Groovetrain - Behind the Scenes
As with most things, I fell into photographing bands by accident. I’d just finished my photography degree and had planned to pursue portraiture, but after three years of juggling study with a full-time job, I hit pause. I wasn’t being lazy, I’d spent my two days off each week at college, and when the course ended, it felt like a luxury to finally get those days back.
Newcastle college Students Krakow - Feb 2019
A few months passed without me picking up my camera. Then I met up with an ex-workmate who told me he’d joined a band called Little Moscow, a five-piece from Chopwell, Northumberland, featuring Si King of The Hairy Bikers on percussion. A week later, he got in touch again to ask if I’d photograph the band in the studio.
I really enjoyed that shoot, got on well with everyone, and ended up photographing them several more times, including a few days at the legendary Rockfield Studios in Wales (there’s a separate blog coming about that!).
Through Si, I was introduced to Groovetrain, a professional showband with a brass section, well known in the region for their charitable performances and guest artists. Not long after, I got a message from bandleader and vocalist Michael Lavery, asking if I’d be interested in photographing Rock & Raise, a charity gig for the Graham Wylie Foundation in support of Teenage Cancer Trust.
The show featured an eclectic mix of performers, including Ajoia, a duo creating therapeutic soundscapes, Andrew Cushin, who’s since supported Noel Gallagher and Louis Tomlinson, and released two albums of his own. Other guests included Bluey from Incognito, Johnny “Blue Hat” Davis from Sam Fender’s band, and Liam Fender. The gig was brilliantly organised, sounded fantastic, and raised over £12,000 for charity.
Since then, I’ve photographed Groovetrain at several events with a wide range of guest performers. One of the best parts of working with a band over time is getting to know the individuals, who likes being photographed, who shies away, and how they interact. Eventually, they forget you’re even there, which allows for more candid, natural shots.
I really enjoy photographing live music, but I especially love the behind-the-scenes moments. Those quiet, in-between times often reveal something more intimate—who someone is off-stage, rather than the persona they present on it. While I always get performance shots for social media and press, my favourite images are usually the quiet ones. That’s the beauty of photography: the more you observe, the more meaningful the images become.
I sometimes wish I’d picked up a camera in my teens, photography feels like something that takes a lifetime to master. The more time you invest, the better your work becomes.
Over the past couple of years, I’ve come to know some of the band quite well, especially Ross, Groovetrain’s trumpet player. He’s usually joking with the others but often slips into quiet, reflective moments. Many artists and photographers have muses. Picasso had Dora Maar, Man Ray photographed Lee Miller, Robert Mapplethorpe captured Patti Smith. Sometimes, you take one photograph of a person and feel like you’ve captured everything. Other times, you find someone who seems to hold many versions of themselves, and the camera keeps revealing more. That’s how I feel photographing Ross. I’ll keep pointing the lens his way.
With up to 11 members in Groovetrain, plus guests, there’s always something going on backstage. I love observing the small interactions, the kind of things that would go unnoticed but tell the real story. One standout gig was a fundraiser for YMCA North Tyneside, which featured Liam Fender, Lorraine Crosby (of “I’d Do Anything for Love” fame), and John Parr (St Elmo’s Fire). I got plenty of performance shots, but my favourite image from that night was of Lorraine, Liam, and John standing in the wings, lit only by stage spill. It was subtle, but powerful.
Michael Lavery deserves a mention on his own, he’s relentless. As well as leading Groovetrain and organising large-scale charity events, he also runs his own business. In late 2024, he became one of the new owners of The Hoochie Coochie, a beloved Newcastle music venue. They rebranded it Pilgrim, a clever play on words: a person on a journey to a sacred place, like the regulars who flocked there to hear music of Black origin. Conveniently, it’s also located on Pilgrim Street, which is undergoing major redevelopment. Michael plans to increase live performances and has already booked artists like Jazzie B and Macy Gray. I can’t wait to see where he takes it.
I haven’t photographed Groovetrain for a few months now, which, honestly, is a good thing. If the same photographer works with the same band too often, the images can become stale. A break brings fresh eyes, for both the band and me. I’m sure I’ll work with them again, and I look forward to it.
I enjoy photographing bands like Groovetrain for two simple reasons:
You get great pictures—and the music is fantastic.