David Jackson

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The Prodigy - Utilita Arena, Birmingham
18 April 2026

The Prodigy were back in Birmingham with Carl Cox in tow as part of their latest UK tour. My third time shooting the band and sadly, the first since the death of Keith. The Prodigy don't get any easier to photograph and it was a barrage of strobes from the off. However, it was an excellent night and a hopefully a bit of an insight into what they've got in store when they head out across the UK this summer for their Warriors Dance out door shows. For more information about The Prodigy, visit...

Richard Ashcroft - Utilita Arena, Birmingham
4 April 2026

Former Verve man Richard Ashcroft has been out on a UK tour and headed to Birmingham to headline the Utilita Arena. After last summer's support slots with Oasis, Ashcroft's stock is as high as it's been in years and he played a cracking set. Not the longest set you're going to see at an area and a fair few extended songs - but still a great night. There's a review running over on Birmingham World here More photos from gigs at the Utilita Arena are available on this site here. For more information about...

MGK - Utilita Arena, Birmingham
10 March 2026

MGK - formerly known as Machine Gun Kelly - bought his Lost Americana tour to town this month. The US rapper turned pop-punk revivalist was at the Utilita Arena as part of a pretty much sold out UK tour. This was another dream to shoot - fantastic lighting and tons going on in terms of MGK's stage design. While MGK has jumped around genres in recent years, the set was dominated by much of his pop-punk output, with a little bit of rap and a the more recent Americana sounds of his latest album. I've seen my...

Big Special - O2 Institute, Birmingham
21 February 2026

Big Special returned to Birmingham for the closest thing to a hometown gig for the duo as part of their UK tour supporting their latest album National Average. I've been lucky enough to see Big Special a number of times over recent years after stumbling across them at the Craufurd Arms in Milton Keynes supporting Benefits as part of Independent Venue Week in 2023. Seeing them go from strength to strength and picking up an ever growing fanbase along the way has been great. Joining the band were fellow West...

Deftones - bp pulse LIVE, Birmingham
12 February 2026

There's been a huge reassurance around Deftones in recent years so it's no surprise to see them playing and selling out arenas. I was lucky enough to catch them a few times in the late 1990s, until heading to Birmingham on their latest tour, hadn't seen them for a long time. I'm a restricted to what I can show here, so you can check out some photos over on Birmingham World via the link below where the main review is. It was a great line up which also featured Denzel Curry and Drug Church. More...

Biffy Clyro - Utilita Arena, Birmingham
16 January 2026

Scottish rock icons Biffy Clyro are out on tour and brought their Futique tour to Birmingham the Utilita Arena this week. After 30 years and 10 studio albums, it’d have been easy for any band at this stage in their career to maybe go through the motions live – especially in Biffy’s case following the announcement last year that bassist James Johnston wouldn’t be joining the band live. Thankfully this wasn't the case and the band put in a cracking 23 song-set, pulling tracks from across their career, heading...

Mumford & Sons - Utilita Arena, Birmingham
7 December 2025

It’s been a while since I last checked in on Mumford & Sons - quite a while it turns out. Having previously seen the band headline the main stage of Leicester’s Summer Sundae way back in 2010 - it’s fair to say while my attention has evidently been elsewhere for the past decade and a half – they’ve been busy releasing chart topping, platinum selling albums and picking up an army of fans along the way. Mumford & Sons released their fifth album Rushmere earlier this year – and its successor has...

Kneecap - O2 Academy, Birmingham
27 November 2025

It's been a bit of a high profile year for Kneecap. In and out of the national news on a regular basis, their UK tour pulled in to Birmingham on Thursday night. Despite having been a fan of the band for some time, this was my first time seeing the Irish rap trio as well as photographing them. Bit of a nightmare to shoot, given so much of it was backlit. However, the performance and atmosphere were amazing. Support was by Australian Aboriginal rapper Miss Kaninna. There's a full review of the gig running over on...

