FEATURE: Waves of Dread – A Look Back on 2020

Over the past twelve months, our magazine and website have been brimming with super-talented, creative souls. We’ve asked a few of them to tell us about their 2020 and offer a few tips about great stuff they’ve seen, watched and read.

Here, Robert Anthony from Northern noiseniks Waves of Dread tell us about their 2020…

Sum up 2020 in three words

Isolation, Tension And Zoom

What skills did you learn in lockdown?

Orienteering in Jesmond Dene

Your favourite band/artist of the year?

Hey Colossus’ Dances/Curses is a big big album – colossus by name. Colossus by nature. Also, Sault – Untitled (Black Is) is a very important document for 2020.

Your favourite song of the year?

Christine and the Queens – Je Disparais dans tes Bras – perfect pop. 

Favourite TV show of the year?

Married at First Sight Australia series 5 – iconic

Your favourite film?

I feel like loads may have passed me by with the pictures being shut. I did catch Bacurau on mubi which was a riot. Surrealist Brazilian western. Uncut Gems from the Safdie brothers was a rush too.

Best book you read?

Corona, Climate, Chronic Emergency – War Communism in the Twenty-First Century by Andreas Malm. A far more persuasive explanation of the origin of the pandemic than 5g.

Venue you are looking forward to performing at next year?

Bobik’s – we’re quite fond of that place. 

What was your favourite gig/live stream event?

Richard Dawson and Yakka Doon at Sage Gateshead – it was such a release to witness live music again. I remember trying to savour the experience as much as possible as the news filtered in that we were heading back into a second lockdown.  

Any upcoming artists we should keep an eye out for in 2021?

Special Interest, Moor Jewellery and Lyra Pramuk come to mind. 

Predictions for 2021?

The Tories will continue to get away with murder. Biden will disappoint. Starmer will continue to disappoint. England to win the Euros.

And finally, have you got anything in the pipeline for next year?

New music in the new year. Getting well drilled for playing live again.