Every year I get to photograph lots of bands and artists covering all sorts of music genres. My primary focus at those gigs is to get great photographs but when the 3 song limit has been reached I normally get to watch the rest of set.

So in this blog post I'm going to tell you about the 5 bands that had the biggest impact on me in 2016. These are the bands that I personally enjoyed. In most cases I knew of the band but it wasn't until I saw them live that they really captured my attention. That's the power of live music for you!

It was a real year of musical discovery for me. I'd never really considered Mumford & Sons and Years & Years before but their shows at The Radio 1 Big Weekend in Exeter blew me away. I guess sometimes you have to see a band live to appreciate them. Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer was one of those acts that just make you smile and enjoy yourself. Tiny Folds are one of the best local (Teignmouth) bands about. They are epic live! Last but not least is Chvrches. With wonderful vocals and a great electronic sound they are never too far down my playlist.

So there you have it. 2016 was a great year for music. Do you want more though? Why not check out My 10 Favourite Images of 2016 or look at My Top 10 Images from 2015 and My Top 5 Bands of 2015.