A Look Back On 2024: Laura Rosierse

So… how was your 2024? 
My 2024 was filled with weird and wonderful events of which one of my favourites was finally visiting Barcelona and Primavera Sound! 

What was your best moment? 
My best moment would be site managing NOVUM Festival at the civic centre in Newcastle, all events and performances went smoothly and my highlights were seeing Cirque Bijou and Motionhouse perform some incredible shows!

And your worst moment? 
My worst moment always arrives in July when the van needs to get its MOT done… Never something I look forward to! 

Who was your favourite band/artist this year? 
It’s hard to choose just one but I think that Work In TV’s absolute bops have gotten me through some of the less wonderful moments, I could listen to ‘Spiral’, ‘Better House’ and ‘The Good Life’ on repeat! Others I’ve very much enjoyed listening to have been Wax-Tree-Cast, Cat Ryan, and Palma Louca, their latest single ‘The Cove’ is stunning! 

Your favourite song of the year? 
‘Loving You (Tenderly)’ by Marie Naffah is such a beautiful and pensive piece of romantic pop, I simply can’t get enough of it. 

Recommended album? 
That would be ‘Mother of Pearl’ by Marie Naffah, it is filled with love, passion, and soul, and all of its songs are stunning in both recorded and live versions. Aside from that, Marie is such an inspiration to me and a wonderful soul who’s coloured many of my days with her presence. 

Favourite TV show of the year? 
A Man On The Inside with Ted Danson, who also absolutely made The Good Place, I would very much recommend both, light-hearted watches yet with funny and serious twists that are very relatable! 

Your favourite film? 
Hidden Figures was an incredibly inspiring watch that I recently discovered, and with a fantastic cast and some absolute nail-biting moments it’s one I could watch over and over again.

Best book you read? 
Welsh musician James Kennedy and I go way back, it was in the summer of 2018 that I booked a series of shows for him in the Netherlands, and he has recently released his first book ‘Make Anger Great Again’ which is such a gripping read and shares many of his thoughts on the music industry and all of these that are part of it. It is inspiring and fun, with his tongue in cheek demeanor, and I already can’t wait for the second book which is due out next year! 

Favourite new word that you learned? 
Drawing a blank here, I’ve clearly not paid much attention.

Best podcast? 
The Rogue Country Podcast, which I found through an artist that supported Subterranean Street Society in Manchester, Mike West, he interviewed singer Louis and they talked for ages without losing my attention, which I think is quite the task… 

Favourite venue that you visited? 
Diego’s in Sunderland at Waves Festival, it had such a cool and rustic, alternative vibe, with its layers and such a great stage, I’ll have to get back to the venue to just grab a bite. 

What was your favourite gig/show of the year? 
She’s a recurring name, but that would be Marie Naffah’s headline show at The Louisiana in Bristol, where I finally got to see her perform with a full band and it was a stunning show from start till finish! 

Tell us about 2024’s guilty pleasure. 
Gilmore girls… Although that’s not just this year’s guilty pleasure, that’ll be a lifelong one. 

And your best discovery this year? 
Sam Way! This spoken word and alternative pop artist from London sent me his music a few months ago, and he completely hooked me with his stunning wordsmithery, so I booked him for a Sofar Sounds show, and a spoken word workshop at The Lost Wanderer. We clicked not just professionally but also personally and I think his words will connect with many more people that are yet to discover his art. 

Any up-and-coming artists/acts to keep an eye out for in 2025?
 Peter Alexander Jobson, who I interviewed for NARC earlier this year, he is not just an incredibly intriguing musician and person to talk to, with his incredible background and history in music, but also a very talented musician and such a kind soul. I also interviewed Ren Lawton, and the same thing goes for him; he’s an incredible artist and musician, kind, passionate, and wonderful to talk to about all things music and poetry. 

Any predictions for next year? 
That the North-East scene will keep growing, with its new venues such as Tapyard Studios and The Grove, and that The Globe will keep growing and strengthening its position supporting emerging artists. I hope our local artists such as Nadedja, Georgina Gale, Melanie Baker, Porcelain, and Palma Louca will keep doing their thing and reaching more and more people! 

Is there anything you hope to tick off your bucket list in 2025? 
To finally go on a city trip to Verona, or any other Italian or Spanish city for that matter! And I would like to attend Rock Werchter in Belgium, that would be very nice to do in 2025.