“Carry On John” (Acoustic) by Lulu James
As a music videographer in Newcastle, I’m always searching for moments where music and place come together to create something unforgettable.
One such moment arrived recently when I recorded an intimate live performance by North East singer Lulu James onboard ~Flow—the unique floating tidal artwork on the River Tyne. This particular video captures her acoustic rendition of “Carry On John,” recorded as an outtake during her session performing Be Safe onboard the same vessel. It’s moments like these that truly inspire my work as a music videographer in Newcastle.
A Unique Floating Venue: ~Flow
~Flow isn’t your typical venue. Created as part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad and moored on the Tyne, it’s a floating tidal mill transformed into a public artwork and performance space. Powered by the river’s tidal currents, it blends art, sustainability, and engineering into a space that feels alive.
Recording video onboard ~Flow is one of the highlights of working as a music videographer in Newcastle. The shifting light, the gentle rocking of the boat, and the striking industrial skyline of Newcastle and Gateshead create a cinematic backdrop perfect for live music video production in Newcastle. There’s something about being surrounded by water that draws authentic performances from musicians and offers visuals you simply can’t replicate in a traditional studio.
An Outtake That Became Its Own Video
Originally, I was filming Lulu performing Be Safe onboard ~Flow. Between takes, she began playing an acoustic version of “Carry On John.” Though this wasn’t part of the planned shoot, her performance was too powerful not to capture. It became a beautiful outtake—a spontaneous moment deserving its own video.
This acoustic rendition of “Carry On John” strips away studio production, revealing another side of Lulu’s artistry. Her soulful voice, paired with minimal guitar, fills the intimate space. The quiet rhythm of the river and the subtle sounds of the boat became an organic part of the performance, enhancing its raw, emotional feel. As a music videographer in Newcastle, moments like these remind me why live music video production in Newcastle can be so rewarding—the unexpected often becomes the highlight.
Capturing Live Music Video Production in Newcastle
Recording live music in an unconventional space like ~Flow presents both challenges and joys for any music videographer in Newcastle. The acoustics can be unpredictable but, when captured right, deliver a truly authentic soundscape. For this video, I aimed to maintain an intimate visual style, letting the camera move gently with the boat’s natural sway, keeping the viewer close to Lulu’s performance.
Natural light played a crucial role. The ever-changing skies over the Tyne offered a soft, shifting palette that brought an ethereal quality to the footage. As a music videographer in Newcastle, I know how important it is to use these small atmospheric details to elevate live music video production in Newcastle from simple documentation into something deeply engaging and emotionally resonant.
Why These Moments Matter
As a videographer specializing in live music video production in Newcastle, I’m passionate about capturing artists in environments that add depth and meaning to their music. Recording Lulu James performing “Carry On John” onboard ~Flow wasn’t just about documenting a song—it was about preserving a fleeting, unplanned moment where music, place, and emotion intertwined.
These spontaneous performances often become the most compelling parts of my work as a music videographer in Newcastle—the unscripted moments where true artistry and authenticity shine. The quiet intimacy, combined with the river and cityscape, shows how live music video production in Newcastle can blend storytelling with visual beauty.
You can watch the video and experience how ~Flow’s gentle movement and Lulu’s soulful vocals merge into a performance that’s both intimate and cinematic—a unique slice of magic floating on the Tyne.
Explore more of my music performance videos here: Music Films on my website