The Cancelled Series : Performer Portraits In Lockdown

As a Music Photographer, the announcement of a lockdown was a hard hit. While staying safe and healthy is of the utmost importance, I watched helplessly as my favourite shows and festivals were cancelled in Europe and England. Then, on one sunny day and for the first time since the start of lockdown at the end of March, I picked up my camera and started The Cancelled Series on the 9th of May.

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)
Trixi Tassels, burlesque performer

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)
Paul-Roney Angel and his wife Ane, of the Urban Voodoo Machine

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)
Gary Voodoo, drummer of the Urban Voodoo Machine

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)
Hélène De Joie, burlesque & gogo-dancer / singer in The Trouble

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)
Dan G Sells, frontman in The Feeling and composer of the musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

With this new project, my aim is to show that despite all the cancellations, musicians and performers are still there, learning how to adapt and thrive, just as much as I do, as a gig photographer. I took the lockdown as an opportunity to challenge my creativity and my photographic style by recreating my favourite high energy stage action shots at performers’ homes. I hopped on my bike (thanks to Evans Cycles for the sturdiest and lightest piece of engineering!), and started cycling from door to door, meeting everyone in their best stage outfits and with a whole lot of attitude.

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)
Saori Tomoda, pianist/composer

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)
Bollyditz Dolly, burlesque performer

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)
Eleanor Meyer, gogo dancer in The Meyer Dancers

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)
Joni Belaruski, drummer of The Great Malarkey

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)
Kitty Liv, multi-instrumentalist songwriter – Kitty, Daisy & Lewis

My first stop was in North London, to visit my dear friend Trixi Tassels, an incredibly fierce burlesque performer and her lockdown flatmate Gary Voodoo, drummer in the Urban Voodoo Machine (I met his green partner-in-crime Jay a few days later). After that, it escalated very quickly. From gogo dancers as Eleanor Meyer (of the Meyer Dancers) or Hélène De Joie to drag performers such as Kallum, Lx Motley… I had the chance to stop by Dan G Sells‘ place in East London and meet him in his very first stage suit. Kitty Liv, of Kitty, Daisy & Lewis also took part in the series and invited me in her recording studio.

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)
Kallum, Dot Egg’s drag king alter-ego.

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)
Trynity Silk, trumpet player.

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)Lucifera Swan, performer / creative photographer, with her handmade spiderweb fans.

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)
Emma Jüngling, opera singer.

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)
Smeg, lead singer in King Kurt.

All photos have been taken with the required social distancing rules and my 14mm lens, to put an emphasis on that distance between the photographer and the subject. This led to interesting situations, such as Trynity Silk playing trumpet for her neighbours, getting covered in flour by Smeg of King Kurt or meeting with the gorgeous opera singer Emma Jüngling – which was definitely a highlight and a big step out of my punk comfort zone! Let’s not forget to mention the Baron of Sideshow, the man with the Guinness Book Record of the strongest nipples. The Baron is a multi-talented character, and gave us a real treat by lifting nearly 3kg (6 pounds or the weight of a newborn baby) with his eyelids.

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)
J Roni Moe, drummer of the Urban Voodoo Machine.

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)
Suri Sumatra, burlesque performer.

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)
Lx Motley, queerlesque performer.

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)The Baron of the Universe, showman / weightlifter / strong man.

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)
Johann Saul, guitarist/songwriter.

Most of us should have been on stage or on tour. But instead, we are home. And we are excited to show the world that, despite this situation, musicians, performers and photographers are still there, and we cannot wait to get back on stage to keep the show going. The Cancelled Series are therefore an ongoing project, and I will keep cycling until the show start again (or until the wheels fall off!). You can expect more images of a wider range of performers from across London. In the meantime, don’t forget what Joe Strummer said “punk rock means exemplary manners to your fellow human beings”. Stay safe!

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)
DJ Scratchy, tour DJ of The Clash & more.

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)
Andy Kandil, guitarist/composer – the Moonshine Stalkers, Mad Sin…

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)
Andy Marvell, drummer for LOCKS, The Trouble, Allegra Shock and singer/songwriter Allegra Shock.

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)
Duncan Clark, drummer and Kev Lennon, guitarist of Dead Horse.

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)
Tangerine Tassels, gogo dancer & guitarist

Photography & words by Pauline Di Silvestro. 09/06/2020.
The Cancelled Series are visible on Pauline’s website, and on her Facebook and Instagram.
Listen to Pauline talking about the series, her work and her life in lockdown in this podcast by Headliner Magazine.

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