Rosie Doonan

Rosie Doonan is a musician, composer, writer, topliner, and vocalist from West Yorkshire. Hailing from Wakefield - with firm family roots in Tyne and Wear - Rosie cut her teeth on the local music scene both at home and in neighbouring Leeds before settling in Saltaire, a jewel in the crown of the industrious north. She’s a northern lass through and through, and all the better for it.

That, however, skips over a career that has seen her work across film, sync, advertising and television, composing music for the likes of Universal, Audio Network and The Nerve; she has tackled almost anything from soul to swing when both writing and performing; but folk is where her heart is. The 2010’s saw album releases, yet long before that Rosie was soaking up the free folk festivals of the British countryside, following in the footsteps of her father and uncle playing in folk luminaries Hedgehog Pie. In 2006, she was nominated for a BBC Folk Award with Ben Murray for their collaboration ‘Mill Lane’. Her session work includes stints with Peter Gabriel, Birdy and John Metcalfe.

Since those heady early days, you could argue there’s been a break; that would be underselling things a touch. “I’m at that stage in life where I’m a knackered Mum getting chocolate for my birthday that my kids then eat in front of me in bed” says Doonan, but if she’s feeling tired then she’s not showing it. 2025 will see her return to the stage, showcasing arguably the best music she has written to date.