Brian has been creating music related imagery professionally since 1988, notable past clients include Oasis and The Verve for whom he produced all record sleeves in the 1990's. He intends to document the Northern Soul scene today in a geographically diverse, fly on the wall manner.
Below are excerpts from an interview Brian gave to Glenn Walker-Foster on his 'Northern Soul Sessions' radio show in September 2012.
Glenn Walker-Foster (GWF) – I am joined Live in the Studio by Brian Cannon who is the man behind ‘Northern Soul – A Photographic Journey’, a wonderful and unique project reflecting in pictures how the scene thrives today and the exciting arrival of new young teenage blood on the scene , I would like to thank Brian for joining me on The Northern Soul Sessions….. So Brian, how did you get into Northern Soul?
Brian Cannon (BC) – Well I come from Wigan and in the late 70′s when I was 12 or 13 I started going to youth clubs and under 18′s discos, and as well as the music that happened to be in the charts there would always be a half hour Northern spot played and I just thought to myself what is this amazing music? It all went from there really. I was 15 in 1981 when the Casino closed so just missed out on that, but went to my first allnighter the following year. When I was 18 in 1984 I bought my first scooter so could travel further afield to events and obviously all scooter rallies would have Northern do’s.
GWF – So what are your plans for the project, a book, exhibition?
BC – To be honest Glenn I’m not that far down the line yet, I am just concentrating on taking the photographs at the minute – I have no publisher or anything and this is a totally non-commissioned, self funded project. I have no doubt in the future when the volume is complete I will get it published, but like I said, for the time being I am focussed on documenting the scene as best I can.
GWF – I have noticed that all the shots are black and white with a very stark contrasty lighting style.
BC – Well I wanted to create atmospheric shots that were representative of the nights on which they were taken, when you look at my photographs you can almost hear the music – as opposed to a wedding style snapshot, there is an atmosphere to the stuff I do and I think that comes across. I have been amazed that how in the short time I have been doing this project the phenomenal response I have had to the work.
GWF – You told us before you live in Wigan, is this is a project based specifically in the North West?
BC – No, intend to go to as many events and soul clubs as I can the length and breadth of the country and abroad to get as comprehensive a coverage of the scene as possible. In fact since I started this project word has got out, people have seen what I have been doing and I have been invited to do’s from Belfast to Barcelona, it’s just wonderful, I am made up – it’s gone off the scale, I’ve been invited all over the place, I can’t keep up with it at the minute!
GWF – Well I think the pictures are wonderful and I wish you all the luck in the world with it mate. So how would you sum up what you are trying to achieve?
BC – I see it like this, It’s all about honestly photographing the most honest scene on the planet. I am not some cheesey wedding photographer getting in people’s faces – I am a fly on the wall, just look at my shots, the people in the shot don’t even know I am there. I want to create the definitive volume documenting the scene as it is today, featuring events big and small, geographically diverse and with evocative imagery.
Glenn Walker-Foster (GWF) – I am joined Live in the Studio by Brian Cannon who is the man behind ‘Northern Soul – A Photographic Journey’, a wonderful and unique project reflecting in pictures how the scene thrives today and the exciting arrival of new young teenage blood on the scene , I would like to thank Brian for joining me on The Northern Soul Sessions….. So Brian, how did you get into Northern Soul?Brian Cannon (BC) – Well I come from Wigan and in the late 70′s when I was 12 or 13 I started going to youth clubs and under 18′s discos, and as well as the music that happened to be in the charts there would always be a half hour Northern spot played and I just thought to myself what is this amazing music? It all went from there really. I was 15 in 1981 when the Casino closed so just missed out on that, but went to my first allnighter the following year. When I was 18 in 1984 I bought my first scooter so could travel further afield to events and obviously all scooter rallies would have Northern do’s.
GWF – So what are your plans for the project, a book, exhibition?
BC – To be honest Glenn I’m not that far down the line yet, I am just concentrating on taking the photographs at the minute – I have no publisher or anything and this is a totally non-commissioned, self funded project. I have no doubt in the future when the volume is complete I will get it published, but like I said, for the time being I am focussed on documenting the scene as best I can.
GWF – I have noticed that all the shots are black and white with a very stark contrasty lighting style.
BC – Well I wanted to create atmospheric shots that were representative of the nights on which they were taken, when you look at my photographs you can almost hear the music – as opposed to a wedding style snapshot, there is an atmosphere to the stuff I do and I think that comes across. I have been amazed that how in the short time I have been doing this project the phenomenal response I have had to the work.
GWF – You told us before you live in Wigan, is this is a project based specifically in the North West?
BC – No, intend to go to as many events and soul clubs as I can the length and breadth of the country and abroad to get as comprehensive a coverage of the scene as possible. In fact since I started this project word has got out, people have seen what I have been doing and I have been invited to do’s from Belfast to Barcelona, it’s just wonderful, I am made up – it’s gone off the scale, I’ve been invited all over the place, I can’t keep up with it at the minute!
GWF – Well I think the pictures are wonderful and I wish you all the luck in the world with it mate. So how would you sum up what you are trying to achieve?
BC – I see it like this, It’s all about honestly photographing the most honest scene on the planet. I am not some cheesey wedding photographer getting in people’s faces – I am a fly on the wall, just look at my shots, the people in the shot don’t even know I am there. I want to create the definitive volume documenting the scene as it is today, featuring events big and small, geographically diverse and with evocative imagery.
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