It’s no small secret that I love photographing music. Whether I’m running on pure chaos and adrenaline at SXSW, or following around my pal Allen Stone on a karaoke tour or at his annual music festival the Stone Family Field Trip in Spokane, WA, I find photographing music to be one of the few aspects of my job that feels still hobby-like. A great music festival needs more than just casual iphone photos and snapshots. In order to successfully market an event for future years, provide great content that highlights iconic moments, and provide images that illustrate a return on investment for sponsors, a great festival organizer is going to understand the incredible importance of hiring a professional event photographer. This year, Omega Events took over Mammoth’s Bluesapalooza and they were looking for Mammoth event photographers for all of these reasons and more.
A Mammoth event photographers mission is always to preserve the atmosphere, excitement, and essence of festivals like Bluesapalooza through timeless images that tell the story of the event. For me, it’s all about being present, anticipating these moments, and always striving to create images that reflect the energy of the festival as I feel it. Here are a few of my favorite images and standout artists from my weekend at Bluesapalooza.
Bluesapalooza in Mammoth Lakes
Never heard of Bluesapalooza? I hadn’t until very recently. Allen Stone played the festival a few years ago and it had been on my radar every since. Traveling from Tahoe to Mammoth Lakes, CA, is a a breeze. Bluesapalooza is a fantastic little festival – especially if you love beer and blues. The festival grounds are slotted into a pine tree forest, offering plenty of shade for most of the day. If you’re a beer lover, you’ll want to know that there are almost 80 craft breweries on hand to do tastings over Saturday and Sunday! You never miss an artist – there are two stages that swap back and forth. I found a number of new artists that I am absolutely now a fan of as well!
Iconic Moments from Bluesapalooza: My Experience
At this year’s Bluesapalooza, I had the privilege of photographing some remarkable artists, each of whom brought their own unique energy to the stage.
Trombone Shorty has always been a favorite of mine and he never fails to put on an epic show. Per usual, he electrified the crowd with his bold fusion of jazz, funk, and blues. His stage presence always makes for truly iconic moments. I’ve had the good fortune of photographing him multiple times over the years. As an aside, that always makes it extra easy for me to anticipate moments. Hailing from New Orleans, one of my favorite cities in the world, Trombone Shorty, born Troy Andrews, has been immersed in the city’s vibrant music culture since childhood. He started playing professionally as a young child, even leading his own brass band at the age of six. Now, with a career spanning decades, Trombone Shorty and his band Orleans Avenue are known for their live performances. If you are are not familiar with them, you’re missing out on a very special blend of New Orleans brass combined with modern rock, hip-hop, and funk. Fun fact: I basically singlehandedly convinced a child I used to babysit for in my 20s to love Trombone Shorty and much to the chagrin of his mother, to this day that child plays the trombone. Without a doubt, their set was hands down my favorite of the weekend. They took it too 11.
Ozomatli brought a high-energy, multicultural sound to the festival, blending Latin, hip-hop, and rock in a way that had the entire crowd on their feet. I had a shit eating grin on my face the ENTIRE set. Formed in Los Angeles in 1995, Ozomatli is a Grammy Award-winning band known for their diverse musical influences. Ozomatli is one of those bands that I’ve always known of but never listened to. I’ve been remiss! Their music fuses everything from salsa and jazz to blues, funk, and reggae, creating a sound that transcends genres and unites people. I swear to you there was not a single person sitting their entire set. With their socially conscious lyrics and infectious beats, Ozomatli has become a voice for social justice while remaining a favorite for live performances. Their colorful, lively set at Bluesapalooza was a Mammoth event photographer’s dream.
HOW have I not know about this band?? The Record Company was my favorite new find of the weekend. They delivered a raw, gritty performance that was all about that harmonica. Based out of Los Angeles, this Grammy-nominated blues-rock trio formed in 2011, drawing inspiration from classic blues legends like Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker, as well as modern rock influences. Their minimalist approach to instrumentation gives their music a stripped-down, visceral feel. Their high-energy performances and no-frills approach had me hooked from the onset and I’ve had their albums on repeat since I got home. In fact, I already bought one on vinyl for both myself and some friends. Today, they have a reputation for being one of the most authentic blues acts in the modern music scene. Their set at Bluesapalooza was full of intensity and the images reflect it.
GRACE BOWERS & THE HODGE PODGE needs significant introduction, mostly because they are young, brand new, and have had a rather unconventional growth in the music industry. Tl:dr – this kid is something else. Grace Bowers, originally from Nashville, TN, is a young (SEVENTEEN) yet incredibly talented guitarist. She’s been referred to as the “next generation guitar hero” for good reason – she fronts her band with guitar riffs only and is backed up by the Hodge Podge, an eclectic group of equally young kids making waves. Literally – collectively their hair is better than yours will ever be and they are infinitely already cooler than you’ll ever dream of being. Blending blues, soul, and Americana influences, Grace and her hodgepodge feel unique and fresh, but also timeless and classic. Either way, they had some serious energy. Grace ended up sitting in with almost every musician on the stage over the course of the day. This is a kid to watch for sure and her journey has been anything but traditional.
Southern Avenue hails from Memphis, TN and they are spitfires. A perfect blend of soul, rhythm, gospel and blues, they had an energy like none other over the weekend. Led by powerhouse vocalist Tierinii Jackson, Southern Avenue’s debut album earned a Grammy nomination in the Best Contemporary Blues Album category. Their Bluesapalooza performance was marked by Jackson’s dynamic stage presence and their images reflect it.
Sugaray Rayford brought down the house with his dancing, shaking, vibrating, hilarious yet commanding presence. Hailing from East Texas, which made me feel right at home with his set, his bluesy set was punctuated with banter, a lot of jokes, and a little bit of gospel. And damn, can that man shimmy.
BEAUX GRIS GRIS & THE APOCALYPSE delivered a colorful, loud, raucous performance. This band is a New Orleans-born and UK-raised fusion of roots, blues, and rock. The end result? A sometimes dark, yet cajun inspired infectious sound. Fronted by husband and wife duo of Greta Valenti and Robin Davey, the band has garnered attention for their bold performances. Their stage presence was as loud as their music and that fringe had me swooning.
RON ARTIS II brought a unique spiritual energy to Bluesapalooza with his soulful, deeply personal music. Born and raised in Hawaii, Ron comes not only from a family of musicians, but is building one of his own – he has 5 children! I was speaking with Dejar Justas, the drummer for Grace Bowers, that evening after the day’s shows and mentioned that the entire day felt overwhelmingly collaborative – everyone sat in with everyone. He agreed and we concluded that the collaborative spirit was a join effort between Ron, who enfuses kindness, enthusiasm, and support into everyone he’s around, as well as Grace Bowers, whose youthful energy every musician wanted on stage with them. Ron’s mission that day was to connect on a personal level with the audience and I think he succeeded with flying colors.
Images serve as visual stories – not just for attendees, but more importantly, for future attendees, sponsors, media outlets, and the artists themselves. Mammoth event photographers like myself are going to strive to not only capture the spirit of the event, but also make sure that those sponsors are well represented in the images. It’s not just about the music (I mean, it is but it’s not). Whether you’re organizing a music festival, corporate event, or any gathering that deserves to be remembered, I’m here to help you capture those moments that stand the test of time. If you’re looking for Mammoth event photographers, contact me today to ensure your event’s most iconic moments are preserved for years to come.
Are you searching for exceptional Mammoth event photographers? I’m available for event photography across the US, but it’s especially easy for me to get to Mammoth Lakes and Bishop, CA from my home base of Lake Tahoe. If you’re in need of event photography services, reach out today.
Leave A Comment