Big Money Shot 2011 Grand Finals
Congratulations to The Love Machine, winners of this year’s Big Money Shot presented by LiVE 88.5. With 6 great bands sharing the stage, music fans in Ottawa were able to witness some of the best our local scene has to offer. You can view all of my photos that have been posted over on Spotlight Ottawa.
Big Money Shot 2011 – Photos from the Final 15
September was a big month for the Ottawa music scene. For 3 nights, Ottawa music fans were treated to some great performances by 15 local bands. It was 3 great nights of music, made possible by LiVE 88.5 and their annual Big Money Shot competition. Below you will find my favourite photos over the 3 nights of shooting.
If you’d like to see more, or read up on some of the bands, you can check out the full sets from night 1, night 2 and night 3 over at my music blog – Spotlight.
LiVE 88.5 Live @ The LiVE Lounge cd – Volume 5
If you’ve been following my blog, you are well aware that I have been photographing the Big Money Shot competition in Ottawa over the last few years. Earlier this year I was contacted by the folks at LiVE 88.5, who have become aware of my photographs of their competition. They were in the process of putting together Volume 5 of their Live at The Live Lounge series. Volume 5 was to be a Big Money Shot 2010 compilation. They were looking to use some of my photos from the 2010 Finals, 1 for each of the 5 bands that performed that night. The photos were chosen and the cd artwork was put together.
I am happy to say, that my photographs have now been featured in 2 cd packages this year. The first instance, was for Become the Sun’s debut cd.
Become the Sun – Ottawa Band Portraits
Back in December I was contacted by Become the Sun. They were in need of a portrait for their upcoming CD release. After trying a few different settings, this one was the one that we were all happiest with.
This has been under wraps for a while now. I am so happy that I am finally able to share it on my blog. This is the first portrait that I have had used inside a CD package. I had agreed not to post it until after their CD Release Party.
They are a good group of guys and I look forward to working together again to create some more imagery for them. Check out their music on myspace!
The Junction – Live @ The LiVE Lounge
This past Thursday, The Junction was in town to play the LiVE Lounge. Before their show, I was only familiar with what I had heard on their myspace page. Based on that and their performance I had to pick up their latest release ‘Another Link in the Chain’. I have been listening to it constantly since. Although I didn’t get it until 2011, it is definitely one of my top albums for 2010. Give it a spin when you get the chance, and make sure you check this band out the next time they hit Ottawa!
Also on the bill were Teenage Kicks and The Strain. I hadn’t heard either of these bands before. Teenage Kicks delivered a very energetic set with some great tunes. I was only able to catch the last couple of songs from The Strain, who have just recorded an EP with Bryan Ruckstuhl. If they get their way, you’ll be hearing more of them through Live 88.5’s Big Money Shot competition this year.
This was another show, where the only lens I used was my 50mm 1.8. It has seen a lot of use over the last week. I don’t ever recall using it so much in a short period of time. I am definitely more comfortable with it now, and will probably consider bringing it out more often from now on.
In the end, another great night of music. You can check out more performance photos at www.spotlight.com.
The Junction
Teenage Kicks
Colin Moore – Live @ The Rainbow
This past Saturday I headed out to The Rainbow to catch performances by Colin Moore, Lindsay Barr and the Bullies and Riktah. I of course went with my camera in hand. This was the first time I shot for an entire evening with my 50mm 1.8 lens. It really is a good lens, but I would have been really frustrated had I not been able to move around to compose my shot. When your movement is limited, a zoom lens really does come in handy.
It was a great night of music. Here are a few photos from the evening. You can check out more photos at www.spotlightottawa.com.
Colin Moore
Lindsay Barr and the Bullies
Riktah
Introducing Spotlight…
This blog has been a little neglected lately. Spotlight is the reason. Spotlight you ask? Spotlight is an online magazine dedicated to the Ottawa music scene. I just launched it last week. Please check it out at www.spotlightottawa.com.
Ottawa has a vibrant music scene. We have a lot of great local music being created and performed in Ottawa. We are also lucky to have a great number of artists visit our city to perform for us and entertain us. I created Spotlight to help promote the local music scene. Please check it out and let me know what you think. I hope I can help you discover some new artists and music.
Big Money Shot 2010 Finals – Wise, Young and King
The final band performing at the LiVE 88.5 Big Money Shot Finals was Wise, Young and King. I hadn’t heard them before, but they laid down a solid rocker of a set.
Big Money Shot 2010 Finals – The Watters Brothers
While The Watters Brothers didn’t walk away with one of the big prizes in this year’s Big Money Shot, they didn’t walk away empty handed either. They still received a cool $5,000 from Ottawa’s LiVE 88.5.
