Gig photographer Matt Stridgen on shooting bands and the lust for live

From gigs at the smallest pub back rooms in Maidstone to shooting band artwork at shipwrecks in Sittingbourne, it’s fair to say photographer Matt Stridgen is doing the hard yards. But making local artists look like rock gods and capturing chaotic energy has come naturally.

Having seen Matt’s work being championed by some of our favourite Kent musicians, we thought it was high time we found out what drives him…

Hi Matt. Right, let’s get the nerdy bit out of the way: what camera do you use?

I’m currently shooting live music and portraits with a Sony A7iii, which has been great fun to use. It’s not the biggest camera on the market, but when I’ve been out shooting street I have found it’s been difficult to be discreet, so I’ve reverted back to my old Olympus EM10 just because it’s so compact… being a micro four-thirds system it’s a bit less noticeable when trying to capture some of those street moments when you need to blend into the crowd.

Do you remember the first time you picked up a camera?

The first time I used a camera properly was at college in 1992. I was studying graphics, and the camera was a Pentax K1000 - a 35mm camera that a lot of people would have started out on. It was the heyday of the musical press and photographers like Steve Gullick, Pat Pope and Charles Peterson were hugely influential for me in their documenting of the music scene at the time. If you’d picked up an NME, Melody Maker or, my particular favourite, Raygun, back then you would be looking at their images.

Do you remember the first picture you took at a professional standard?

I think the one I’m most proud of is the shipwreck shoot I did with the band Unfunfair on the Saxon Shore Way near Sittingbourne. We did a lot of planning beforehand to choose the location and theme for the shoot. The band are a seven-piece Gothic ska-punk act from South London - I’d shot them once before at The Sussex Arms/Forum Basement in Tunbridge Wells. The day of the shoot it was pouring with rain and we all got soaked, but the band were great, clambering around the shipwreck trying not to get stuck in the mud. It was a new challenge for me having to direct seven guys to get the look I wanted, but we came away with some great shots and one in particular is one of my favourite pieces of work to date. I just love the composition, the moody colouring and how the flash managed to catch the rain like streaks of light across the image.

If you could explain the style of picture you like to take, how would you describe it?

I try to be experimental with lots of techniques and always keen to try new stuff. When shooting live music, I take a lot of shutter drag shots - where you use a long exposure in conjunction with a flash to freeze your subject while getting lots of crazy light trails. It’s all quite haphazard and you don’t quite know what you’re going to get. In the studio I like working with lighting and colour and take a more considered approach to setting up the shot and ensuring the lighting and composition is perfect. Then the street images I do are different again - these are usually about trying to capture human interactions with their surroundings. Sometimes it’s about telling a story, other times it’s just about creating something aesthetic.

You specialise in music and arts? Why?

I love live music and have been going to gigs all my life. Creative studio and location shoots are the style of work I want to progress to, so working with performers is an opportunity to build a relationship and showcase what I can do, the aim being then working together on a collaborative effort.

What has been your biggest live gig buzz?

Durry, a US band on tour at Oslo in Hackney, was pretty special. It’s the largest venue I’ve worked in to date and getting access to all areas and getting up close with the band was just a great experience. The band were so down to earth, too... answered their own DMs when I was arranging the shoot and they took the time to chat to fans after the gig.

Do you have any favourite bands you like to shoot?

Anyone who brings 110% energy to their performance and clearly enjoys what they’re doing... this makes for the best, most engaging images.

Who have you shot recently?

As of late November ’23 I’ve just shot Disco Drug Store at Poco Loco in Chatham and the club night SLAM at the Social Chill Bar in Maidstone. I’ll be shooting Salvation Jayne at The Black Heart in Camden at their headline gig. This should be great - I’ve not seen them perform yet, but I’ve worked with singer and guitarist Estelle Mey when she’s performed her solo stuff and she’s amazing. I’m really excited to be shooting PWEI at the Forum - I’ve been a fan since college days, so it will be an awesome cyclical moment for my 18-year-old self with that Pentax K1000!

What is your pet peeve about photography?

I don’t think I have one - it’s what I love doing, being creative, finding good light and shooting what’s in it. I’m always trying to push my comfort zone, too… all the best stuff happens here.

INSTA: @mattstridgen

INFO: www.mattstridgen.com