The Horrors - The Crossing, Birmingham
21 November 2025

The Horrors' latest album, Night Life, is probably going to be my album of the year. Having seen them at the end of 2024 over at Esquires in Bedford ahead of the record's release, it was great to see them again and hear a bit more new material. There's been a run of gigs with no front facing light recently. However, you'd expect nothing less from the band. This is the first Horrors album and run of live dates where the line-up has differed significantly from the bulk of their earlier work. However, this seems...

NewDad - XOYO, Birmingham
24 October 2025

Galway trio NewDad returned in September with sophomore release Alter – their second album in as many years. Picking up plaudits upon its release the band are currently out on a 10-date UK-tour following a series of record store shows to support their new LP’s release. Led by singer and guitarist Julie Dawson, the band’s 15-song set was heavily weighted towards their new record. There were joined at XOYO in Birmingham by The Cardinals. A full review of the gig is available on Birmingham World - linked...

Katy Perry - Utilita Arena, Birmingham
11 October 2025

Sometimes, all you want is a big OTT area show - and Katy Perry's Lifetimes tour delivers this and a whole lot more. The US singer-songwriter was in town for a set packed full of her biggest hits and the entire gig was visual spectacle from start to finish. The night began with Perry descending high from above the stage at the Utilita Arena in something you're more likely to have seen in one of The Matrix Films and concluded with her flying above fans straddling a giant butterfly. There's a full review of the show...

Lewis Capaldi - Utilita Arena, Birmingham
23 September 2025

Lewis Capaldi has been touring across the UK in support of his latest album Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent. The Scottish singer-songwriter has returned to touring after a bit of hiatus and these photos are from the opening night of two consecutive dates he played at the Birmingham venue. Joining Capaldi were Skye Newman and Aaron Rowe. There's a full review of the gig running over at the Birmingham World website. More photos from gigs at the Utilita Arena are available on this site here. For more...

Self Esteem - O2 Academy, Birmingham
15 September 2025

Self Esteem kicked off her UK tour in support of her latest album A Complicated Woman at Birmingham's O2 Academy. I'd previously photographed Self Esteem when they played across town at the Institute in 2023. Some photos from that gig are on this site here. It was another great show by Rebecca Lucy Taylor. There's a full review of the gig on the Birmingham World website here. For more information about Self Esteem visit https://www.selfesteem.love/ More photos of gig at Birmingham's O2 Academy are available on...

Pulp - Utilita Arena, Birmingham
19 June 2025

Pulp are back with their first new album in 24 years and headlined Birmingham's Utilita Arena. No support tonight, with Pulp playing two sets to an absolutely packed venue. In a bit of a break from the norm, we photographed the start of the second set - so I got to watch the first half of the show. While this is the band's first album in almost a quarter of a century, I hadn't seen Pulp since they headlined the Glastonbury Festival in 1998! There's a full review of the show on the Birmingham World website...

Wet Leg - O2 Academy, Birmingham
21 May 2025

Wet Leg kicked off their UK tour with a headline gig at The O2 Academy in Birmingham - treating fans to a set packed with tracks from their forthcoming second album. The Isle Of Wight indie-rockers are set to release new LP Moisturizer in July and headed to Birmingham as part of a short run of UK dates before this summer’s festival season kicks in. Support was by Mary In The Junkyard. More photos from gigs at O2 Academy are available on this site here. For more information about Wet Leg, visit...

Bradley Simpson - O2 Institute, Birmingham
17 May 2025

Having headlined the venue's smaller room six months ago, Vamps frontman Bradley Simpson played a sold-out hometown gig at Birmingham's O2 Institute as part of his UK tour. Simpson released his debut album The Panic Years in February and had absolutely no difficulty stepping up to the venue's bigger stage. Support at the Birmingham venue was by Nieve Ella. More photos of gigs at the Institute are available on this site here. A full review of the gig is available on the Birmingham World...

