Stage performer seen through atmospheric lighting with blue and red hues during a live music show.

Photography at Jools Holland’s Boogie Woogie & Blues Spectacular 2025


Every now and then, a job comes along that doesn’t feel like work at all. Photographing Jools Holland’s Boogie Woogie & Blues Spectacular at Boisdale Canary Wharf was one of those nights. Honestly? One of the best shows I’ve ever seen in London—and I got to witness it from just feet away.


From the moment I stepped backstage, there was a kind of buzz in the air that only comes with real musicians doing what they love. Watching the band rehearse was a genuine treat—there’s something intimate about those behind-the-scenes moments, the final run-throughs, the quiet focus before the lights go up.


And then the lights did go up.


Jools Holland led the night with his unmistakable mix of charisma and piano brilliance. He was joined by an extraordinary lineup: David Hermlin brought serious vintage flair, Joe Webb was flawless as always, and Ed Richardson and Dave Swift locked in the rhythm like they were reading each other’s minds. Angus Macdonald added a cool energy to the mix, and then of course—Neville Dickie. A total master of the boogie-woogie piano.

A group of people pose together for a photo in a room with red walls and dark wood paneling.

As a photographer, being allowed right up close to the action was an absolute dream. I was moving just behind the grand pianos, weaving between the drum kit and the mic stands—everywhere I turned, there was something worth capturing. The energy, the sweat, the joy—it was all there.


The finale was complete mayhem in the best possible way: four pianists across two pianos, two drummers tag-teaming the same kit, and Dave Swift holding it all down on bass. A flurry of movement, musicians switching seats mid-song, solos flying across the stage. It was chaos and it was magic.


Huge thanks to Boisdale for having me there to capture it all. Nights like this are a reminder of just how lucky I am to do what I do.

Three people gathered around a piano examining sheet music or documents in a room with red walls.
Four people in formal attire standing together holding wine glasses on an outdoor patio with greenery in background.
A group of people enjoying drinks and laughing together at a well-stocked bar with ambient lighting.
A performer plays piano on stage bathed in dramatic purple and red stage lighting during a nighttime concert performance.
A performer sings on stage at an intimate music venue with blue lighting while a band plays in the background.
A performer in a pinstriped suit sings at a dimly lit nightclub venue with tables and ambient lighting in the background.
Musician performs at piano under dramatic red and blue stage lighting in dark concert setting.
A performer reads from a podium on stage with bright overhead spotlights in a dimly lit venue.
A person in a striped cardigan signs a document at a shiny piano in a room with red walls and wood paneling.
Professional black and white portrait of a photographer in a black turtleneck holding a vintage camera.

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