2025 has been full of ebs and flows, ups and downs, good and bad. But overall, a year full of shows, and I can only hope that 2026 is good to me and opens more doors for me. The dreams I have for myself, and the plans I have already made are filling me with hope, but I enjoy leaving things up to the universe sometimes.

February

James Bay was an artist I never thought I’d see live, he was just not on my bucket list. But that’s what I love about what I do, I get to see some incredible artists, some new and upcoming artists and some well established artists. He put on an incredible show, the lighting is something I still think about now, there were these beautiful tiny fairy light styled lights all across the back of the stage that just made the whole show look like it was set in a starry night. James has a beautiful voice too, and whilst I went into this thinking I only knew one song, I ended up knowing a few more, and when the energy is as infectious as that show, it’s enjoyable regardless.

March

The Darkness is such an iconic band, when I got invited to cover their show I was shook to my core. And what a show it was. I try and go into shows with no real excitement, just incase I do too much and leave disappointed, whilst that has never been the case, The Darkness absolutely shocked me. I had no idea that Justin could still hit those notes and belt like that, that was insane to witness.

and Iniko, wow, that show was like being transcended to another universe, the vibes were something I still can’t explain. The way their energy filled that room, the way their vocals echoed so beautifully, it was just a highlight show of the year for me. I truly wish I could say more, but it’s been months and I’m yet to capture in words, the serenity, the esence of that show.

June

Djo, oh Joe Keery, the man that he is. It was his first time in London, I’ve been listening to his music since 2021, hopelessly yearning for a tour to go international, so when it did, I snatched up tickets so fast. I am still mad at him for cutting ‘Fool’ in night 1, but he was forgiven for playing it for night 2. Djo has been a bucket list artist, and now I’ve seen him, I will continue to go back to him. The Crux is top 3 albums of the year for me, so to hear some of my favourite older songs of his, mixed with (at the time), some fresh music, just made it really memorable. I wrote a more in depth review here, so feel free to have a nosey.

If you know me, you know how down bad I am for 5 Seconds Of Summer, and that my favourite member is Calum Hood. So this is really just an excuse to twirl my hair, giggle and kick my feet about how much I adore him. He did a signing for his release of his solo album ORDER chaos ORDER, I’ve been a fan of that band for 15 years, and I’m still in shock that the first words when he saw me were “I remember you!”, that man knows his silly little way to my silly little heart. Anyway, I also wrote a track by track review of his album here.

Listen… he is everyone’s guilty pleasure, Pitbull. What a show, what a man, what an icon. It was pure fun, nothing less, not even a moment of that show was sad, or slow, or emotional, it was just good vibes on good vibes and truly sometimes that is all you need. I’m hoping to see him at Hyde Park next year, after the summer he gave us this year, it’s only right to continue the tradition. You’ll never believe it, but I wrote a little detailed review of the show here. But that man, that show, and attending with one of my closest friends who is just as loud and outgoing as me, was just a perfect combination.

Don Broco is a band I go back to a lot. I only got into them around the release of their album Amazing Things, but I have never looked back. They are one of my favourite bands of all time, and I have seen them now a handful of times, I even got 3 Don Broco tattoos over the years, 2 of which were acquired at their most recent London show, but I’ll get to that. This show was a warm up for them playing Download that weekend, so to see them in such an intimate venue, at to be allowed to photograph it, was something only dreams are made of. I wrote a big soppy post here, all about the show. It was also the first gallery I’d experimented using entirely black and white, I’m still unsure how I feel about it, but I’m glad I’m always trying new things.

July

I’m not big on festivals, at least not the camping kind, but this year I went to my first ever Hyde Park to see none other than Sabrina Carpenter. I unfortunately missed out on the Short ‘n’ Sweet tour, so this was a lifesaver for me… not to be dramatic. It was perfect, she embodies pop princess so well, her outfits are stunning, she was flawless, her shows are just sexy in a fun, cute way. I still hope to see her when she next tours across London, but I cannot express how much, if you are a young woman, you need to see her. Her songs are catchy, her stage presence, as small as she is, is larger than life. It just felt like the epitome of girlhood.

This year, I shot my first portrait shoot for a local band called Blockade. Going into the shoot was really nerve-racking, given my lack of experience. But the band were lovely and helped direct the shoot, as much as I also did, just having so many creative heads lock in to the same concept, made the whole thing so much easier. We had quite a limited time in a studio but captured so much, and then ended up walking around London just finding spots to use as backdrops. To see photos from this shoot now all over the bands website (here), on BBC Radio 1’s introducing graphics, it’s all just mind blowing to me.

Yungblud is an artist I feel like speaks for himself. Idols is another one of my favourite albums to come out of this year. The level of respect I have for Dom is unmatched, I have no real explanation as to why, but there’s just a rawness and realness to him, about himself and his art, and his movie portrays that fantastically. I’ve been honoured enough to photograph him twice now, and to see not only Yungbluds development between the two shows, but my own, the way my skills have built and the fact I can track my career development on such an iconic artist, makes my heart burst.

