Ian Gibbs Photography, Saint Paul, MN (2026)

06/01/2026

♫ Music Monday 🎤🔥

Over the past several weeks, we've highlighted Solo/Duo performers from this year's Minnesota Blues Society Road to Memphis Challenge. Last week, we featured the Virgil Caine Band, which was selected to represent Minnesota at next year's International Blues Challenge in Memphis. This week, we're wrapping up the series by showcasing four more outstanding bands that helped make this year's challenge such a strong display of Minnesota blues talent: Hoodah Thunkett, The Hazy Phase, J-Mo On The Beat and The J-Lighters, and the Minnesotariverband.

One of the things I enjoy most about events like Road to Memphis is the opportunity to discover new artists while reconnecting with familiar favorites. The bands on stage that day brought a wide range of influences, styles, and personalities, reminding us just how much musical talent exists throughout Minnesota, and how deep that talent pool is.

If you enjoy live music, seek these bands out, attend a show, and support the venues & organizations that help keep live blues thriving in our communities.

Full galleries for each of the four bands are linked in the comments.

05/25/2026

♫ Music Monday 🎤🔥

This week’s Music Monday features the Virgil Caine Band, winners of the “Band” category at this year’s Minnesota Blues Society Road to Memphis Challenge.

The northern Minnesota-based band has spent more than 30 years keeping the blues alive throughout the Upper Midwest, blending Chicago-style blues influences with gritty, hard-driving performances and a strong stage presence. Fronted by vocalist and harmonica player Mark Howley, the band also features Phil Ness on guitar and vocals, “The Foot” Mark Thompson on drums and vocals, and “Big Daddy” Dave Prudhomme on bass and vocals.

Although this was my first opportunity to photograph the band, it was immediately obvious why they earned the chance to represent Minnesota at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Their set brought energy, personality, musicianship, and decades of experience to the stage.

Full gallery linked in the comments.

05/18/2026

♫ Music Monday 🎤🔥

This week’s Music Monday looks back at the final performance by the Avey Grouws Band at the Chatfield Center for the Arts in Chatfield, Minnesota.

Formed in 2017, the Iowa-based band quickly built a loyal following through touring, streamed live sessions during the pandemic, memorable festival appearances, and a blues-rock sound that blended powerful vocals, strong songwriting, and dynamic musicianship. Along the way, they represented Iowa at the International Blues Challenge, released two Billboard-charting albums, and became favorites throughout the Midwest blues scene and beyond.

For their final show, the band delivered a celebratory performance that reached across their entire catalog, including songs that had not been performed live in quite some time. The evening felt less like a farewell and more like a genuine celebration of everything the band had built together over nearly a decade.

I first photographed the band at the Whitewater Music Festival in 2022 and had the opportunity to photograph them several more times over the years. Seeing their final performance carried a little extra weight because of that history.

Full gallery linked in the comments.

05/12/2026

♫ Music Monday 🎤🔥

This week’s Music Monday continues our 2026 Minnesota Blues Society Road to Memphis series with a look at two of the solo performers from this event: Roy Allen Sings and Joe Colihan.

Roy Allen brought a thoughtful blend of Americana, folk, rock, and blues influences to the stage. Music has clearly become something deeply personal in Roy’s life - not simply something he performs, but something through which he has found healing, expression, and reflection. After battling cancer through months of treatment and recovery, he returned to performing with renewed purpose and determination.

Joe Colihan showcased his versatility as a vocalist, guitarist, and keyboard player during the competition. In addition to performing throughout the region, Joe also works as a music instructor and plays with several area groups, bringing a wide-ranging musical background to the stage.

Events like the Road to Memphis Challenge offer the opportunity to hear how differently each artist approaches blues-based music and songwriting. No two performances feel the same.

Full galleries for both performers are linked in the comments.

05/04/2026

♫ Music Monday 🎤🔥

Minnesota Blues Society’s 2026 Road to Memphis challenge - Solo/Duo category winners: Peter Meyer and Bill Finke.

These two have been building their sound together since the early 2000s, blending deep roots influences from Sonny Terry, Charley Patton, Big George Jackson, and Mississippi John Hurt into something that feels both authentic and lived-in.

Guitar, voice, and harmonica - no excess, no distraction. Just feel, phrasing, and connection.

Both Meyer and Finke share vocal and instrumental duties, working in tandem to shape a sound that is conversational, dynamic, and grounded in the tradition. The harmonica brings a strong, expressive voice into that mix, adding texture and character without overpowering the guitar.

A true duo in every sense - balanced, responsive, and fully engaged with each other’s playing.

Simple on the surface. Sophisticated where it counts.

