For the last five years I have dedicated a weekend in May to cover the SPOT Festival, a yearly music festival that features ca 130 upcoming singer-songwriters and bands.

The past years I have uploaded the content to Getty Images and WireImage. Not because I think those iamges will sell a lot. But I do think it is important to discover and support new and so-far unknown names in art and music. I think it may mean a great deal to be exposed on a stage in front of a few thousand live audiences, with live national radio present and covering the event, as well as more than 350 international media people and music industry professionals on the lookout for what might be the names of tomorrow.

In that perspective, I also believe that proper coverage in form of photos is important for the artist, and that is what I try to provide, along with a live editorial staff of about 15 photographers, videographers and journalists that cover the event for the SPOT website, create stories for future export of Scandinavian music, as well as for next years catalog and promotion.

Problem being an artist is that nobody believe you can do something, before you have done it. We all love Adele, but would you have believed in her five years ago?

The editorial staff meeting some days in advance of the festival to plan the coverage.

So photos, coverage and all add credibility to the dream that this can be it. That's why I do it. But also because I believe ucoming artists should have coverage and support while on their way up. Too many media are only intersted in the celebrities.

Mads Langer. Shot with Leica M9 and 35mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4

(This year I didn't send the images to Getty Images. This prestigious picture agency that once were known for access to stars and did great photos of them, they really don't care about the upcoming. Only stars and those on the way down has interest. I shall return to photographers role and their relationship with the picture agencies later, it's a sad story how the media self-destruct these years. So much power, so litle originality.

But here are a few of the photos I did this year. If you visit the previous page, you may also see a slideshow with more photos, with music by The Green Lives which is a band nobody knows, but everybody is likely to get to know. Just one of those things ...

From a selfish point of view, photographing festivals is hard work that teach you to get things done and finalize your editing before the next day. And you build an archive.

Guests studying the pocket program prior to the festival. So many new names and so few well-known names...

Green Lives performed on the opening night on the big stage. A gues band from an African country couldn't get out of their country and Green Lives were upgraded to perform - and did very well.

Mike Sheridan performing on the opening night. He has been building him self a name in the last few years. This was his second performance on the SPOT Festival.

Speaking of the devil (and by that I don't refer to my daughter in front). A poster from back when Beatles was young and new and performed in Aarhus. Signed poster.

Almost as the 1980ies in the look. But from just this weekend. Leica M9 with Leica 21mm Super-Elmar-M ASPH f/3.4

One of the big names to attract attention. Annisette of Savage Rose, a 1967 band still going strong at the few occasions where they perform.