It was noted on the way out that I had one of the biggest grins in the photo pit while shooting Busted at Bristol Sounds. If you were looking for nostalgia, energy, and a good dance then this was the place to be.
Busted exploded onto the stage to the sound of “Air Hostess” and continued to play non-stop hits for the rest of the set. All 3 members were on form, with plenty of stage banter between their energetic songs.
After 22 years of being a band, none of that charisma has been lost. “We were the soundtrack to your childhood, now we’re going to be the soundtrack to your adulthood,” James Bourne said. The crowd was a healthy mix of all ages and I particularly enjoyed some of the adults in the crowd enthusiastically encouraging their kids to dance and sing along to the songs that mean so much to these parents.
All the bangers got played that night including, “What I Go To School For” and, of course, Year 3000 which closed out the set in style. There were a few iconic “Busted jumps” and plenty of crowd participation, encouraged by Matt Willis getting them clapping and dancing along wherever possible. Charlie Simpson pulled the whole lost together with his lead vocals and just as impressively styled guitars. These boys knew how to win the crowd back in 2002 and they sure as he’ll haven’t lost any of that power.
There were smiles all around as everyone poured out of the amphitheater and I think I can speak for most people when I say that those songs and memories aren’t leaving our heads anytime soon.
@anna.h_photos
Role: Photographer/ Journalist
Available for: Gig and press phototography, album shoots, music videos, tour coverage
Qualification: 1st class BA photojournalism degree
First attended gig: First ticketed gig I remember is Newton Faulkner but there was plenty of live music that I saw growing up in the folk scene in Cornwall
First gig shot: Rattler Fest for all three days
Dream gig: It's too hard to pick just one, and i'm lucky enough to have been able to shoot some of my bucket list bands already, so top 3 would have to be Frank Turner, The Hives, and Twenty One Pilots
