{{Short description|British guitarist and composer (born 1998)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Emily Roberts | image = File:Emily Roberts (1) The Last Dinner Party Rahmenprogramm New Pop Festival 2024 Konzertmuschel Baden-Baden P1020374 2024-09-14 yj (cropped).jpg | caption = Roberts performing in Germany, 2024 | birth_name = Emily Jane Roberts | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} | birth_place = | origin = Chester, Cheshire, England | occupation = {{flatlist| * Guitarist * composer * producer * mandolinist * flautist * vocalist }} | years_active = 2014–present | current_member_of = The Last Dinner Party }} '''Emily Jane Roberts''' is an English guitarist and composer. She is the lead guitarist of the indie rock band The Last Dinner Party, and has a background in jazz and classical music.
== Early life and education == Emily Jane Roberts grew up in Chester<ref>{{cite news |last=Dean |first=Jonathan |date=4 February 2024 |title=The Last Dinner Party: ‘It’s fun to be pretentious’ |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/the-last-dinner-party-album-prelude-to-ecstasy-members-cvm6vwr7p |location=London, England |publisher=The Times |access-date=1 February 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Savage |first=Mark |date=7 November 2023 |title=The Last Dinner Party: 'Being a hyped, buzzy band can be a curse' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-67331635 |work=BBC News |location=London, England |publisher=BBC |access-date=13 February 2026}}</ref> in the north west county of Cheshire, England, and began playing guitar at the age of six; however, she found guitar lessons boring and quit. At age nine, she returned to the instrument, learning acoustic guitar from a local teacher.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=15 questions {{!}} Interview {{!}} Emily Jane Roberts {{!}} Beyond the Safety Limit |url=https://15questions.net/interview/fifteen-questions-interview-emily-jane-roberts/page-1/ |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=15questions.net}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://guitar.com/features/interviews/the-last-dinner-party-interview-prelude-to-ecstasy/|title=How The Last Dinner Party embraced individuality to become the band everyone's talking about|website=Guitar.com | All Things Guitar}}</ref>
She attended King's School, Macclesfield<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Kings Speech|issue=11|year=2024|pages=12–13|title=Emily's true Brit|url=https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1712052993/kingsmaccouk/ohthsy71gyvfjmjmvufe/Kingsspeech_24_FINAL.pdf}}</ref> before moving to Manchester to attend Chetham's School of Music, where she studied both jazz and classical guitar. During her time there, she was a member of Chetham's Big Band and the Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra. She later accepted a place in the BMus Jazz course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Roberts was a semi-finalist in the BBC Young Jazz Musician competition in 2020.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://jazzjournal.co.uk/2022/09/17/emily-jane-roberts-the-persistence-of-memory/|title=Emily Jane Roberts: The Persistence Of Memory|first=Roger|last=Farbey|date=17 September 2022|via=JazzJournal}}</ref>
== Career == Roberts' professional career began in 2014 when she joined the Creative Leadership Ensemble, a project focused on encouraging women in jazz. From 2016 to 2021, she performed with a variety of orchestras at the Royal Festival Hall, the Wigan International Jazz Festival, the Barbican Concert Hall, among others, and performed with Guildhall Jazz and the BBC Singers in a concert broadcast on BBC Radio 3.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/extra/VqhEX7YYXY/BBC-Singers-10-December|title=A Roaring Twenties Christmas|website=BBC Proms}}</ref> She gained experience in musical theatre by serving as the official electric guitar, mandolin, bass, and acoustic guitar understudy for the West End production of ''Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour'' at the Duke of York's Theatre in summer 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 November 2020 |title=Home |website=Emily Roberts Guitarist |url=https://www.emilyrobertsguitarist.com/ |access-date=2024-09-23 |archive-date=2020-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101024857/https://www.emilyrobertsguitarist.com/ |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>