August

Reading Festival always happens around my birthday, and yet I struggle to plan my life well enough, alas, this year, I did it! To see the wonderful Chappell Roan, one of my absolute favourites. To have an artist to open and loudly lesbian, is so important, especially given the political climate around queerness and the space it holds in the world. I, as a bisexual woman in the industry, am always seeking ways to get myself out there more, and figuring out how I can take up more space, so when I see people like Chappell, doing exactly that. Being loud, taking up space, being unapologetic, it inspires me, it drives me. She has such a huge platform, and to centre the LGBTQ+ community in all of that, is fascinating, and truly something I wish to be able to do one day (maybe not on that scale, but still).

September

Busted VS McFly, as a day one McFly girly, I had to be there for the feud. Going into this show I was just in shock that the year prior I played a part in photographing the announcement. McFly were the first band I remember really loving as a kid, I grew up on their music and they were my first ever concert back in 2009, I do not play when it comes to this band. For them to have played such a big part in my life just as a music lover growing up, to now such a huge part in my professional life, feels so full circle. I have enjoyed some of Busted’s music, but that was just never a bit of me, however, the way the show was split up, was good fun, separate sets then a joint set towards the end. It did make me appreciate Busted more – especially as they were a member down and emotions were running high. The professionalism of that entire situation was commendable.

October

MY BEST FRIEND GOT MARRIED! Obviously, personally, this means the world to me, they are such a beautiful couple, but professionally, to be trusted to photograph someone’s wedding with no prior experience is crazy. I’m not sure if them being my friends put more or less pressure on the situation, but alas, I am very proud of that shoot and I know the bride and groom love the photos too, and that’s truly all you can ask for when capturing such an important day. And I must say, I got incredibly drunk (I was a state, a real… real, sate) and still managed to capture everything I needed to, and delivered the photos within 24 hours, I’m all about that grind, what can I say.

Nxdia is someone I have been following on TikTok for a very long time now, early on we were both heavily supporting each others dreams, joking about becoming famous (which of course worked out incredibly well for them, and they’re just getting started!), but to be able to shoot a Nxdia show, after years of my schedules not lining up with their shows, it felt surreal. They put on an amazing show, again, as an LGBTQ+ artist, to make that the centre of your art, is such a beautiful and memorable thing to do. I am proud of them, and I really do recommend seeing them live, if you’re into that kind of music, heartfelt, catastrophic in ways, with a rocky edge. Ultimately, bangers on bangers I can’t lie.

I have photographed ONE OK ROCK a few times now, and every time I’m blown away by how cool they are, and then I literally forget how cool they are until the next time. Which is a blessing and a curse, because it allows me to be genuinely authentically shocked each and every time, but also, get it together Toyah. Their visuals are always on point and their fans have always been so interactive with me, my best crowd shots have always come from ONE OK ROCK shows.

I wrapped up this month by seeing Busted VS McFly again, but because I stayed for the whole show the first time, I only really stayed for McFly this time, and as they were on first, it was a nice early night for me. Like I said before, I’m a McFly girly, and I am in my late 20s, these late night gigs are tiring now, so getting an early night AND seeing one of my all time favourite bands… a double win in my opinion.

November

5SOS got me back on my regularly scheduled BS. They announced 3 events across the UK and I panicked and got tickets to all 3, so I spent 3 days going from London to Nottingham, back to London. They performed a “One Night Only” show for night 1, a q&a for night 2, and another q&a for night 3. All including a playback of their album Everyone’s A Star, which is their strongest album of their career so far. I wrote all about it here. I reunited with my favourite band after such a long time, had a beautiful conversation with Ashton, which if you know, healed so many parts of me. The impact this band has had on me over that past 15 years is unmatched and I will remain a ride or die for them until my last breath. They are the only band that I go full fangirl for, you’ll always see me at a 5SOS event, I’ll travel the world, buy so many tickets, be under every post.

December

Now, if you recall I mentioned earlier that I got 2 new Don Broco tattoos this year, it was this show at the start of the month that did exactly that. They always host fun little experiences before shows, at their Ally Pally show they did “The Broco Arms” and for this Wembley show, they had a tattoo pop up, and I was torn between 2 designs and had just been paid so… got both. Logically. Anyway, this show was a peek into their new album and what’s to come for the upcoming Don Broco era. I love that they’ve gone a little heavier with it, and yet the shared vocals between Rob and Matt offer this perfect balance in their songs. I’m buzzing for this album, manifesting it releases in the first half of the year!

And finally, to wrap it all up, Blockade played their first London headline show, which was very cool to be a part of, from shooting a portrait shoot to being a part of a headline show, what a lovely progression. Also, what a way to end the year, going back to local bands in small venues, it captures the essence of what I do and why I do it. I love all kinds of music, all kinds of venues and to be able to explore so much with what I love, is fascinating.