Paul Weller Photography High Lodge 2023

Blanc Creative – Commercial Photography, Video and Podcast Production

10 Years of Paul Weller Photography at Thetford High Lodge

Forest Live 2023 was a series of concert photography to remember.

Paul Weller took the stage for Forest Live and as in-house photographer for this event, I had the unique privilege of capturing my music hero on stage yet again.

This gig held a special significance for me, marking a decade since I first started shooting concerts at Forest Live, and in a beautiful twist of fate, shooting Paul Weller Photography was my first ever press assignment I’d covered for a newspaper at this venue, ten years ago.

The evening kicked off with a special appearance by Kelly Jones of the Stereophonics, in the guise of his side project ‘Far From Saints.’ The band really set the stage for what was to come. Paul Weller has a n ability to have tsome incredible support acts and Far From Saints were no exception.

But as expected, The Modfathers show would prove to be as good as ever and set the way for some great Paul Weller Photography.

Paul Weller Photography with a smile.

I gave to say, that I love Paul Weller to bits but shooting Weller with a smile can prove a little problematic. However, his 2023 appearance was one of thehappioest I’ve ever seen him.

From his entrance on stage, I knew it was going to be a great set. One of the best I’d ever seen him perform.

Launching straight into “Cosmic Fringes” from his 2021 album “Fat Pop,” even from front of stage, you could hear the crowd. Without missing a beat, he followed with “From The Floorboards Up” and “I’m Where I Should Be,” maintaining an electrifying tempo.

He promised a long set filled with both old and new songs, which was met with enthusiastic cheers and I genuinely wished that we didn’t have the 3 songs only protocol for this concert.

It’s not very often that you get to stay in the pit, so I exited early to take up a new vantage point from the top floor of the lighting desk.

It’s only from this angle and shooting a set of stitched together Paul Well Photography super wide shots, that you appreciate how many people were watching his performance, even though it’s a fairly intimate, but beautiful environment.

A highlight was his performance of the 1993 track “Sunflower,” featuring Steve Cradock from Ocean Colour Scene, who has been with Weller since forever.

Steve Craddock is a great bloke, always plays to the right side of stage and always gives the photographers a chance to grab some awesome music images.

Weller also gave us a glimpse of the future with a new track, “Take,” set to release next year. The audience was thrilled, eagerly absorbing every note.

Switching to acoustic, Weller performed “Headstart For Happiness” from The Style Council, followed by a soulful stint on the piano with “Stanley Road,” the title track from his iconic album released 28 years ago.

The setlist was a journey through Weller’s rich musical history, each track flowing effortlessly into the next.

I genuinely never get tired of shooting Paul Weller Photography., Like a fine wine, he’s aged gently, but his music definitely hasn’t.

He’s one of the hardest working musicians I’ve ever had the pleasure to photograph and I’m hoping the he’ll be on radar when he tours for his new ’66’ Album release, but we’ll have wait and see.