The Last Dinner Party named BBC Radio 1's Sound of 2024

Photo Courtesy: Raph_PH on Flickr

Since 2003, BBC Radio 1’s “Sound of…” has been predicting the year’s biggest artists, and has forecast the success of Adele, Jessie J, and Sam Smith to name a few. The 2024 winner was five-piece indie rock sensation The Last Dinner Party, who have just five singles currently released and a highly-anticipated debut album coming on February 2nd.

Winners are chosen by 140 artists and industry professionals, with this year’s panel including Olivia Rodrigo, PinkPantheress, Declan McKenna and Jorja Smith. The news was broken to the band - Abigail Morris, Georgia Davies, Emily Roberts, Lizzie Mayland and Aurora Nishevci - by former nominee Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine, who commended their “joyful” concerts.

Live performance has certainly been a crucial tool for The Last Dinner Party to gain early support, performing in pubs across London before releasing any songs, and amassing a crowd of loyal, fancy-dress-wearing fans. From Victoriana to Velvet Goldmine, extravagant dresscodes invited attendees into the band’s theatrical realm, emphasising the value of live shows as a way to connect with an audience.

2023 was a big year for the band, from the release of their debut single, “Nothing Matters”, to sold-out UK and US shows and support slots for Florence and the Machine and Hozier. In December, they received the BRITs Rising Star award, and are going from strength to strength with Sound of 2024 under their belt too.

The Last Dinner Party has, inevitably, faced some criticism though. With a polished sound, carefully curated style and dedicated fan base emerging even before the release of “Nothing Matters”, the band’s authenticity has been questioned.

The “industry plant” rumour is often used to discredit successful women in the music industry, with The Last Dinner Party joining the likes of Wet Leg and Clairo as targets of online attacks. In reality, Morris, Davies, Roberts, Mayland and Nishevci worked hard behind the scenes before launching themselves into the music scene. Bassist Georgia Davies describes how the group “emerged from the chrysalis”, after COVID provided an opportunity to rehearse and refine their sound. Indeed, the beaming joy and pride on their faces after every performance is something that can’t be manufactured - taking the old-school route to success by drumming up support in pubs and intimate venues has paid off, and is a testament to the band’s ambition and drive.

So, what’s next for The Last Dinner Party? Sound of 2024 is already a huge indicator of soaring success, with a sold-out gig at the Roundhouse in Camden coming up on February 1st. Watching the band grow is hugely exciting, and fans will no doubt be watching with pride as the band embraces all of the opportunities that come their way this year.