Documenting Steam Down: Ready to Fly
Ready to Fly: Pre-show at Steam Down, by Georgina Cook
I had the absolute honour of documenting Steam Down on Wednesday.
I have been a few times now, largely thanks to Emma Warren & her Steamdown Sofa. 🛋 🙏 (Emma’s published a pamphlet about the night which you can purchase here)
From the very first time I went, the urge to document the night was strong. I’m glad I didn’t because it’s much easier to get into & feel the music without the camera. And Steam Down is an event that exists to be felt & experienced.
Also; it’s increasingly important that I understand something as much as I can before documenting it; and to make sure the crew are cool with my camera being there, particularly as the relative scarcity of phones & cameras on the dance-floor, contributes to the SD experience. It’s a magic.
With that in mind, I’m really grateful to Kaiya, Ahnanse & Dominic for giving me their blessing to photograph this week - a particularly special night that included the launch of Steam Down’s “Free My Skin” single & first time performance of Dominic aka Doom Cannon’s new music project.
I’ll share more about that in posts that will follow once I’ve finished editing all the pics & SD have seen them. (There are many!)
But, starting / teasing with this scene setter though, pre-show at Matchstick, a co-operative theatre & event space housed under a railway archway in Deptford.
There’s a buzz in the air, the musicians are on their way down the stairs and in the centre, a couple enjoying some pre show screen time and very aptly, the Steam Down flag, designed by Wumzum ready, to fly with the music.