Back Room Blues

The Music Mole Magazine is proud to launch a brand-new series of music photography exhibitions - "Curated By The music Mole" - celebrating the photographers who capture the soul, sweat and spirit of live music.

The first exhibition in the series, "Back Room Blues", opens this June and runs until the end of July at El Café in Carcaixent, featuring twenty carefully selected black-and-white blues photographs by Valencia-based American photographer Philamonjaro. More than simply a collection of images, Back Room Blues is a love letter to the intimate venues, passionate musicians and unforgettable moments that define the blues. Drawn from Philamonjaro's acclaimed body of work, the exhibition captures artists in their natural habitat — small stages, smoky back rooms, late-night jams and those fleeting moments when performer and audience become one.

The exhibition's title is no accident.

Located in the back room of El Café, the photographs feel perfectly at home within a venue that has become one of the most important grassroots music spaces in the Ribera region. Over recent years, El Café has established itself as a cultural hub for Carcaixent, regularly hosting local and touring musicians in an intimate environment where audiences can experience live music up close and personal.

At the heart of this musical success story is owner Enric Casassús. A musician himself, Enric has spent years nurturing a vibrant musical community around El Café, creating a welcoming space where artists and audiences can connect beyond the traditional concert experience. Whether it's jazz, blues, flamenco, folk or rock, the venue has become synonymous with quality live music and community spirit.

Philamonjaro's photographs perfectly reflect that ethos. His images are raw, honest and beautifully observed. Rather than documenting performances from a distance, he immerses himself in the action, capturing the emotion, concentration and passion that often go unnoticed by casual observers. The result is a body of work that feels deeply human, revealing the stories hidden behind every note played and every song sung.

Visitors can expect powerful portraits, dramatic stage moments and intimate glimpses into the world of blues musicians, all presented in striking monochrome. The black-and-white format strips away distractions, allowing viewers to focus entirely on expression, atmosphere and emotion.

The exhibition also shares the space with another photographic celebration of Valencia's music scene: "Valencia Rocks"by photographer and Music Mole Magazine editor Rhyan Paul. Featuring a vibrant collection of live music photography from across the Valencian Community, Valencia Rocks showcases the incredible diversity of the region's music culture, from intimate club performances and local festivals to major international concerts. Together, the two exhibitions create a fascinating dialogue between global blues culture and Valencia's thriving contemporary music scene.

For music lovers, photographers and anyone interested in the cultural life of the region, Back Room Blues offers something increasingly rare: a chance to slow down, look closely and appreciate the artistry that exists both on stage and behind the lens. This is more than an exhibition. It is the beginning of a new chapter for The Music Mole Magazine's commitment to supporting live music, local culture and the talented photographers who document it.

You can see the artists website here: Philamonjaro