Roberts toured with neofolk artist Blanco White in 2018 and performed with various artists across different genres, including London based indie pop band Pink Haze, and a Babyshambles cover band called "Ladyshambles."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh3oMuOnZ-V/?igsh=MXduenRvcHVyanBqbw|access-date=2024-09-23 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref> She joined a Queen tribute band called Fat Bottomed Girls in 2019.<ref name="auto1"/> She attributes the time she spent that summer "trying to get inside Brian's playing" as a strong influence on her later style of playing. In the end, the tribute band only played live once, at a convention near Hull.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/news/the-last-dinner-party-emily-roberts-brian-may|title="I spent an entire summer solidly trying to get inside Brian's playing, hearing all the little details": The Last Dinner Party's Emily Roberts on how a Brian May tribute gig radically changed her guitar playing|first1=Janelle|last1=Borg|first2=Amit|last2=Amit|date=4 June 2024|website=guitarworld}}</ref>
In 2021, Roberts began a song-writing collaboration with fellow musician Georgia Williams. As a duo, they called themselves Wednesday's Child, and released a debut five-track EP of the same name in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rgm.press/we-review-the-new-self-titled-ep-from-wednesdays-child/review/|title=We review the new self titled EP from Wednesdays Child; RGM : Reyt Good Magazine|date=November 5, 2021|website=rgm.press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://musomuso.com/news/i-caught-up-with-wednesdays-child-after-their-spellbindingly-great-set-at-the-great-estate-festival|title=I caught up with Wednesday's Child after their spellbindingly great set at the Great Estate Festival|date=14 June 2022|website=musomuso.com}}</ref> Wednesday's Child featured on a couple of Tom Robinson's 'BBC Introducing' mixtape featuring unsigned artists.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/webarchive/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fblogs%2Fintroducing%2Fentries%2Fd78a24f4-633b-4a20-9683-fc1ad2f96057|title=BBC Blogs - BBC Music Introducing - BBC Music Introducing Mixtape: 25 October 2021|work=BBC }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/webarchive/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fblogs%2Fintroducing%2Fentries%2F320e635d-ff4b-4b02-9b46-5e3995b40ef2|title=BBC Blogs - BBC Music Introducing - BBC Music Introducing Mixtape: 22 January 2024|work=BBC }}</ref> They began performing live shows as a five-piece band, and in July 2023 released another EP, ''Seven Sisters''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://plasticmag.co.uk/2023/07/new-ep-from-wednesdays-child/|title=New EP from Wednesday's Child|via=Plastic Magazine}}</ref> This EP featured seven songs about seven women; all of which were composed jointly by Roberts and Williams.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rgm.press/rgm-introducing-we-interview-london-band-wednesdays-child-2/interview/|title=RGM Introducing – we interview London Band Wednesday's Child. RGM: Reyt Good Magazine|date=20 April 2023|website=rgm.press}}</ref> Tracks from this EP have been played on BBC radio, including "Theda" and "Paula" on BBC Radio London.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0dzt0f8|title=BBC Music - BBC Music Introducing, London, Featured Artist: John|website=BBC}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0f4y4f3|title=BBC Music - BBC Music Introducing, London, Featured Artist Tommy Lefroy|website=BBC}}</ref>
In 2022, Roberts released a solo jazz EP, ''The Persistence of Memory'', which critics commended for its "exciting mix of styles ... jazz ... and soul", and for Robert's arrangements.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sonicsoulreviews.com/2022/04/10/sundays-jazz-selection-pt-2-emily-jane-roberts-the-persistance-of-memory-nimbus-sextet-high-time-luke-smith-ft-jackson-mathod-the-resurrection-shane-cooper-mabuta-finish-t/|title=Sunday's Jazz Selection Pt. 2 – Emily Jane Roberts "The Persistance Of Memory" .. Sonic Soul Reviews (in German)|date=10 April 2022}}</ref><ref name="auto"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jazzrevelations.com/post/premiere-emily-jane-roberts-the-persistence-of-memory|title=Premiere: Emily Jane Roberts - The Persistence of Memory|first=Ally J.|last=Steel|date=5 April 2022|website=Jazz Revelations}}</ref> The EP release was followed by live performances by Roberts at the annual London Jazz Festival,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://southwarknews.co.uk/area/south-london/all-that-jazz/|title=All That Jazz|via=SouthwarkNews|date=15 November 2022}}</ref> and tracks from the EP have had airplay on BBC Radio 3.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0022lgh|title=BBC Radio 3 - 'Round Midnight, A Marcus Joseph Remix|date=10 September 2024|website=BBC}}</ref>
[[File:The Last Dinner Party.jpg|left|thumb|Roberts on stage with Abigail Morris in 2025]]
