#NikonPhotographer

WOODSTOCK TRUCK SHOW 2019

Do you ever just ‘POP’ into a moment where you all of a sudden you realize how amazing that moment really is? How lucky you are to be there? really feel the opportunity? That’s what happened to me at the Woodstock Truck Show.

A few good friends at my side, some amazing bands, which one of them I consider the members all good friends, a hot day/warm night, cameras in my hands and a huge smile on my face. There was a point when Andrew Hyatt was on stage, he was performing one of my fav songs “Habit” and all of a sudden it was like a title wave of realization came up and slapped me in the face. All day I was out in this glorious weather (until the typhoon hit.. more on that in a minute), two people who I really get along with and enjoy being at concerts with (Lisa & Jodi), I was backstage most of the time with the bands.. some I knew, some I didn’t, some I’ve photographed before, some I haven’t but I was able to be back there and talk with them… it just all came together into this amazing experience that I’m so grateful for and in that moment I just stood there and smiled listening to this amazing song.. I remember leaning over to Lisa and saying “ Do you ever all of a sudden just realize how amazing a moment really is? “

So … if you read all that .. I bought up a Typhoon… here it is. Buck Twenty, one of the incredible bands that played, they actually opened the show and were awesome as I knew they would be.. first time I’ve seen them live.. they were playing an amazing set when all of a sudden the sky got really dark.. we all knew it was coming.. it had rained a lot in the morning and more was expected in the afternoon and it was rolling in quick. I can’t remember how many songs in they were but I remember smelling rain and felt a few drops so I went running for my car… camera gear doesn’t like rain much.. Just as I got to my car it just poured! the wind was so strong the Rockstar Energy tents blew over.. Country 104’s tent was wrecked, it bent.. my car was shaking.. Thunder and Lightening.. I didn’t see it but apparently Buck Twenty’s gear got wet so I’m really hoping it’s all ok.. I would hate to see anything get wrecked, those guys are so nice and gear is so expensive but someone said they packed up very quick. We weren’t sure if the show was going to continue or not but I mean.. it’s a Truck Show! with Country music .. a little rain and mud isn’t going to stop us! half hour or so went by and everything cleared up, sun came out and we were back in the game!

Of course this “truck show” isn’t just concerts… there’s Trucks!! a lot of people thought pick up trucks that were jacked up and all that but they were wrong! TRANSPORT TRUCKS! a few dump trucks as well. See the guys that put the truck show on, Scott and Kevin Verbruggen come from a long line of trucking! so of course including the trucks and a calendar competition just made sense. All proceeds from the truck show and calendar sales go to the Special Olympics Ontario so it’s all for an amazing cause and we have such a great time every year.

Performers this year were: Buck Twenty, Kelly Prescott, Danielle Bourjeaurd, Kelsi Mayne and headlining Andrew Hyatt

This was such an amazing line up, every year it gets better and better, the crowd is getting bigger and bigger, I am so thankful this event exists, especially for Woodstock, we don’t get a lot of this kind of thing here, we’re a small town and it’s so incredible to see bands like this coming here and putting us on the map! Huge thank you goes out to Scott and Kevin for putting this great event on and including me year after year.. HUGE thanks going out to all the bands that came out to help raise money for the Special Olympics Ontario and putting on such amazing performances it’s just outstanding!

AND NOW…. THE IMAGES!!!!!! Ps.. if you read all of that.. well done, you’re a champ!

BUCK TWENTY

KELLY PRESCOTT

DANIELLE BOURJEAURD

KELSI MAYNE

ANDREW HYATT

TRUCKS

Again… HUGE THANK YOU, goes out to all the bands, trucks, vendors and individuals that came out to perform and make this event what it is.. such a special day/night.

