10 inspiring gig posters of 2012

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Independent gig posters is a trend worth checking out. Over the past few years, design studios, illustrators, and graphic designers have been creating stunning, limited edition gig posters for upcoming shows in their area.

Endorsed by the band, these posters usually go on an extremely limited print and sell out instantly. It's easy to see why; not only are they perfect collectables for music fans but the design is often flawless, making them a must-have for any art lover. Here, we pick 10 of our favourite gig posters of 2012.

Dave Matthews Band by DKNG

A design studio founded in 2005, DKNG are Dan Kuhlken and Nathan Goldman. A combined love of design and music brought the pair together, with dynamically different skill sets ranging from fine art to film production. The four-colour screen print had a limited print run of 730.

Watch this! Gig Posters process video:

Phish by James Flames

James Flames is an illustrator currently based in Asheville, NC. He has already created stunning screen printed gig posters for the likes of The Black Keys, Mogwai and Dr. Dog. This latest work for the band Phish was a four colour screen print and featured three metallic inks. The print run of 700 sold out almost immediately and we can see why!

Why? by Eric Nyffeler

Eric Nyffler is Doe Eyed - a design studio based in Lincoln, Nebraska. His illustration style mixes gritty geometrics with hand-drawn elements to create a sometimes whimsical, sometimes abject style that is helping to redefine the visual aesthetic of the Midwest. This print of his Why? gig posters is currently on sale for $30 at the Doe Eyed website.

First Aid Kit by Adrian Dutt

This poster was created by Bristol-based illustrator Adrian Dutt. He creates every one of his gig posters for independent record store Rise, mostly for exclusive in-stores. Doubling up the lion illustration gives the image an almost 3D effect that when teamed with the simple colour scheme, really makes it stand out.

Mogwai by Kevin Tong

Kevin Tong is a freelance illustrator currently living and working in Los Angeles. He has created a number of gig posters and this is his third creation for rock outfit Mogwai. He designed this colour variant specifically for the band and the edition is extremely limited. Now sold out, the poster had two colour versions.

Watch this! Gig posters process video:

Orgy by Danny Excess

Danny Excess is a graphic designer and musician, originally from San Fransico but currently based in Los Angeles to pursue music and poster art.  Now the drummer of rock band Love and a .38, he is also the exclusive designer of gig posters art for The World Famous Roxy Theatre. We loved the icon design of this poster for Orgy.

St. Vincent by HERO

HERO is Buffalo-based husband and wife duo, Beth Manos and Mark Brickey. Set up in 2003, they sought to create hand-crafted illustrations for the music and culture industries but have also worked with a variety of clients. Their screen prints have been featured in magazines such as HOW, Print, and SPIN, and design publications including Gigposters Volume 1.

My Morning Jacket by Ben Wilson

Ben Wilson is a graphic designer currently based in Idaho and has worked on gig posters with the likes of Death Cab for Cutie and St. Vincent. For this project for My Morning Jacket, he drew on his experiences in the southern swamps and My Morning Jacket's most recent album 'Circuital'. It is currently available in Ben's online store.

The Black Keys by Kevin Tong

We know this is Kevin's second inclusion in our gig posters list but we just couldn't resist showcasing his diverse style. The Black Keys have turned up a lot in of independent poster designs and we love that the band are so supportive of independent graphic designers and illustrators. This poster takes influence from Chicago's Wayne's World.

Andrew Bird by Frida Clements

Frida Clements is an independent Seattle-based graphic designer and illustrator specialising in screen-printed poster art. She has also designed for Sasquatch! Music Festival, KEXP, and Flatstocker and her stunning gig posters have been exhibited around the USA. We fell in love with the attention to detail on this one - a mast for a violin!

Have you seen any cool gig posters this year? Share them with us in the comments section!