City College Norwich student photographs The Darkness during Wembley show

8th April 2025

A photography student at City College Norwich was given access all areas to capture rock band The Darkness during their recent show at London’s OVO Arena Wembley.

Grace Townsend, 19, is in her second year studying a UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Photography at the college’s Ipswich Road campus and captured the band both on stage and behind the scenes during their Dreams on Toast UK tour in London on 29^th March.

Grace, whose dad organised the opportunity through his connection with band member Dan Hawkins, was keen to gain more experience at events photography and was given an access all areas pass to capture the band in action.

Grace said: “It was such a great experience. I understand I'm incredibly lucky to have been given this opportunity and I'm very grateful for it. I have gained a lot of knowledge about event/concert photography and am going to use that in the future when I move onto university and when I get a job doing what I love.  

“The experience has given me so much more confidence to do this type of thing, it’s something that I really want to do as a career, and I think this is just the start.”

Grace will use the photographs for her personal portfolio, as well as making prints for family and friends.

She said: “It was great for me to learn how to navigate around places like this as well as developing my skills and my personal portfolio. I did send my photos over to them to thank them and to show them what I had done.

“I grew up listening to their music, so I have always been a fan, in fact everyone in my family is too!

“Everyone I spoke to was kind and very supportive, including the band themselves. They came and said hello after, and I thanked them for letting me have the opportunity. Sometimes you don't always know what to expect when meeting people in this type of industry, but I can honestly say that they are very genuine and down to earth.”