Alabaster dePlume at Marina Fountain, St Leonards

Such a pleasure to experience and photograph the absolute joy that is Alabaster dePlume aka Gus Fairbairn in a little pub in the town I live in. Alabaster’s music is uplifting, funny, spiritual and healing, yet not at all devoid of edge. Songs like Be Nice To people and Don’t Forget You’re Precious, are like mini manifestos. It’s kinda like the 60’s hippy scene mashed up with punk and jazz. It’s stunning. Apparently he mixes up the musicians that he plays with, which I think leads to a freshness and newness among all of the players on stage - like they’re all just experiencing Alabaster dePlume for the first time too. I liked the way he acknowledged that the crowd make the experience as much as he and the musicians do. It certainly felt like the whole room was in it together. Thanks for the after-gig portrait Gus.

Hastings Rally For Refugees

On December 11th, the Hastings community came together to show solidarity with refugees, migrants and asylum seekers. Hastings is a coastal town overlooking The Channel - the treacherous bit of sea that many people cross or attempt to cross, often in small dinghy’s. It’s an issue that is often in the news, due to the tragic deaths of many people as they try to cross the channel, but also due to the attitude of the UK government towards these crossings, and towards migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in general. I went to the rally to show my support, but also to document some of the MANY people in the town, that are also in solidarity with refugees. The message is clear, Hastings supports refugees!

Kickstarter Success!

I am super pleased to say that thanks to a worldwide community of music, culture and history lovers, the total funds raised by my Kickstarter campaign stands at £26,246. A huge success!

530 backers across the globe meant that not only was the first goal reached, but also a £25k stretch goal, allowing me to print a few extra books, and give some away to community organisations, schools libraries etc!

Photos from Boiler Room at Three Mills Island

A few of my favourite photos from Boiler Room at Three Mills Island last Saturday.
A return to collective joy with camera...the music was amazing and the vibes were nice and warm.

Drumz Of The South: The Dubstep Years (book)

This week I launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign to fund the printing of 1000 copies of my first ever photobook - Drumz Of The South: The Dubstep Years (2004-2007).

RA's Snapshot of Georgina Cook

A big thanks to Richard Akingbehin and Resident Advisor, for giving me the space to talk about some of my favourite music related photos & a little bit about my history with photography and music.

New Series, FOR THE TIME BEING (Lockdown Diaries).

FOR THE TIME BEING is a series of images taken throughout the various lockdowns we’ve had here in Hasting, some of which you might have seen on my Insta or in a previous blog post. Hopefully the series gives you a sense of the stillness and sometimes emptiness of this peculiar time, plus the new kind of intimacy with home and locale that so many of us had.

Vision of Sound podcast finale episode.

For over a year I’ve been working on The Vision of Sound, a podcast on the intersection of art & music. It’s been an absolute pleasure chatting to creative people that make work about or inspired by music, and I’ve learnt so much!

Makeup & Mirrors: Behind the Scenes with Ocean All Over

These photos are from behind the scenes with Ocean All Over at The National Centre for Craft & Design in Sleaford in September. I was there to document the company’s two socially distanced performances on the lawn in front of the centre - you can find all of those photos on the special Ocean All Over page in the Navigation menu.

Mr Eazi & Young Zilo Boiler Room event photography

A couple of weeks back I had the pleasure of capturing some event photography for Boiler Room x Ballantine’s True Music In The Round. This was the first proper socially distanced live music event that I’ve documented since the pandemic so it felt really exciting to be in among the action again.

BTS with Vision of Sound Podcast

In August I launched Vision of Sound, a fortnightly podcast series in which I chat to other artists and creative people that make work about or inspired by music.

Guests include Jeremy Deller, Wumzum & George Nindi, Emma Warren and Lil Ye’s Ali Graham.

You might notice that while I am a music photographer, there are no music photographer’s mentioned, but do keep an eye on the next episode as they are on their way!

It had been a while since I had a consistent medium to channel my love for and interest in other artists and creative people- whom I’ve championed in various ways throughout my life via zines, or blogs or events. As a fan of podcasts and radio shows like Stance, Creative Rebels, London Scenery and George The Poet, audio seemed like the obvious way to do it.

WATCH BACK: My conversation with Youth Club Archive

Here’s the video from my conversation with Lisa Der Weduwe at Youth Club Archive about my photography, blogging + ‘00s technology & social / digital media, diy & grassroots community & much more.

A GIF!: Skepta & Hatcha at FWD>>

GIF of Skepta, unknown MC and Hatcha at FWD>> at Plastic People, 2005, by Georgina Cook. From my Drumz Of The South archive.

REWIND! Re-visiting The Carvery Studio (& meeting Leo The Boxer dog)

This week I had the pleasure of returning to Carvery Studios, in their new Leyton location.

I first met Carvery while on assignment for FACT Magazine, photographing a story about London’s Mastering Houses and it was really nice to see how much they’ve grown since then.

A Night at Steam Down in Photos

A night with Steam Down

Thanks again to the Steam Down crew for giving me their blessing to document the night which was not only the release of their brilliant single Free My Skin, but also the first time keys player Dominic performed his own music under the name Doom Cannon.

Photos from Boiler Room Festival's Bass Day

A few photos from Boiler Room Festival's Bass Day at The Bussey Building in Peckham last Friday. I was very happy to be showing a version of my “Who Wants A Rewind?” installation as part of a great line-up of music, art and poetry. This time the images were shown on a wall of tiled TV screens.

Showing Early Dubstep Photography at Boiler Room Festival

I will be showing some music photography from my Drumz Of The South archive as part of Boiler Room Festival 2019: Day 3 - Bass THIS FRIDAY EVENING (11th October).

EXHIBITION: LIFE ON THE BORDERS, CAKE ROOM, HASTINGS, SEPTEMBER

Hastings is good to me. 2 years in and I have an exhibition launching with Vanessa Farinha this Sunday at Cake Room Hastings as part of the indomitable Coastal Currents festival!

From The Archives: May Day 2000 Protests

Some archive photos from The May Day Riots / Reclaim The Streets protests on May 1st in the year 2000, in Central London, by Georgina Cook 🌹💪

Sussex Wunt Be Druv - New WIP project online.

Sussex Wunt Be Druv - A WIP project about change, perceived or otherwise. By photographer Georgina Cook.

But them as comes to Sussex,
They mustn't push and shove,
For Sussex will be Sussex,
And Sussex won't be druv!

PhotographyGeorgina Cook21 January 2019wuntbedruv, wip, 2019, hastings, sussex, documentary photography, Georgina Cook, st leonard's, Brexit, DFL, Gentrification, UK, seaside townComment

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