn't so easy to photograph! 
http://www.warpaintwarpaint.com/ 
Later I met Jamie Sutherland of Broken Records at the Art School and wished I'd had prints for him - and what a charming guy he is too!  After which I saw part of Chad Valley's energised and fun electronic set in the Vic Bar.
--> One of the main reasons I do music photography is for the emerging artists I follow. I enjoy artists that have honesty and something new to say with their voice and songs. While I also enjoy many older artists. Fortunately for Scotland we have a healthy grassroots music scene , which is respected the world over. Glasgow also offers a good number of accessible small and mid-size venues.