Post: here's something we fancied talking about.
Once you've read what we think, we'd like to hear what you think. (Comment below)

June 26th, 2012

I remember coming out of gigs when I was a teenager, quickly scanning the streets frantically for gig signage or posters that were rarely left behind by the vultures that had left before the encore. They were prized souvenirs from the show you had just seen and if you were lucky enough to find one then it would go straight up on the littered wall at home (if you could find a space for it.)

These posters were one of my first inspirations into Graphic Design and Illustration. Works of art created by design houses, illustration agencies and sometimes by students or young designers or illustrators just looking to get their work out there, furiously clambering over each other to get the job, to sit in the ‘cool class’ of design and illustration.

There are an insane amount of great posters created for gigs all over the world. Wilco, The Black Keys and Iron & Wine are just a few of the bands that famously pride themselves on having well designed posters for their shows, which are sold as prints even after the shows are long since passed. Some even collectors items.

Here is a small collection of some my favourites. I’m not sure I’d be allowed to put all these up on the wall now though, so they’ll have to stay here.

Me Without You

Black Keys

Black Keys

Bon Ivor

Broken Social Scene

Bright Eyes

Exploions In The Sky

Caribou

Fleet Foxes

Flaming Lips

Guided By Voices

Gotye

Galactic

Lost In Change

LCS Soundsystem

Mercury Program

Arcade Fire

Mystery Jets

Modest Mouse

Peter, Bjorn & John

National

Sigur Ros

She & Him

Peter, Bjorn & John

Sonic Youth

We’d love to see your favourite gig posters. Comment below with a link. Thanks.

Lee Casey


  • Jake Dearlove

    Stylish contemporary design has no business anywhere near rock and roll. Sheeeeeet. 

    • http://www.nickfishermusic.bandcamp.com/ Nickfishermusic

      Of course it does and has done since the beginning. Where have you been? Look at some of the Jimi Hendrix posters.

  • Jake Dearlove

    This is nice though: 
    http://bit.ly/LZBg6u

  • hatchedlondon

    Disagree. Rock & Roll is an expression and so is design.

  • hatchedlondon

     Yes, that is nice. Thanks for adding it Jake.

  • http://www.yeshenvenema.com/ Yeshen

    Stylish stuff!

  • Francescakelsey

    These are beautiful, like a brilliant mix of modern and old fashioned.