Kiefer Sutherland - Live at The O2 Academy Oxford
Kiefer Sutherland live in concert at the O2 Academy Oxford, March 2020
© Copyright Stewart Marsden
Kiefer William Frederick Dempsey George Rufus Sutherland, Kiefer Sutherland to you and me, is a man of many talents. The Paddington-born Canadian is an actor, producer and director with an Emmy and a Golden Globe to his name. He’s also a team-roping champion, and a very talented singer and songwriter.
On 2 March 2020 his UK tour for the album Reckless & Me came to the O2 Academy Oxford, and I’d applied for a photo pass.
The support act: The Adelaides
Supporting Kiefer were The Adelaides, a country-pop trio made up of Paris Georgia, Alicia Albanese and Abi Phillips. They deliver fantastic harmonies and powerful vocals. Their sound would have you believe they’d come straight from the Appalachian Mountains, where generations of musicians blended English ballads with Celtic and Irish songs. But no, they’re from Wolverhampton, and they were a superb warm-up for what came next.
In the pit
The pit was very small, which put me very close to the stage. The other photographers were all in each other’s way trying to get shots from the front, and I didn’t fancy getting involved in that. So I went for side-on profiles of Kiefer in the spotlight instead.
My go-to gig kit is a Pentax K-3 with the 18–55mm WR kit lens. It’s pretty much indestructible, which matters when the pit gets hectic. (Pentax gave me the K-3 when I was one of their ambassadors. I’d stepped down a few years before this gig, and they let me keep it.)
Whiskey, rodeo and the open road
Kiefer’s country Americana suits his rich, gravelly voice. His songs are well crafted, thoughtful and autobiographical, telling tales of whiskey, rodeo, life and the open road. He has an awesome stage presence and plays to the crowd, who were eager to hear what came next. Time flew by, and I found myself jigging along to his very catchy rhythms. If you like Bon Jovi’s spirit, you’ll love Kiefer’s soul.
He was smiling and full of energy all night. A few songs in, the big white cowboy hat came off, the venue was buzzing, and everyone who knew the songs was singing along.
Jack Bauer, or David?
Kiefer is a star who shines with humility, and his performance was superb. He played well to a very diverse crowd, who enjoyed every moment. I’d recommend his concerts and both his albums to anyone, whatever your taste in music. There really is something for everyone.
I must confess, it was great to photograph Jack Bauer from 24. But looking at the screen legend through my lens, the voice I heard in my head belonged to a vampire: David from The Lost Boys. “They’re only noodles, Michael.”
Update, October 2026: I didn’t know it at the time, but these were the last photos I took before the world went into lockdown.
