Rods and rockabilly festival 2016 and Shannon Brooke Imagery Australian tour


The Rods and Rockabilly Festival is the only rockabilly festival to be held in the heart of Brisbane, just ten minutes from the city centre. It was born from an idea shared between the Hamilton Hotel (a.k.a. ‘The Hammo’) and enthusiasts who were interested in sharing their love of the scene.  With a public demand for more intimate rockabilly gigs in-between the big guns like Greazefest and Cooly Rocks On, 2016 saw the third year for Rods and Rockabilly at The Hammo, and the fifth event including the newly added Rods and Rockabilly Miami. 

This festival has a huge focus on supporting and sharing the Australian rockabilly scene with music from bands across Australia, including Rumblin Wolf, The Flyin Saucers, The Lincolns and Brisbane favourites The Ten Fours, West Texas Crude and A Band Called Twang. The art show is also a drawing card, with the Artists Alley one of the biggest yet.

Artists Alley curated by Rastra Lyall - Photo Angela Lambert
 This year’s show was curated by Brisbane metal sculptor Rastra Lyall, who brought together some of Queensland’s most talented artists to give them a platform to exhibit their unique works, with everything from pin striping, airbrushing, tattoo flash, tiki mugs through to sculptures. The festival also offered distinctive stalls including Kips Customs, who did a live display of traditional panel work, The Pedal Pushers bike club who displayed their custom bikes, Mimsys Trailer Trash Tattoo with her cute pink caravan, Shannon Weaver who showcased live special FX and sculptures, plus Wild tHing creations with the best tiki mugs around.  David Gatt took out the trophy for Artist of the Day with his Catalina piece, and Car of the Day was snagged by Rob Toys and his 1940 Dodge Truck.

Miss Rods and Rockabilly - Photo Angela Lambert
A highlight of the festival is the Miss Rods and Rockabilly pin up pageant, produced and hosted by Bettie Butcher, and judged by Shannon Brooke Imagery (USA), Phill's Kustom Photography and Penny Spitfire, Miss Rods and Rockabilly 2015. This pageant is one of the most anticipated in Australia with entrants travelling from all over Queensland and beyond. This year Madame Mason took out the title of Miss Rods and Rockabilly 2016, with Red Devotchkin as a closer runner up. Madame will become the face and a judge of the 2017 pageant, and received a tiara, sash and huge prize pack. The judges were impressed by Madame Mason’s stage presence, especially considering it was her very first pin up pageant. Miss Mason was introduced to the rockabilly scene through swing dancing classes, and a love of classic cars. She stood out from the crowd in Miss Rods and Rockabilly by showing off her dance skills, and the custom pinstriping on her calves, painted by her partner, artist Tom Mason.
 
"Girls" by Shannon Brooke
Every year Rods and Rockabilly endeavors to bring an international artist to the festival to offer locals the rare chance meet and work with some of the world’s most talented creatives. This year’s special guest was renowned photographer Shannon Brooke of Shannon Brooke Imagery. Shannon appeared just as excited for her trip as we were, saying “any excuse to come over and spend time in Australia, I am there! I love your country, everyone treats me so well. I have a ton of friends all over the place in Oz, and I have nothing but a great time when I am visiting. When Rods and Rockabilly asked, it was a shoo in for me.”

Shannon is primarily based in Sacramento California, but travels around the world shooting commercial and editorial portraiture, covering advertising, fashion and music, as well as the pin up photography she is celebrated for. For over a decade, she has worked with some of the most talented models, celebrities, and designers in the alternative industry, and her images have been published internationally on the covers of over 100 publications. Previously a lead photographer at West Coast Choppers, she is now a full time freelancer working on her own publications.

Nico Jones - Photo Parnell Photography
The Rods and Rockabilly festival hosted the Australian debut of Shannon Brooke’s photo book Girls, with stunning featured model, Nico Jones in tow. Girls is Shannon’s first solo publication and is a collection of stunning portraits shot in her signature style - seamlessly blending sharp, contemporary design with classic pin up flair. For the book she brought together the models that mean everything to her and have defined her career so far – her girls, and they include Sabina Kelley, Masuimi Max, Nico Jones, Kelly Eden, Gia Genevieve, among many others. Shannon is currently working on her next book, and excited to start teaser ads for it soon.

Shannon Brooke greeting fans
Shannon Brooke first visited Australia in 2009 for the former Wintersun Festival at Coolangatta, with incredible hair and makeup artist and regular collaborator Jennifer Corona, and has been back numerous times since for her photography work. For this trip Shannon visited Brisbane and the Gold Coast before finishing up in Melbourne for a “Girls” book signing at Kustom Lane Gallery.  Shannon also made sure not to overbook herself this time round so she could try and really see Australia. Her highlights included exploring the barren, magical beaches of Cottonwood, Gold Coast, sightseeing in Tweed Heads, checking out the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, sampling traditional Aussie cuisine at Yatala pies, and stopping in at Donut Time, which Shannon insists is a must-do for gorging on milkshakes topped with donuts.

Deadbeat Magazine - Cover by Shannon Brooke
Most Australian pin up girls would know Shannon’s work with Sabina Kelley, and the covers of the former Deadbeat Magazine, so it’s understandable that the first time working with Shannon can be a bit nerve racking, but Shannon is so down to earth and knows how to make women feel conformable and confident, so much that it ends up being more like hanging out with a friend than working with one of the world’s greatest pin up photographers. She considered each of her models a joy to shoot, and told us how respectful and easy to work with Australian pin ups are.

Shannon is hoping to return next year, particularly in May for her birthday, saying, “Kustom Lane Gallery made my birthday so much fun as well as Ella Lugosi, All About Pout Photography, Sarah and Pete from Deadbeat Mag, my dear friend Erin, and my friend Kirsten. I just want to be with all the same people again. I had 4 birthday cakes made for me this year in Oz!” In the meantime, Shannon looks forward to her upcoming holiday to LA, which includes seeing Dolly Parton and Evil Dead Live, and a trip to Wisconsin to work on her new book with Working Class Publishing.

www.shannonbrookeimagery.net
www.facebook.com/shannonbrookeimagery
@shannon_brooke

Credits

Original article published in Adore Pinup Magazine 2017
Location: Hamilton QLD 4007, Australia

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