#o2apollomanchester

Tori Amos performing at O2 Apollo, Manchester on April 13th 2026, Shot for Academy Music Group + O2 Apollo.

My third time photographing the remarkably talented musician Tori Amos again at my favourite venue, O2 Apollo, Manchester. A packed-out crowd is always the norm for her shows. We had two songs to get the shots, from the back and sides of the venue, which, to be fair, lasted a while. Here are a few favourites of mine. No review this time round.

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All work copyright Melanie Smith/ Mudkiss Photography All Rights Reserved

No one thought it could happen, but Gallagher and Squires headed out on a UK tour to play their new penned album. Mixed reviews followed. I was never much of an indie kid, so I'm not the one to ask if it was any good. I was photographing as the house photographer on this occasion. The pit was rammed with around 17 photographers and videographers from the Gallagher/Squires camp. Lighting was a bit on the challenging side and we only had two songs. So basically it felt like in and out in a flash bang wallop. Support came from Squires son Dillion and Jake Bugg. It was my 2nd time shooting both these guys. I just wish they would move about a bit more.

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It was my first time shooting Jane's Addiction, I was photographing for the Academy Music Group and O2 Apollo, Manchester. I also used some of the shots for a live review on Louder Than War.

I didn't know what to expect from the shoot, but as it turned out the lights were pretty dim and initially hard to see through my camera for the smoky haze. There wasn't much movement on the stage and there were around 12 or so photographers in the pit. As is usual the lights get turned up when the photographers have left the pit, I really never understand this thought process from bands and their management.

"They cannot pull off multi-dimensional time travel, but if any band could…and look around you, eyes closed and raised to the heavens, like the rhapsody has come.” Mike Bennett for Louder Than War. read his review here.

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I never got to see Soft Cell back in the day, but I danced my ass off to many of their golden classics back in the '80s usually wearing heavily backcombed hair, flamboyant homemade costumes and exotic make-up. So when I heard they were celebrating their 40th Anniversary and coming to Manchester I jumped at the chance to photograph them and the extremely kind PR Debbie also gave me a ticket.

I appeared to be one of two photographers here tonight, shooting from the extreme sides and a couple shot right at the rear of the venue for a snapshot of the whole stage. It was a challenging night for a photographer (arent they all) but I managed to get some I was happy with in the circumstances but I would have loved to have shot the 2nd half.

I have to say my photos aren't particularly colourful or represent the whole show (only shot 1st 3 numbers, which were heavily blue and moody lighting). The lighting really did match the music. Later in the set, we had reds, and lights with all manner of amazing backdrops and video effects, just out of this world and without a doubt my favourite show of the year.

Read about it here in this review by Trev Eales: https://louderthanwar.com/soft-cell-o2-apollo-manchester-live-review/

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Melanie Martinez has been on my radar for a couple of years, her show in 2016 was cancelled and she appeared to go quiet, but finally I saw she was back on tour again and coming to Manchester for the very first time. I got the chance not only to photograph her show but I was the only photographer., so a real exclusive. I was asked to shoot songs 4,5 and 6 which is a bit different from the first 3, gives a performer chance to warm up. When the first song allocated was the set where she performs through a huge heart I was delighted. It was a mix of colour, costumes and drama and it was incredible. Read my live photo review here on Louder Than War.

https://louderthanwar.com/melanie-martinez-o2-apollo-manchester-live-photo-review/

Use of these images in any form without permission is illegal. If you wish to use or license any images please contact [email protected]