Left - Kevin Vebruggen (event founder/Coordinator) Middle - Andrew Hyatt (Singer/Songwriter) Right - Scott Vebruggen (Event Founder/Coordinator)

JUNO AWARDS 2019

Never in a million years would I have ever thought that photography would take me to the Juno’s… but first I want to say, it didn’t really take me to the Juno awards themselves.. but very close and I am very thankful for the opportunity I was given. Leading up to the Juno Award night there is JUNO FEST, which is 100 different bands playing in 15 different venue’s across the city (London Ontario). Just outside of Budweiser Gardens in the South Parking Lot there was a giant heated tent that housed THE SIDE STAGE, which is where some bigger acts played and the Official Juno’s After Party was held. With the wrist band I was awarded, I had access to the Side Stage and all 15 venues in London, could cut the lines and get in early in order to photograph the bands playing in each venue. This wristband also allowed me to have access to the JUNO CUP, a hockey game between the Artists, and Professional Hockey players.

With out going through all the details and dragging this blog post out into a massive thing no one will ever read…. Side Stage was incredible. It was the first show I shot during the Juno’s and it started out with the incredible WASHBOARD UNION who I had not seen yet and really wanted to so it was amazing that I was able to see them (seen them twice during the Juno’s but we’ll get to that), but also photograph them! These guys are incredible, such a friendly bunch, their vocal harmonies are dead on and sound so good, their songs are lively and keep your feet tappin’. Up next was Jess Moskaluke who I had also never seen and also wanted to.. I was on a roll! she was fantastic sounded just like she does on the radio and knocked out all her hits. Last but definitely not least THE REKLAWS!!! I’ve photographed The Reklaws … 4 or 5 times now and they never ever get old.. seriously.. love them to death, their songs are contagious, Jenna is hilarious on stage and so fun, Stu with his smiles and for some reason always seems to look my way and give me a point his finger or his guitar and I love it!

Back to The Washboard Union. After they won their Juno for Breakthrough group of the year.. and I mean right after, they were performing again at The Bull and Barrel and let me tell you, that show was insane. The high Washboard was on from winning that Juno, the buzz from the crowd excited to see them and so very happy for them winning a Juno.. the place was so packed, I was lucky I got there over an hour early so I could be right up front because If I had shown up even 20 mins later than I did.. I was at the back of the building. Washboard Union was so happy to win and even happier to share their win with their fans in Bull and Barrel that night it was one hell of a party.. they have a rule where they do not drink if they are performing, but just once, that rule was broken to celebrate their Juno. Shots were brought out and Chris from the band says “ boys the medicine is here” … many thank you’s were said, so much appreciation from the band to the fans, to each other.. it was a moment i’ll never forget.

This post is getting very long so I’m just going to list the other bands I had the pleasure of photographing and I want them all to know I’m so thankful for their music, their image shares and the opportunities I’ve had to photograph:

AARON ALLEN
JULIA HAGGARTY
NICE HORSE
LOUD LUXURY
RYAN SHEPERD

There would be more on this list, such as The Trews, Genevieve Fisher and a few more but when I arrived to the venue’s at their set times they were so packed I literally couldn’t even get in the doorway.


THE WASHBOARD UNION - SIDE STAGE

JESS MOSKALUKE - SIDE STAGE

Jess Moskaluke performing at the 2019 JUNO’s - Side Stage in London, On.
© Kevin Vyse | Stage Pass Media

THE REKLAWS - SIDE STAGE

The Reklaws performing on the Side Stage at the 2019 Juno’s - London Ontario.
© Kevin Vyse | Stage Pass Media

NICE HORSE - BULL & BARREL

NICE HORSE performing during the 2019 JUNO FEST at Bull & Barrel - London Ontario
© Kevin Vyse | Stage Pass Media

JULIA HAGGARTY - BULL & BARREL

JULIA HAGGARTY performing during the 2019 JUNO FEST - Bull & Barrel in London Ontario.
© Kevin Vyse | Stage Pass Media

AARON ALLEN - BULL & BARREL

AARON ALLEN performing at the 2019 JUNO FEST in London Ontario.
© Kevin Vyse | Stage Pass Media

LOUD LUXURY - SIDE STAGE

LOUD LUXURY performing on the Side Stage during the 2019 JUNO’s - London Ontario.
© Kevin Vyse | Stage Pass Media