Twenty One Pilots - bp pulse LIVE, Birmingham
6 May 2025

Twenty One Pilots have been gigging across the UK in support of their latest album Clancy which was released last year. I wont lie - besides the duo's obvious huge singles - this wasn't a band really on my radar at all. The second you got into the Birmingham venue however, what was clear was the absolute cult like support they have. This wasn't the easiest show to shoot given the extensive use of red lights. However, I did get one perfectly timed shot of the drummer back flipping off the keyboard. Kinda made up...

The Flaming Lips - O2 Academy, Birmingham
26 April 2025

The Flaming Lips kicked off their UK tour at the O2 in Birmingham this week - playing all of their acclaimed 2002 album Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots in full. This was an absolute pleasure to shoot. More bands should be this fun. At times during the set the stage was filled with giant inflatable pink robots and a rainbow with 'ticker-tape' filled balloons also thrown out among the crowd. There's a full review of the gig running over on the Birmingham World website. More photos of gigs at the O2 in Birmingham are...

The Murder Capital - XOYO, Birmingham
17 April 2025

The Murder Capital kicked off their UK tour with a headline gig at XOYO in Digbeth. The Dublin natives released their third album Blindness in February and after playing a series of gigs the other side of the world, headed to Birmingham for their first show on these shores. The night was everything you'd expect from The Murder Capital - uncompromising, intense post-punk with flourishes of melody and electronics thrown in too. Joining the band were Cusk - fronted by actor Esmé Creed-Miles. More photos of gigs from...

Loserville: Limp Bizkit - bp pulse LIVE, Birmingham
13 March 2025

Limp Bizkit brought their Loserville tour to the bb pulse LIVE arena in Birmingham as part of their UK tour. Great line up for this show, which saw the acclaimed nu-metallers joined by Ecca Vandal, Bones, N8Noface, Karen Dio and Riff Raff. There's a little be of everything below - but you're going to have to head over to Birmingham World via the link below for photos of the headliners as there was a pretty strict photo contract on this one. More photos from gigs in Birmingham are available on this site...

High Vis - XOYO, Birmingham
19 February 2025

Following the release of their third album Guided Tour last year, High Vis have been playing gigs across the country and headed to Birmingham to headline XOYO. High Vis are one of my absolute favourites at the moment and a band I've seen a few times on previous album cycles so it was great to be able to finally shoot them. Joining them in Digbeth were Narrow Head and Cruelty. There's a formal review running over on the Birmingham World website here. For more information about High Vis, visit...

Snow Patrol - bp pulse LIVE, Birmingham
16 February 2025

Snow Patrol are out on a sold-out UK tour and headed to the bp pulse LIVE arena in Birmingham. One of those bands which needs no introduction, Fronted by Gary Lightbody, Snow Patrol have been in the game for more than 30 years and have some absolutely massive indie anthems. Joining the band was Nina Nesbitt. There's a full review running over at Birmingham World here. For more information, visit https://snowpatrol.com More photos from gigs at the bp pulse LIVE arena, are available on this site...

Sam Fender - Utilita Arena, Birmingham
13 December 2024

Sam Fender is gearing up for the release of his third album People Watching which is due in February and ahead of its arrival has been out on a UK arena tour. Fender's two albums to date, Seventeen Going Under and Hypersonic Missiles, both helped propel the singer-songwriter onto some of the country's biggest stages. There's a link to a full review of his gig at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham via the link below. There was a pretty tight photo release for this one - so you'll have to head over to Birmingham World to...

Idles - O2 Academy, Birmingham
3 December 2024

Idles were back in Birmingham for two sold out dates as part of their UK to to support their fifth album Tangk. It was somehow the eighth time seeing the Bristol natives having previously seen them play at Esquires (Bedford), Hare & Hounds (Birmingham), Craufurd Arms (Milton Keynes), Sound City (Liverpool), Institute (Birmingham), EartH (London) and Electric (London). It was however, my first time shooting them since their 2018 gig in Milton Keynes. You can see photos from both the Bedford and Milton Keynes gigs...

