And here we go again! 2024 saw me lean in to concert photography in a bigger way than in any previous year (I think), including my second visit to the Norfolk County Fairgrounds Festival, and some more lurking around clubs in Toronto and places nearby. I also continued my long relationships with the Canadian Musicians Co-op, the Toronto IndyCar race weekend, and the Norfolk County and Royal Agricultural Winter Fairs. Bits and pieces of most of these find their way into this year’s list.
So, in the customary “no particular order”, here are 2024’s top ten. All of these are found on Flickr, along with many others from the year past.
May: The Lemon Pistols, Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto
Sometimes, it’s the bass player that give you the most fun image. This band, a raucous mix of ska, punk, and general tomfoolery, headlined an entertaining evening along with three other bands. More here.
November: Aerialist, Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
The opening night, in a box with friends from Raynham Stables. Even so, there were opportunities to make some photos, including shooting down on a pair of aerialists dangling precariously from the rafters of the Coca-Cola Coliseum. More here.
March: My Own Money and fan, See-Scape, Toronto
An enjoyable evening at a venue that bills itself as “Toronto’s original Sci-Fi/Cyber Punk Themed Bar and Cafe”. There is a nice little live music stage upstairs, ideally suited to this high-energy, electro-pop band and a couple of other acts that were playing. More here.
July: Bif Naked at Big Shiny Saturday, Toronto
An unexpected opportunity to photograph this legend of Canadian pop-punk in the inaugural season of The Bowl at Sobey’s Stadium in Toronto. More of Bif and band here. I also photographed Bif and company in 2023, and would do again, anywhere, anytime.
July: Team Penske at work, Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto
I do enjoy photographing pit stops. This one was a challenge, given the notoriously claustrophobic pit lane on the Streets of Toronto. Here, Will Power’s crew makes short work of getting him in and out, with new tires and lots of fuel. More here.
November: Riders, Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
I like this study of intense concentration as competitors watch show jumping at the Royal Horse Show.
July: Your winner, Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto
Andretti Global driver Colton Herta picked up his eighth career IndyCar win in Toronto, and once again I had the chance to dive into the media scrum on pit lane as he hopped out of his winning car. Later he would also win the season finale in Nashville, en route to second place in the championship.
It’s always a bit of a crap shoot as to where to stand during these photo-frenzies, but I needed to show the crowd in the grandstand behind him. Overall, I’m pretty happy with this result, and a few others from the same moment.
October: James Barker Band, Norfolk County Fair
My concert photography friends know that I love a behind-the-soundboard photo. This is the best I managed this year. Canadian country musicians The James Barker Band, headlining Friday night’s “party on the track” at the Norfolk County Fair in Simcoe, Ontario, Canada. More here.
November: Show jumping, Royal Horse Show
Sean Jobin rides Coquelicot VH Heuvelland Z at the International Jumper Speed Challenge. It had been quite a while since I’d photographed any show jumping. I wish I’d done more.
November: Saddle bronc riding, Royal Rodeo
Another exciting opportunity – this time, my first experience shooting rodeo from down in the corrals, on the final day of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. A little hair-raising, but very fun, up close with a wide-angle lens. I’d definitely do this again!
So, there you go. If you’d like to see everything from the previous year, by all means start at the top of my Flickr page and work backwards.
Happy 2025, everyone.