Roberts also played as a session guitarist for the musical ''Six'',<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/article/2024/jun/28/last-dinner-party-misogyny-maximalism-glastonbury|title=The Last Dinner Party on misogyny, maximalism and making it big: 'Men think they're the arbiters of rock'|first=Elle|last=Hunt|date=28 June 2024|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> before joining The Last Dinner Party in 2022. She plays lead guitar,<ref name=mcvinnie>{{cite web|url=https://guitar.com/features/interviews/the-last-dinner-party-emily-roberts-interview-from-the-pyre/|title=The Last Dinner Party's Emily Roberts on why she decided to embrace her most "outrageous" guitar impulses on new album From The Pyre|first= Sophie|last=McVinnie|website=Guitar.com|date=21 October 2025}}</ref> mandolin,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/the-last-dinner-party-emily-roberts-prelude-to-ecstasy|title="It wasn't a conscious decision to invent our own scale! The idea was to do something inspired by Jeff Buckley... but we added a mandolin": The Last Dinner Party's Emily Roberts is the jazz-schooled Queen-inspired indie guitar hero you've been waiting for|first=Amit|last=Sharma|date=2 July 2024|magazine=Guitar World}}</ref> and flute, and contributes to song writing<ref name=mcvinnie/> and backing vocals. In reviews of the Last Dinner Party's debut album, ''Prelude to Ecstasy'', Robert's guitar playing was described as "soaring, impressively stadium-ready axe heroics".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/feb/01/the-last-dinner-party-prelude-to-ecstasy-review|title=The Last Dinner Party: Prelude to Ecstasy review – the year's most hyped band totally deliver|first=Alexis|last=Petridis|date=February 1, 2024|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> Her live performances have also attracted positive reviews, with music critic Kitty Empire noting how Roberts "peels off rock solos with a Mona Lisa smile ... [and] precision and sangfroid".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/feb/03/the-last-dinner-party-the-fleece-bristol-review-prelude-to-ecstasy-like-watching-firecrackers-going-off-indoors|title=The Last Dinner Party review – like watching firecrackers going off indoors|first=Kitty|last=Empire|date=3 February 2024|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> She normally plays a St. Vincent-signature Goldie from Music Man.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Why The Last Dinner Party's Emily Roberts plays a St. Vincent guitar|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/the-last-dinner-partys-emily-roberts-on-using-music-man-st-vincent-signature-guitars|first=Janelle|last=Borg|date=21 October 2025|magazine=Guitar World}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Emily Roberts: Brian May & Johnny Marr's new fave guitarist|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/emily-roberts-last-dinner-party-the-pyre|first=Cheri|last=Amour|date=4 December 2025|magazine=Guitar World}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=How The Last Dinner Party's Emily Roberts was inspired by EVH|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/the-last-dinner-party-emily-roberts-on-getting-inspired-by-eddie-van-halen|first1=Janelle|last1=Borg|first2=Cheri|last2=Amour|date=21 November 2025|magazine=Guitar World}}</ref>
In 2024, Roberts was one of the guests who performed on Sophie Ellis-Bextor's New Year's Eve Disco, which was broadcast on BBC One.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/articles/sophie-ellis-bextor-new-years-eve-disco|title=Sophie Ellis-Bextor's New Year's Eve Disco - Meet the line-up|date=31 December 2024|work=BBC Media Centre}}</ref>
==Discography (solo career)== ===EP=== {| class="wikitable" !|Release date !|Artist !|Title !|Label |- |8 July 2022 |Emily Jane Roberts |''The Persistence of Memory''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://musicbrainz.org/release/e22d08dc-c8fa-4937-b979-4f2e65f204fa|title=Emily Jane Roberts (jazz musician)|via=MusicBrainz}}</ref> |BridgeTheGap |- |}
===Track listing, ''The Persistence of Memory'' EP=== *"I'll Tell You How the Sun Rose" *"The Persistence of Memory", featuring Alice McCarthy *"Mean Time" *"Welcome to a Prayer" *"Relaxing at the Underbelly"
== References == {{reflist}} {{The Last Dinner Party}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roberts, Emily}} Category:Living people Category:21st-century British guitarists Category:Alumni of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama Category:English women guitarists Category:People educated at Chetham's School of Music Category:Women jazz guitarists Category:English women singer-songwriters Category:The Last Dinner Party members Category:Year of birth missing (living people)