a little something about me

I'm a 20 year old photographer and journalist from Sunderland. I studied Digital Journalism at Leeds Beckett University. This project was part of my final year work however, it has turned into much more than a university project. 

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I am very proud of my northern roots, although Sunderland is not a very large or well known city - it's home. I wanted to create a project based on my hometown and the people that make the city an interesting, culturally rich and diverse place to live. 

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I have always had an interest in music and as I grew older my interest for music grew into a passion for the live music scene in the North East. I looked forward to bands I loved playing at big venues like the 02 Academy and arena in Newcastle. A lot of my friends at the time were budding musicians and over the years have formed bands or solo acts and started to play local gigs at pubs and smaller venues. So many of them are now doing so well and are making a name for themselves as a North East artists, playing at iconic North East venues such as the 02, Head of Steam, The Cluny and Independent. 

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Going to gigs in the North East usually means having a drink, making some friends and hearing some tunes. It's always been a huge aspect of my social life and my career as a photographer as I started to photograph gigs and musicians in the area. It's great to see people I know on stage enjoying themselves and doing so well. It's also a great way to meet new people from different ages, cultures and backgrounds. Something about live music brings people together.

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I wanted to create a project that showed that the North East music scene has a real sense of community and  tell the stories of people who share a similar passion to myself. This project shows a range of people from different backgrounds who have different styles of music and like different things, however they all come together to support all aspects of the Northern music scene.