Michael Kiwanuka - HMV Vault, Birmingham
23 November 2024

Award winning singer songwriter Michael Kiwanuka marked the release of his new album with an in-store performance and signing at the HMV Vault in Birmingham. A couple of hundred fans headed to the Dale End store to see Kiwanuka play songs from his fourth album Small Changes alongside tracks from his back catalogue. Since his 2012 debut album, Kiwanuka has received critical acclaim for his soul-infused indie – picking up numerous awards along the way including the Mercury Prize for his self-titled 2019...

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - BP Pulse Live, Birmingham
15 November 2024

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds returned to Birmingham to headline the BP Pulse LIVE arena on the final date of their UK tour to support their latest album Wild God. Third time seeing and photographing Cave and unsurprisingly, he didn't disappoint. I went into this gig probably not knowing the new album well enough, but it was a great set. I was honestly, a little disappointed by Black Country New Road who were supporting. Love their two albums but live - I just don't think it translated. I'm limited to what I can...

Bradley Simpson - O2 Institute, Birmingham
8 November 2024

On the same day he announced details of his debut album, Bradley Simpson played a hometown gig at the O2 Institute in Birmingham. The Sutton Coldfield native headlined a sold out Institute 2 room and will be back next year to play the lager main room. Simpson - best known as frontman of The Vamps - previewed the majority of tracks from his forthcoming album alongside a few covers. Support was by Annika Bennett. More photos of gigs at venues in Birmingham are available on this site here. A full review of the gig...

Soft Play - O2 Institute, Birmingham
18 October 2024

Punk duo Soft Play headlined an absolutely crazy headline gig at Birmingham's O2 Institute as part of their UK tour supporting their latest album Heavy Jelly. It was impossible to take your eyes off drummer Isaac Holman and guitarist Laurie Vincent all night and the photo of the latter mid air is easily one of my favourite shots of the year. The gig itself was borderline chaos, with multiple stoppages to help fans either at the front or who were injured somewhere in the middle. Honestly haven't seen a crowd go as...

Health - O2 Institute, Birmingham
16 October 2024

LA industrial rock trio Health headlined the O2 Institute 2 as part of the UK leg of their Rat Wars tour. Fans crammed into the sold out gig and you can read a full review of the show over on the Birmingham World website here. Joining Health were noise-rock duo Zetra and American synthwave producer GosT. Not the easiest of gigs to photograph as I'd suspected it was going to be a bit of a 'night front facing lights and rear strobes' kinda night. Happy enough with the mixture of shots I got though. More photos of...

The Libertines - O2 Academy, Birmingham
3 October 2024

The Libertines were back in Birmingham to headline the O2 Academy as part of the band's latest jaunt around the UK to support their album All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade. The band's fourth album featured some of their best material since their acclaimed debut and they were joined by Hot Wax, Short Straw and Laurie Wright. A full review of the gig is running on the Birmingham World website. More photos of gigs taken at venues in Birmingham are available on this site here. For more information about The...

Azealia Banks - O2 Institute, Birmingham
20 September 2024

This was a bit of a wild one - when it eventually got going! Azealia Banks had already played several dates across the UK by the time she arrived in Birmingham, so we knew what to expect. Despite being more than an hour late on stage, the US rapper whipped up a sold out O2 Institute crowd into an absolute frenzy for her set. There was a strict photo release on this one - so I'm only linking to the review where you can find more photos. A full review of the gig is running on the Birmingham World website. More...

Kings Of Leon - Utilita Arena, Birmingham
23 June 2024

Kings Of Leon returned to Birmingham to headline the Utilita Arena as part of their Can We Please Have Fun world tour. The US rockers released their latest album in May and headed to the Utilita for the second of nine dates across the UK. Not the easiest to shoot as snappers could only be at certain points in the pit - and the other side of frontman Caleb was obstructed by a table. Opening from the Nashville act were The Vaccines. For more information about Kings Of Leon, visit https://kingsofleon.com More...