Big Money Shot 2010 Finals – My Favourite Tragedy
My Favourite Tragedy also walked away from the LiVE 88.5 Big Money Shot Finals with $75,000. They’ve made big strides since I saw them in the competition last year. They were one of my picks at the start of the night to walk away with a financial boost to their musical journey, and the judges agreed.
Big Money Shot 2010 Finals – The Balconies
The Balconies claimed the second place prize of $75,000 in talent development and support in the Big Money Shot Finals. They didn’t disappoint, hitting the audience with a high energy performance and a collection of great songs.
Big Money Shot 2010 Finals – Autumns Canon
The big winner at LiVE 88.5’s Big Money Shot this year was Autumns Canon. They walk away with $150,000 in talent and development support. I enjoyed their performance more this time around as I was now familiar with some of their music. When I last shot them at the Round 2 Finals, I had not heard them before.
Big Money Shot 2010 Finals – And the winner is…
Congratulations to Autumns Canon, this years winner of the LiVE 88.5 Big Money Shot contest and $150,000 in talent and development support. Also winning $75,000 each were The Balconies and My Favourite Tragedy. The finals are one of the biggest nights of the year for Ottawa’s local music scene. As always, it was an entertaining night of music.
Check back for photographs from the performances of all 5 bands this coming week.
Big Money Shot 2010 – Round 2 Finals – Become the Sun
The final band to perform this evening was Become the Sun. They had one of the biggest crowds of the night and delivered an energetic rocking set. In the end, it wasn’t meant to be.
Big Money Shot 2010 – Round 2 Finals – Lindsay Ferguson
The fourth performer of the evening at LiVE 88.5’s Big Money Shot was Lindsay Ferguson. She has a great voice and played some catchy tunes, while performing a fun set. While she didn’t make it into the final, she’ll be keeping busy. She’s off to Switzerland in December.
Big Money Shot 2010 – Round 2 Finals – Laurent Bourque
First up Friday night was Laurent Bourque. He was the wild card winner as voted on by the fans. He performed a strong set, but didn’t match the 2 eventual winners.
Big Money Shot 2010 – Round 2 Finals – Autumns Canon
LiVE 88.5 changed the format of the Big Money Shot this year. It has gone from 3 rounds down to 2. The finals are now made up of 2 winners from each round final, as well as 1 wildcard entry voted in by fans. Congratulations are due to Autumns Canon, the second band to advance to the 2010 Finals from Round 2. They also had an energetic set and are deserving of their spot in the final. This years final is shaping up to be a strong night of music on the Ottawa scene.
Big Money Shot 2010 – Round 2 Finals – The Balconies
This past Friday, I headed out to catch the Round 2 Finals for LiVE 88.5’s Big Money Shot. All 5 bands were new to me, so I didn’t really know what to expect. It was an evening of good music. But at the end of the night, one band stood out on top for me. So much so, that I had to buy their CD before I left. The Balconies put on a stellar show. Top notch musicians and an energetic stage show. I can’t wait to see them again in the finals. I hope I captured the energy of their set in my photographs. Having seen them perform once and now familiar with their songs, I am looking forward to a second chance to photograph them. I highly recommend their CD.
USS @ LiVE Lounge Main Stage
This past Friday, I had the chance to catch USS at Live 88.5’s Live Lounge Main Stage. The crowd was much bigger than I expected. It was my first time seeing USS. They’ve played in Ottawa a few times now and I can see why the crowd was as big as it was. The word has gotten out. These guys put on one energetic show from start to finish!
365 Project – Day 35
Have you ever seen a blender used on stage during a live show? I have! More to come from USS.
Champion & His G-Strings @ the LiVE Lounge
Last Thursday, I was able to catch Champion & His G-Strings at Live 88.5’s LiVE Lounge. What a great show! I had heard good things about them, and they definitely didn’t disappoint.
k-os @ The LiVE Lounge
This past Thursday I was able to catch a special performance by k-os at Live 88.5’s LiVE Lounge. I was thrilled to be able to photograph this show, as k-os has been one of my favorite artists, ever since I heard Superstarr Pt. Zero, back in 2002.
Big Money Shot 2009 Grand Finals – My Favourite Tragedy
The last band to take the stage at Live 88.5’s Big Money Shot Grand Finals was the three piece My Favourite Tragedy. MFT was the second band to make it in through the wildcard final.
Big Money Shot 2009 Grand Finals – Amos the Transparent
The fourth band to hit the stage at Live 88.5’s Big Money Shot Grand Finals this year was Amos the Transparent. Having seen them at the Round 3 Finals, I was expecting a good performance, and the band delivered. Unfortunately for them it wasn’t enough to beat Hollerado in the eyes of the judges.