Portraits of musician Alan Mahon-Bouquet

I was just looking through my archive for photos taken in Spring and came across this shoot I did with musician Alan Mahon-Bouquet for his album One Man On The Line, released in 2023.

We took photos in and around Barkingside, an area of London that I’d never been to before. Part of our mission involved visiting Jakes Burgers, a legendary fast food spot. I also took a couple of photos of other people out on the street. Alan chose a photo of him peering over a railway bridge for the cover of his release.

Photographing LURY Restaurant

Photos by Georgina Cook of LURY restaurant, a new restaurant for Hastings, from chef Jack Lury.

TILLINGHAM, East Sussex

In the process of updating my lifestyle and hospitality portfolio I visited the wonderful Tillingham Vineyard near Rye. I was lucky enough to catch it as the sun was setting on one of the beautiful Spring days we’ve been having here in Sussex. As it was the weekend, my son came with me and loved watching the sheep and the goats especially. Thanks for having us Tillingham!

INSTA LIVE : THURSDAY 20TH FEB

THIS THURSDAY FEB 20TH at midday 12pm GMT I’ll be hosting an Insta Live lunch session, where I'll be reading the introduction to my book Drumz Of The South: The Dubstep Years, with added annotation and a Q+A.
This is a chance to hear the story of how I came to document and be part of the early dubstep community in and around south london and how 20 years later, my photographs became a book.

Photos from a TUFT ARTS cave performance

TUFT Arts are a relatively new multidisciplinary performance collective, comprised of experienced performers, artists and producers like Ellie Westbrook and Charlotte Tingley. Their most recent performance was at St Clements Caves in Hastings, where they illuminated the dark, historic space with well considered lighting and stunning vocals. It was really quite special.

New Substack Newsletter

My latest newsletter is about the myth (or is it?) of the use of the PlayStation 1 in early dubstep and grime production and was very fun to write.

NewsletterGeorgina Cook5 February 2025newsletter, communications, writing, music, social media

GD4YA AT DnR 2024

GD4YA had another little daytime bash at DnR last Saturday and invited me along to document the day. DJs included EL-B, Distance, Cyrus (Random Trio) and Plastician. It was great to see lots of other familiar faces from the South London dubstep scene.

Photos of Magick Hastings Film Premiere

When writer, broadcaster and fellow Hastings resident Michael Smith told me a few months ago about visiting St Clements caves, underneath the West Hill, it was quite a story. He’d visited the caves as part of a feature for the brilliant independent magazine Get Hastings. Fast forward a few months later and he and Beth King (the editor of the magazine) had come up with a whole 45 minute film inspired by the caves, but which delved further into the wider “esoteric underbelly” of the town.

Babes in Arms Group Show

On the back of my Shit Show project and exhibition, I was invited to join this collective of inspiring artist-mothers, many of whose work I already loved and appreciated.
.
I am showing two of my self-portraits from Shit Show - "Colander Head" and "Tunnock's Tea Tits (after Sarah Lucas)", both 2024. Both are a comment on the absurdity and chaos of early motherhood.

New Drumz Of The South book is here. Read an extract on UKF

Photos from XMTR x Sono Electro

Thanks to XMTR, for inviting me to photograph one of their curated days at Sono Electro, a sound and audio festival in St Leonards on Sea. I enjoyed the diversity of performances and stories and as ever, it was great to be involved in such a brilliant event in my local community.

Beatport Presents: The Legacy of Sound

I'm thrilled to be part of this forthcoming exhibition celebrating Black History Month, hosted by Beatport at Farsight Gallery, London. The exhibition pays tribute to the cultural legacy of four groundbreaking electronic music genres of Black origin: House, Techno, Jungle, and UK Garage.
As one of the featured photographers, alongside legends Normski, Eddie Otchere and Dave Swindells, I’ll be showing some images that represent the moment when these genres collided to create dubstep.
Join us for the launch event on October 15th, where Josh Caffé, Ama and Mr. Redley will provide insights into their musical journeys. The evening will close with a DJ set by Ama.

5 Years of GD4YA

This year is a special one for me with several anniversaries, including 20 years of my Drumz Of The South project and 5 years of GD4YA.
GD4YA, the record label founded by Sam Levo, is dedicated to releasing the authentic sounds of South London via artists like Benny Ill, Karma, Yaw Evans and El-B. The label draws inspiration from the rich musical heritage of the area, particularly the dark garage and early dubstep scenes that emerged from places like Streatham and Croydon.

Eye Level Closing Event

My contribution to Turf Project's Eye Level programme included a Drumz of the South slideshow and audio description, voiced by Breezy Lee and produced by Jay Strange. I also designed a wall map of connections, inspired by the maps I drew during my peak years documenting the early dubstep scene and its community. Additionally, I led a counter-culture mapping workshop for MOSS, Turf's group of learning disabled artists, and a workshop for Croydon’s Young Archivists.

2nd Edition Drumz Of The South Book Announced

THIS WAY UP - Masters Degree Show at Free Range, London

MA Photojournalism & Documentary Photography, class of 2024, present:

THIS WAY UP.

Graduate Show, at Free Range

DRUMZ OF THE SOUTH at TURF PROJECTS: EYE LEVEL Exhibition

Friendships are formed on the dance floor. In smoky rooms with sticky floors, in pub toilets with stickers covering the stall doors, we carve out our own sense of belonging. We operate new frequencies, climb up lampposts and flyer city streets to shout that we are here and we will find each other.

Photos from Hastings Strike Action

Here is a selection of photographs from Strike Action in Hastings on Feb 1st. Hundreds of striking teaching staff, cleaning staff, DWP & NHS workers and more came out joined the rally from Hastings Pier to the Observer Building, to ask for better pay and conditions.

Alabaster dePlume at Marina Fountain, St Leonards

Such a pleasure to experience and photograph the absolute joy that is Alabaster dePlume aka Gus Fairbairn in a little pub in the town I live in. Alabaster’s music is uplifting, funny, spiritual and healing, yet not at all devoid of edge. Songs like Be Nice To people and Don’t Forget You’re Precious, are like mini manifestos. It’s kinda like the 60’s hippy scene mashed up with punk and jazz. It’s stunning. Apparently he mixes up the musicians that he plays with, which I think leads to a freshness and newness among all of the players on stage - like they’re all just experiencing Alabaster dePlume for the first time too. I liked the way he acknowledged that the crowd make the experience as much as he and the musicians do. It certainly felt like the whole room was in it together. Thanks for the after-gig portrait Gus.

Hastings' Growing Bass Music Community

August was a particularly good time for bass and 140 music in Hastings and St Leonards.

Events, Music, DocumentaryGeorgina Cook14 September 2022The PiperWheel Up, Hastings, Bass, Music, Sound-system, culture, red, live, events, photography, event, DJ, MC, Jungle, Dubstep, 140, dance, crowd, Bunch

NEWS