The Smashing Pumpkins / Weezer - Utilita Arena, Birmingham
7 June 2024

90s alt icons The Smashing Pumpkins and Weezer kicked of their UK tour at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham. Both bands played great sets, packed full of hits. Weezer opened and we were photographing them from the pic. However, for The Smashing Pumpkins, we were shooting from FOH - which unfortunately somewhat restricted the sort of pictures we could get. You can read a full review of the gig on Birmingham World via this link. More photos of gigs at venues across Birmingham are available on this site...

Big Special - XOYO, Birmingham
9 May 2024

Black Country duo Big Specials played their biggest gig of their career at Birmingham's XOYO on Thursday, the night before the release of their debut album Postindustrial Hometown Blues. Having first seen Big Special open for Benefits a couple of years ago, it's great to see how far they've come. I'm certain their debut is going to be one of my albums of the year. Joining Big Special Birmingham's Gans and Fergy LHmaking while Foka Wolf and Tat Vision took to the stage for some antics which included a game of 'duck or...

Lemar / Maddox Jones - Town Hall, Birmingham
14 April 2024

Northants singer songwriter Maddox Jones joined Lemar for a couple of gigs across the UK as part of the latter's Closer tour. Joining both on the bill at the Town Hall in Birmingham was Azu Yeche. Maddox Jones' latest single Change My Number is out now. For more information about Maddox Jones, visit https://www.instagram.com/itsmaddoxjones There's more photos from gigs at venues across Birmingham on this site...

Bleachers - O2 Institute, Birmingham
23 March 2024

Some people will only know Jack Antonoff for winning three consecutive Producer of the Year Grammys and for his long-time collaboration with Taylor Swift. They’re undoubtedly missing out on a supremely talented musician as his sell out show with his band Bleachers testified at the O2 Institute. There's a full review of the gig running over on the Birmingham World website here. More photos of gigs from venues across Birmingham are available on this site...

Yard Act - HMV Vault, Birmingham
6 March 2024

To celebrate the release of their second album Where's My Utopia? Yard Act have been playing a series of 'in-stores' at venues across the UK. The band headed to Birmingham's HMV Vault for a short set which featured nine songs from the record. For more information about Yard Act, visit https://www.yardactors.com More photos from gigs in Birmingham are available on this site...

Renee Rapp - O2 Academy, Birmingham
28 February 2024

US singer songwriter Renee Rapp headlined a sold out gig at the O2 Academy in Birmingham as part of her UK tour. Rapp gained recognition starring as Regina George in the Broadway musical Mean Girls and later the film, going onto release her full length album last year. Support at the Birmingham venue was by Towa Bird and Sekou. You can find more photos from gigs in Birmingham on this site here. For more information about Rennee Rapp visit https://www.reneerapp.com A full review of the gig is running on the...

Bring Me The Horizon - Utilita Arena, Birmingham
12 January 2024

Bring Me The Horizon played an incredible headline gig at Birmingham's Utilita Arena on Friday as part of their UK tour. Definitely one of the very best bands out there at the moment who deserve to be playing huge gigs. Joining BMTH were Static Dress, Cassyette and Bad Omens. There's a full review of the gig and a photo gallery running over on Birmingham World which you can find via the links below. Have to be a little careful regarding photos of BMTH as they're only for use with that publication and that...

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - Utilita Arena, Birmingham
15 December 2023

Noel Gallagher is on tour in support of his latest album with the High Flying Birds, Council Skies. Support at the Utilita Arena was by former Kasabian frontman Tom Meighan. Lots of photos available, but you're going to have to click through to the Birmingham World gallery to see the ones of Noel. There's some photos of Tom Below. More photos from gigs in Birmingham are available on this site here. For more details about Noel Gallagher, visit...

