News from the photo pit & travels with the hard working Brita Brookes Photography!

Smokey Robinson
News From the Photo Pit!
Well hello again!

It's been one of the busiest Spring and Summers I can remember- with so many music concerts, festivals and events. We also lost a lot of legendary artists this year- losing Prince was a hard blow to the hearts of many! 

I finally found a moment to sit down and write a short update on all the great concerts I have been able to cover photographically, thanks to my position with the Detroit Metro Times. 


The Decemberists 

The Decemberists played at Ann Arbor's Michigan Theater to a sold out crowd. The Portland based band  consists of Colin Meloy, Chris Funk, Jenny Conlee, Nate Query, and John Moen. 

The audience was treated to some new material and also a wide range of songs from the past CD archives. The best moments included when Colin asked for a song request and also when he engaged the crowd with his interactions. With a colorful stage set and great audience interaction, this was a memorable concert. 

There were 2 encores and lots of standing and dancing in place by the end of the night. Lucy Dacus opened and if you have not seen or heard her yet- you best get busy! For a link to the photo gallery you can see it here.

Smokey Robinson

Smokey Robinson played at the Detroit Music Hall's annual fundraiser called "Cars and Stars" on a glamorous Detroit evening.

The fundraiser raises funds to support a variety of needs for the Music Hall as well as some other Detroit based causes in education and the public schools.

Smokey was in top form and came out on a stunning velvet green suit jacket. I felt like Dorothy behind the great curtain of OZ shooting in Emerald City! 

Everybody sang along- how could you not- I mean it is Motown after all!  For a link to the photo gallery you can see it here.

Juliette Lewis

Juliette Lewis played at the new El Club in Detroit. This new Southwest Detroit venue has booked some killer LA and other based acts for the upcoming year.

Juliette came out in a sexy Evil Kinevel jumpsuit and rocked the whole night. With an epic closing song and fully supported stage dive, she owned this hardcore Detroit crowd.  Her new CD "Hello Hero" was at the merch table in addition to a great custom screened poster. Her stage antics, hard rocking and liberating songs inspired all of us to go home and kick some ''badass'' in whatever goals we have in life! Mid show she put on a great Detroit Derby T-shirt from a fan and gave big hugs to the Derby Girls community. 

We alll left sweaty, smiling and in need of a cigarette!  For a link to the photo gallery you can see it here.

Jim McCarty

I have been lucky enough to cover Detroit legend Jim McCarty numerous times now. All in varied arrangements- alone, jam sessions, with Cactus, with Coco Montya and many other performances.

Thanks to the support of Callahan's music hall in Auburn Hills, I was able to get some great shots of Jim stepping in for a few songs during Coco Montoya's show. Little did I know that months later Jim would approach me and ask if he could use an image from that show for his new CD entitled "Jim McCarty and Friends II". After a little photoshop tweaking, we agreed on an image, and it's now published and on the CD all across the world. How cool!  

For more info on Jim McCarty click  here.

Brandi Carlile & Old Crow 
Medicine Show

Brandi Carlile and Old Crow Medicine Show played the Fox Theater for one of the best double bills I have ever seen.

There was an elaborate finale' with all band members and it was wild, crazy, fun, jam session with jumping, dancing and waves.

Hearing "Wherever is Your Heart, is your Home" meant a lot to me and Brandi just nailed it! - as well as all her other songs. Old Crown Medicine Show killed it with a great rendition of "Wagon Wheel." 

This image is the last song- it was truly magic to see everybody dancing in their own way and doing their own thing together.

For a link to the Detroit Metro Times photo gallery you can see it here.

George Thorogood

George Thorogood played the Meadowbrook Music Theater which is a great intimate outdoor venue in Michigan.

He came out in a Destroyers T-shirt and belted out his classic favorites to an elated crowd. Mark Farner opened the show with some serious rock n roll and stage strutting guitar playing antics.

George flung his guitar pick into the front rows and that's when I got this shot. I like all the hands reaching upwards and his expression.

For a link to the Detroit Metro Times photo gallery you can see it here. 

Gregory Porter

Gregory Porter played the Ann Arbor Summer festival at the Power Center. 
As one of my favorite vocalists- it was a treat to hear him up close. His songs are incredibly soulful, inspiring and full of heart. His life story is even more inspiring! 

A flawless performance with his band- the Detroit based crowd even got to hear ''1960 What?''! I have been wanting to cover Gregory for years now, ever since I saw photographer Richard Conde's images- dreams come true!

For a link to the Detroit Metro Times photo gallery you can see it  here. 

Bryan Ferry

This has to be the most exicting concert I have shot thus far- as a HUGE Roxy music fan in my younger days and still to this day- the opportunity to cover a Bryan Ferry tour was amazing.

With the gorgegous backdrop of the FOX Theater, Bryan and a carefully picked and talented band captured and re-captured all those memories from Roxy days all while making new ones.

Shooting alongside a cool friend who covers for a magazine, we compared notes on angles and lighting. I saw this disco ball during the soundcheck so I knew eventually it would come down, and when it did I was ready with my 200mm lens. 

He's still got it- just in case you were wondering!

For a link to the Detroit Metro Times photo gallery you can see it at this LINK.


Windsor Blues Fest | Dana Fuchs

Dana Fuchs closed out the night at the Windsor Blues Fest on the Detroit river in Canada. She grabbed the crowds attention with her soulful songs about heartbreak and loss and then uplifted our spirits with her message of staying strong. She rocked the stage with her band and closed with some acoustic guitar and a memorable cover of "Don't Let Me Down" which is one of my own all time favorite songs. For a link to the photo gallery you can see it   here.



Thank you!
 
Well there it is! The listings in this update are only a few of what I have been so fortunate to cover in photographs recently. I don't sleep very much, I work really hard at a great day job and I am constantly comparing notes with my ''photo family''- but that is what passion is all about.
I am so glad I started on this journey- to try, is better than not even trying..so I keep on going out and getting as much experience as possible under as many changing conditions as possible in order to eventually find my artist voice.

To see more epic music moments you can surf through my ''best of'' collection online. I have assembled an album of my favorite moments in my SmugMug gallery! That photo album is available at this LINK. Feel free to share the link or post on social media. And I always update my blog at my web site weekly to stay current and share news. www.britabrookesphoto.com

Thanks again for all your support in my artistic pursuits in music photography. It's been a great journey and it keeps on getting better and better. I love my music friends and family and I am honored to cover the concerts and promote the artists, venues and sponsors. Keep on rocking in the free world!
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