RYAN SHEPHERD - SIDE STAGE

RYAN SHEPHERD performing during the 2019 JUNO’s on the Side stage - London Ontario.
© Kevin Vyse | Stage Pass Media

THE WASHBOARD UNION - BULL & BARREL

THE WASHBOARD UNION performing during the 2019 Juno fan fest in London ontario just after they won their Juno Award for Breakthrough Group Of The Year! Huge Congrats going out to these fellas.
© Kevin Vyse | Stage Pass Media

A HUGE thank you goes out to Rock It Promotions for hooking me up with the wristband and all their helpers at each venue guiding me through, also thank you to the Juno’s for making this such an amazing event. Thank you to the City of London for being so awesome and opening up all these venues for such an incredible and memorable experience. Thank you to Live Nation, Start.ca, Budweiser Gardens, Budweiser, Apple Music, TD Bank, Music Canada, SOCAN, VIA Rail, 3M, CBC Music, SiriusXM, Jackson Triggs, Long & McQuade … with out all of these sponsors things like this can’t happen.. and when things like this don’t happen, opportunities can’t happen.. this was an opportunity I never thought i’d have or get to be apart of… the Thankfulness is HUGE!

Cheers.
Kevin Vyse.

JUDAS PRIEST WITH SAXON & BLACK STAR RIDER

   When I heard Judas Priest was coming to London there was no doubt in my mind I was going to apply to photograph this concert, it was however a doubt in my mind that I would get approval, but thanks to the beautiful people over Live Nation, approval happened. 
    Not really knowing who Black Star Riders was Google educated me a bit and a few of the members were in the band Thin Lizzy, which is pretty awesome. Black Star Riders hit the stage as the openers and were amazing! great sound, loud and all metal. Next up SAXON... UK's massive Metal band formed in 1977 with multiple hits.. let me tell you, they ripped the stage up with so much power, so loud and so much energy. I will be the first to admit, I did not know much about SAXON as I don't really listen to that kind of music but being there and seeing some Metal Music History still rocking out and sounding exactly like they did back in the 80's, just incredible to witness and photograph. 

   JUDAS PRIEST: Standing stage side listening to random people yell, scream and whistle out waiting for the band to hit the stage, I wasn't to sure what to expect. Honestly the first thing I thought about was " There's a massive sheet covering the entire stage and I know it's going to fall... do we go in the pit before it falls or after? if before is it going to fall on us and how long will it take for them to remove it before we can see the band and shoot " .... We were told we can go into the pit.... the sheet had not fallen yet.. hmmmm... ok so the lights dim, you can see colours changing behind the sheet, I could hear movement... guitars ring out and BAM!!!! the sheet drops then somehow blows off to the side of the stage very quick.. barely even touched me except for the tail end that slapped me in the face lol. There they were, Judas Priest right there on stage rocking out. Standing there taking pics, now the only thing going through my head is how many of the old great concert photographers have been right in this spot taking these images... on film.. which is insane to think about.. and now here I am doing the same thing, it's incredible. This show had amazing lighting, so much light it was tough finding exposure with it constantly changing. One guitarist with aviators on was all over the place, back and forth, up on speakers, throwing the guitar around quite a bit, so much fun to photograph and I'll be honest here, he was my main focus just because of how much action he was throwing out there. Over all this was an incredible experience, great performances by all 3 bands, I was thoroughly captivated by each band and what they were putting out for everyone. So if you're thinking about hitting one of the tour dates on the rest of this tour... don't think to long, you won't be disappointed. GO! 

 Big thanks goes out to Live Nation for the approval, allowing me the opportunity to photograph this concert. Also, big thanks goes out to Budweiser Gardens in London On. Canada for the great as always hospitality. 

- Shutter Click. 

JUDAS PRIEST

© 2018 Kevin Vyse Photography
Budweiser Gardens - London ON, Canada
JUDAS PRIEST

SAXON

© 2018 Kevin Vyse Photography
Budweiser Gardens - London ON, Canada
SAXON

BLACK STAR RIDERS

© 2018 Kevin Vyse Photography
Budweiser Gardens - London ON Canada
Black Star Riders