Which image stands out to you?

(See first comment for link to more photos from this set.)

04/28/2026

What goes into photographing a concert?

This one-minute reel walks through the preparation, the shoot, and the post-processing behind capturing a live performance.

While this concert photography workflow comes from my own experience, being part of Twin Cities Professional Photographers Association has strengthened how I approach photography overall — from lighting and technique to the business side of the work.

Just as important, TCPPA is a community of photographers who share knowledge, support one another, and create opportunities. This reel exists in part because of a connection that came through that network.

We’re better when we’re not doing this alone. If you’re a professional photographer in or near the Twin Cities, I’d encourage you to look into TCPPA. Feel free to DM me with any questions.

04/28/2026

♫ Music Monday 🎤🔥

Earlier this spring, I had the opportunity to photograph Joyann Parker in a more intimate setting - a duo performance with guitarist Mark Lamoine. Stripped down and unguarded, the focus shifts quickly to what defines her sound: phrasing, control, and an unmistakably powerful voice.

That voice is front and center on "Life Lines", her newest album release, which finds her leaning further into the space where blues, soul, and Americana meet. As noted by American Highways, the album highlights “an awe-inspiring voice,” shaped by a background that brings both discipline and depth to her music.

The shift is already resonating - "Life Lines" recently debuted as the #4 most added album on Americana radio and is charting on the Roots Music Report Country and Americana charts.

Joyann Parker and her full band will be at The Parkway Theater in Minneapolis this Sunday for the "Life Lines" album release show. It’s sure to be a great concert - get your tickets now.

See link in first comment for more photos from Joyann and Mark's recent duo performance.

04/23/2026

📸 Perfect Portrait Wednesday

A strong portrait is not just about lighting or background. It is about how a person is presented.

In a business setting, that presentation carries weight. A consistent set of headshots across an organization brings a sense of cohesion. Candid moments from the workplace add context and a sense of connection. Together, they help tell a more complete story about the people who make the organization.

These images were created on location, with a portable backdrop and lighting, allowing each person to be shown at their best.

Different roles. Different personalities. A shared standard in how they are represented.

When the people are presented well, the organization benefits from it.

If you have been thinking about updating your headshot or your team’s presence, I am always happy to continue the conversation.

04/20/2026

♫ Music Monday 🎤🔥

Phantom Fears MN - the Rush Tribute took the stage at The Parkway Theater with a performance rooted in precision, passion, and a deep personal connection to the music.

Founded by bassist Chris Bates and drummer Cory Healey - both longtime devotees of RUSH - the project feels less like a tribute and more like a labor of love brought fully to life.

From the first notes, the band locked in - intricate arrangements unfolding with clarity, shifting dynamics handled with confidence, and a sense that every detail mattered. In the midst of it, moments stood out: a bassist leaning into the groove with unmistakable joy, a guitarist carving through complex passages under deep blue light, and a full-stage surge of energy that pulled the audience forward.

Vocalist Aby Wolf brings a powerful and distinctive voice that reframes the music in a compelling way, while clearly keeping true to Geddy Lee’s spirit. Guitarist Toivo Hannigan captures the tonal range and phrasing that define the sound, while Cory Eischen builds the layers - keys, sequences, and textures that complete the sonic landscape.

At the center of it all, the rhythm section drives everything forward. Healey’s performance behind the kit was both precise and expressive - a reminder of just how much ground there is to cover when approaching Neil Peart’s work.

The result is a performance that honors the music while making it feel immediate, alive, and entirely their own.

To learn more about the band, see link in first comment.
Facebook: Phantom Fears MN
Instagram:

04/13/2026

♫ Music Monday 🎤🔥

In Your Eyes - the Peter Gabriel Tribute took the stage at The Parkway Theater with a full-band performance that balanced precision with atmosphere, bringing the music to life in a way that felt both powerful and immersive.

The 8-piece ensemble - featuring Jacobsen on lead vocals, Sarah Kolb-Williams and Sarah Monson on background vocals, David Alstead on keys, Andy McClure on bass, Doug Christianson on drums, Nick Malbraaten on guitar, and Erick Naslund on trumpet and guitar - delivered a set that included the full So album, marking the upcoming 40th anniversary of its release, along with additional selections from Peter Gabriel’s catalog.

Dynamic lighting, layered instrumentation, and moments of intensity and restraint combined to create a performance that felt as much like a production as a concert. The visuals projected behind the performers harkened back to Peter Gabriel’s MTV-era videos, adding another dimension to the experience and reinforcing the connection between sound and image.

To learn more about the band, see link in first comment.

Facebook: In Your Eyes - the Peter Gabriel Tribute
Instagram:

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