We’re now at the end of 2025 and, once again I’ve brought my index finger down on my camera shutter a good many times. Favourite pictures are not always about image quality, They’re also about capturing the moment (yes I stole that observation from Cartier-Bresson!). Here are some of my favourite images from the year, and why…
Larkin Poe – It’s not often you get the chance to see musicians like the Lovell sisters so up close and personal, and the Xperion in Cologne (formerly part of Saturn on Hansaring) only seated maybe 100 people. I still don’t know why they played the gig – but I’m grateful!
Warren Haynes with Bonnie Raitt – It’s also not often that you get to photograph Warren Haynes and Bonnie Raitt sharing a guitar solo. Shame there weren’t more people to capture a magical evening at Kunst!Rasen.
Billy Idol – He may not be a new kid on the block, but Billy got this Summers Kunstrasen season off to a flyer and I love this shot of him by the K!R logo.
Julian Sas – I saw Julian supporting Lynyrd Skynyrd at Kunstrasen, but to get the real Sas magic you have to visit Bonn Harmonie at year’s end. Here he is in a typical ‘take no prisoners’ pose about to step right out of the picture frame.
Gun Barrel – Rock music has its local heroes, and one of them is undoubtedly this band. I just love the attitude and sweat oozing from every pore of each of the guys in this shot. Hard rock like it should be played – Loud, proud, and in your face!
The Troublenotes – But you don’t have to be playing heavy metal to have a crazy time onstage. Bennet Cerven and Florian Eisenschmidt prove it here. Also my favourite t-shirt slogan of 2025 ‘Violins Not Violence’ comes from them. Hopefully a return visit to Bonn soon after this lively Stadtgarten show.
Laura Marti – I usually avoid politics at concerts but a pregnant Croatian singer proudly waving her Country’s flag at Stadtgarten was a reminder that behind those daily statistics are real people who just wanted to lead normal lives but got caught up in a War.
Hans-Joachim Over (HaJo) – Since several of my favourite images were captured at Stadtgarten it seems only fair to give HaJo the spotlight, which is exactly what he gets, albeit briefly, introducing the acts at Bonn’s favourite free open-air venue each year. Deservedly so too. I didn’t realise Bonn had a Rock & Pop Beauftragte until a couple of years ago, but now I know, and I’m glad!
Alma Naidu – No it’s not an out-take from ‘Close Encounters’, this is Bonn’s hottest Jazz venue the Dottendorfer Jazznacht. The lady on piano left of shot is mesmerizing from even this distance. Note: The venue isn’t as big as it looks here, so get there early!
Richard Thompson – In this case ‘capturing the moment’ meant capturing a moment that I treasure. Finally getting to not just hear but interview one of my all-time musical heroes at the Harmonie!
Well, that’s my short photo-trip for this year. I hope you enjoyed it and look forward to seeing you all again – both those on and those off the stages again in 2026!