3 songs no flash: 15 Years inside Birmingham’s Music scene
Music Archive : This archive page is a raw-access pass into the heart of the UK’s most overlooked musical powerhouse. Spanning from the turn of the millennium to the Covid era, these images serve as a definitive visual history of the venues, the sweat, and the subcultures that defined Birmingham.
The Sonic Blueprint: Birmingham 2001–2016
This archive is a 15-year raw-access pass into the heart of the UK’s most overlooked musical powerhouse. Spanning from the turn of the millennium to the mid-2010s, these images serve as a definitive visual history of the venues, the sweat, and the subcultures that defined Birmingham.
The collection charts the rise and fall of the city’s most storied stages: The Academy, The Barfly, Kerrang Radio, The Jug, The Flapper and many more …
Embrace Live@Kerrang Radio 2004
On November 19, 2004, the anthemic sound of Embrace took over the Kerrang! Radio studios on Lionel Street, Birmingham. Fresh off the success of their chart-topping album Out of Nothing, Danny and Richard McNamara brought an intimate, stripped-back energy to the station.
As the house photographer, I captured the band in a moment of total triumph. The atmosphere was a far cry from the arenas they were beginning to headline—it was personal, quiet, and incredibly powerful. This session remains a standout moment from the early days of Kerrang! Radio’s influence on the UK indie scene.
Bowling for Soup: Intimate Energy Live @ Kerrang
My journey into professional music photography kicked off with a high-octane session at the iconic Kerrang! Radio studios. I was tasked with capturing Bowling For Soup during their live acoustic performance and an exclusive interview with the legendary Tim Shaw.
It’s often said you shouldn’t meet your heroes, but Bowling For Soup is the exception to the rule. Despite their status as pop-punk royalty, the band was incredibly welcoming and professional. Their "lovely" reputation is 100% earned making my first official job an unforgettable experience.
Kasabian Live @ Kerrang Radio October 5th, 2004.
The day Kasabian brought the noise to Lionel Street. 💥
There was a certain tension in the room when the Leicester lads showed up at Kerrang! Radio. Their debut album had just changed the game, and you could tell they knew they were about to be the biggest band in the country.
Capturing Tom and Serge in such an intimate setting was a masterclass in rock swagger. No pyrotechnics, no massive stage—just raw attitude and those iconic 2004 visuals. 📸
#Kasabian #TomMeighan #SergePizzorno #KerrangRadio #Birmingham #LionelStreet #2004Music #IndieRock #RockPhotography #ClubFoot #LSF
Supergrass live at Kerrang Radio
A Masterclass in Britpop Humility
Before taking the stage for their massive headline show at the Academy, Supergrass proved exactly why they are the people’s champions during a legendary stop at the Kerrang! Radio studios on August 9, 2005.
While most bands of their stature would have arrived in a fleet of blacked-out SUVs, Gaz and the boys pulled up in a battered Ford Transit van. In a refreshing display of "no-nonsense" rock and roll, there was no road crew in sight; the band spent the afternoon personally loading and unloading their own gear under the Birmingham sun.
Despite the tight schedule, they stayed true to their reputation as the nicest guys in the business, taking the time to meet every fan waiting outside the studio for photos and autographs. After delivering a blistering acoustic session, they packed the van back up themselves and rattled off toward the Academy to show the crowd how it’s really done.
Flashback: MTV2 Gonzo Tour at Birmingham Barfly (2008)
October 11, 2008, was peak indie-sleaze in Birmingham. The MTV2 Gonzo Tour hit the B-Barfly in Digbeth, bringing the raw energy of late-night TV to the city’s favourite basement venue.
Zane Lowe: The Master of Ceremonies
Long before Apple Music, Zane Lowe was the hyperactive face of Gonzo. He didn't just host—he transformed the Barfly into a pressure cooker, spinning upfront indie and heavy bass sets that kept the floor shaking long after the live bands finished.
Mystery Jets & Noah and the Whale
The line-up featured two defining acts of the 2000s UK scene:
Mystery Jets: Fresh off Twenty One, their 80s-inspired art-pop turned the cramped room into a shimmering dancefloor.
Noah and the Whale: Despite the hype, the band had to cancel their support slot at the last minute due to a medical emergency in London.
The Gonzo Legacy
Even with the line-up shift, the "Gonzo Spirit" prevailed. The Barfly was the perfect petri dish for the unfiltered indie rock Zane Lowe championed—a snapshot of a time when an MTV2 shout-out could make a band legendary overnight.