Hollywood Vampires - Utilita Arena, Birmingham
11 July 2023

Rock royalty returned to Birmingham in the form of Hollywood Vampires. The band, fronted by Alice Cooper, features Aerosmith's Joe Perry, actor Johnny Depp and guitarist Tommy Henriksen. Support at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham was by The Tubes. This gig was photographed for Birmingham World. You can find the review here. More photos from gigs in Birmingham are available on this site here. For more information about Hollywood Vampires, visit...

Bruce Springsteen - Villa Park, Birmingham
16 June 2023

My third time photographing Bruce Springsteen, following two previous gigs down the road at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry. Shame about the venue this time, but I'll concede that St Andrews is in no fit state to host football, let alone Bruce. There's a full review of this gig over on Birmingham World. More photos from gigs in Birmingham are available on this site...

Suede - Symphony Hall, Birmingham
21 March 2023

Suede's ninth album Autofiction, which was released last year, was one of the very best of their career and their headline gig at the Symphony Hall was further evidence of a band still on the top of their game. It was oddly my first time watching the band, who put in a cracking performance. As great as the Symphony Hall is, it felt a bit of a odd choice for Suede due to it being a seated venue. Thankfully, it didn't stop people standing and packing the isles. Support at the Birmingham venue was by Desperate...

Tom Grennan - Utilita Arena, Birmingham
10 March 2023

Bedford's Tom Grennan is getting ready to release his new album Ifs and Maybes and kicked off his UK tour at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham. It was a huge pop show by Grennan, who was joined by Northants natives Danny Connors on guitar and Adam Gammage on drums. Support was by former touring mate Frankie Beetlestone and pop singer Gracey. A full review of the gig is running on Birmingham World here. More photos of Tom Grennan are available on this site...

Self Esteem - O2 Institute, Birmingham
2 March 2023

Rebecca Taylor brough Self Esteem to the O2 Institute in Birmingham as part of her latest tour across the UK promoting her latest album Prioratise Pleasure. A full review of the gig by Peter Ormerod is running on Birmingham World here. There's some photos of Self Esteem's keyboard and bass player Sophie Galpin in her previous band PINS on this site...

Joey Valence & Brae - Castle & Falcon, Birmingham
14 November 2022

I wasn't officially photographing this show, but grabbed a few decent photos on my phone and it was definitely one worth highlighting. US rappers Joey Valence and Brae returned to the UK this month for another run of shows, having previously played at the Reading & Leeds festivals this summer. These lates gigs came despite the former having injured his ACL. The pair have incredible on-stage presence and a great Beastie Boys influenced sound. First time at the Castle & Falcon in Birmingham. Photos from more...

Nick Cave & Warren Ellis, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
2 October 2021

Nick Cave & Warren Ellis brought their UK tour to the Symphony Hall in Birmingham for an amazing night which mostly featured music from the pair's new album Carnage and their most recent album with the Bad Seeds, Ghosteen. While being billed a show by Cave and Ellis, they were joined by a few other musicians on the Birmingham stage for somewhat stripped back interpretations of some of their best recent work. A review of the night is running across JPIMedia websites in the East Midlands, which includes on the...

Pixies, O2 Academy, Birmingham
16 September 2019

Alt rock legends Pixies headlining The O2 Academy in Birmingham. This was a super frustrating one to shoot - with the band almost entirely back lit for the duration of the show. Managed one clean pic featuring Black Francis and Paz Lenchantin. Pixies were touring in support of their latest album Beneath The Eyrie but their 39 (!!) song set dipped into tracks from across their career. Support was by Big...

slowthai - Birmingham / Milton Keynes / Northampton
12 June 2019

In recent months, slowthai has well and truly been putting Northampton on the map. The rapper released his debut LP Nothing Great About Britain in May to critical acclaim. Rather than retrospectively publishing some galleries of recent slowthai content, this one post features images from his Brexit Bandit tour, his 99p tour and his album launch party at The Garibaldi Hotel. The latter was notable for featuring Skepta, who walked in to the Northampton pub for the last song of slowthai's set to perform Inglorious. You can...

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