Live Concert Photography: New Colossus Festival and 18th Ward Brewing Presents Sunday Shows at 18th Ward Brewing 6/20/21: HNRY FLWR, Love, Burns, Diary, War Violet, and imaginary Tricks

Live Concert Photography: New Colossus Festival and 18th Ward Brewing Presents Sunday Shows at 18th Ward Brewing 6/20/21: HNRY FLWR, Love, Burns, Diary, War Violet, and imaginary Tricks

It’s been a very busy couple of weeks in my personal and professional life: The Brooklyn Nets were in the NBA Playoffs and while the games were on, that had the bulk of my attention. While it was a fun little run; it ended in a highly disappointing fashion. But there’s always next year as they say, right?

My beloved Yankees have spent the bulk of the season alternating between mediocre, terrible and dull. There’s about 90 some odd games to go — and it doesn’t look good at all.

But more importantly, I’ve been to my first three indoor shows since March 13, 2020. And at times, it has made the past 15-16 months or so feel like a collective fever dream. As someone, who has spent about half of his life in darkened rooms listening to bands and artists of all stripes perform, I’ve missed that part of my life so very much. And because it’s summer, there are outdoor shows as well. So let’s get to the business at hand . . .

Co-founded by three New York music industry vets and longtime friends, Lorimer Beacon‘s founder and head Mike Bell, Kanine Records‘ founder and label head Lio Kanine and Kepler Events and Lola Live’s Steven Matrick, The New Colossus Festival over the course of the past couple of years have featured a couple hundred handpicked, emerging indie bands and artists from the US, Canada, the UK, the European Union, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong. By design, the festival normally takes place just before SXSW: the festival’s co-founders view the festival as a pre-SXSW stopover that will give its emerging acts an opportunity to organically gain exposure – while filling a critical void in the festival circuit.

Because of COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions and lockdowns, New Colossus couldn’t occur as scheduled. But over the past couple of months, the trio behind New Colossus festival and the folks at 18th Ward Brewing have hosted a live, outdoor concert series featuring local acts at their Bushwick location.

A couple of weeks ago, I caught HNRY FLWR, Love, Burns, Diary, War Violet and Imaginary Tricks play a rather eclectic showcase. Photos below.

HNRY FLWR