Published on Mon Jul 1, 2019 by David J Colbran
Africa Oye is the UK's largest free African music festival and it just keeps getting better and better. It is an Oye Family now - a solid crew of management and trustees and an audience that knows how to party ! The committment to local traders and community groups is second to none and it shines a beacon against corporate sponsorship and heavy handed security. This year was the 27th annual Africa Oye festival - amazing !
The sun came out on Saturday, as did the crowds - really busy field. Sunday was a bit more hit and miss with the weather but still great fun and great music.
Personally, it's my favourite as well - brilliant world music to my doorstep.
I've been covering the event now for 14 years, ever since I moved to Liverpool and I supply images of the live acts to specialist agent ArenaPAL, where I have built up quite an extensive archive. Images have been licenced to a wide variety of national and international publications over the years - and fingers crossed this year's collection will do equally well over time.
Anyway on to a small selection of my favourites.
BCUC ; band from Soweto, South Africa ; at the Africa Oye Festival 2019, Liverpool, UK ; Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June 2019 ; Credit: David J Colbran
CARLOU D ; Senegal Hip Hop, Sufi artist ; at the Africa Oye Festival 2019, Liverpool, UK ; Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June 2019 ; Credit: David J Colbran
EMILY DUST ; UK DJ ; at the Africa Oye Festival 2019, Liverpool, UK ; Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June 2019 ; Credit: David J Colbran
GASPER NALI ; Babatoni player from Malawi ; at the Africa Oye Festival 2019, Liverpool, UK ; Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June 2019 ; Credit: David J Colbran
HORACE ANDY ; a Jamaican roots reggae artist ; at the Africa Oye Festival 2019, Liverpool, UK ; Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June 2019 ; Credit: David J Colbran
JAH9 & THE DUB TREATMENT ; reggae artist from Jamaica ; at the Africa Oye Festival 2019, Liverpool, UK ; Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June 2019 ; Credit: David J Colbran
MOONLIGHT BENJAMIN ; band from Haiti ; at the Africa Oye Festival 2019, Liverpool, UK ; Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June 2019 ; Credit: David J Colbran
OSHUN ; Hip-Hop / Soul duo from the USA ; at the Africa Oye Festival 2019, Liverpool, UK ; Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June 2019 ; Credit: David J Colbran
WESLI ; Wesley Louissaint, a Haitian Canadian musician ; at the Africa Oye Festival 2019, Liverpool, UK ; Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June 2019 ; Credit: David J Colbran
Author: David J Colbran
Back on the blog with a quick update on recent business and commercial photography commissions. Working with a housing association, a bike charity, a medical society, a recruitment agency and a dental practice.
A really interesting commission working with Livv Housing documenting a fire and rescue exercise in high-rise residential apartments in Kirkby. These are the people who will literally save your life!
Another Liverpool industrial photography commission under the belt and more hi-viz PPE added to the boot of the car. This time nice and local in the Old Swan, a couple of miles away from home. It was for the Lister Drive Greener Grid Park installation which is currently under construction.
"I have employed David for conferences, presentations, social engagements, marketing materials, open days, portrait shots, official document signings amongst many others. David has always been amenable to our sometimes short notice and has delivered our photos in a quick time frame as agreed and sometimes much quicker depending on our needs. He has always been very helpful, he follows and delivers on the brief and is able to give additional value to jobs with minimal briefs. I am more than happy to recommend David and he will no doubt deliver the same quality he provides us."