
Celine Høie joins the other four bookers invited for our panel presentation at MGM Festival Meet Up. At the presentation you’ll meet five international festivals and get insights on festival details, secrets, strategy as bookers and what they are looking for when booking artists.
Meet Celine Høie, By:Larm Black / Indie Recordings, Oslo, Norway.
Can you tell us a bit about your festival? And your focus and musical profile?
By:Larm Black is a sub-program within the larger showcase festival by:Larm, focusing specifically on rock and metal. This year, we were excited to highlight everything from atmospheric post-metal to hard-hitting punk and progressive metalcore. The goal is to showcase both the underground and more commercially successful acts, with a strong emphasis on diversity in terms of genre, demographics, and even geography. We work hard to feature a wide range of artists, from more established and export ready names to emerging talents, both who we believe will be making waves both nationally and internationally. We also offer “Metaltalks” sessions with industry professionals, where fans, industry and artists can come together to discuss different topics.
By:Larm Black originally emerged back in 2016 when Joakim Haugland, the then-booking manager, suggested that guitar-driven rock was fading from the Norwegian music scene. Erlend Gjerde from Indie Recordings challenged this, asserting that rock and metal was still very much alive. Joakim accepted the challenge and gave Erlend the opportunity to create a dedicated space for hard rock and metal within by:Larm. With Joakim’s support, by:Larm Black was born, quickly attracting key players from the European metal industry with its full program of live shows and conferences. After a brief pause in 2023, the program made its much-anticipated return in 2024 with a broader focus and a more diverse lineup.
What is your background and how long have you been working with this festival?
I am a full-time project manager and A&R at Indie Recordings, where I work with a range of bands from rock to extreme metal. My role involves managing artist strategies, overseeing creative processes, organizing social media campaigns, and networking. I also manage a large part of our publishing activities, from synchronization work to organizing sessions and camps. Some of the bands I work with include Djerv, Nordjevel, Gaahls WYRD, Fixation, Erlend Ropstad and many more.
I first became involved with by:Larm in 2020 as part of the Indie-team working on the Black program, and I continued to be involved until the concept was temporarily removed in 2023. In 2024, I took on the role of project manager and booking manager for by:Larm Black, bringing the concept back with an even broader and more diverse lineup. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in project management, which has been instrumental in managing the diverse aspects of my work in both festival and label settings.
Best show you’ve ever seen, hands down? And why was that?
It’s almost impossible to pinpoint just one “best” show because every experience is shaped by so many different factors. Some performances resonate through nostalgia and the joy of hearing songs you’ve loved for years, knowing every word by heart. Sometimes it’s the perfect alignment of atmosphere, the weather, the friends you’re with, and the venue’s lights and sound all coming together, along with the band hitting exactly the right spot, that makes the night unforgettable. And then there are the surprises — the support bands you didn’t know well but that completely blow you away. Every great show stands out for different reasons, which makes it hard to pick just one.
That being said, some performances have left a lasting impact on me. Kvelertak, for example – every time I’ve seen them (and that’s a lot!) – delivers perfection. Bring Me The Horizon at Download festival was a mind-blowing experience, that was also one of those days where everything was perfect. Björk’s set at Roskilde in 2012 was also unforgettable. LLNN at Youngs in Oslo was phenomenal, and they absolutely crushed it again at Høstsabbat. Deftones at Download was another standout, and two bands I work with – Oslo Ess and Seigmen – had massive, shows at Tons of Rock this year that brought me to tears.
Lastly, I have to give a shout-out to the best act I saw at by:Larm Black this year: Polish band HÉR. They completely blew me away and may very well be the best showcase act I’ve ever seen.
Meet Celine at MGM Festival Meet Up 2024 at Institut For X.
Saturday the 16th. november at 1-3pm.
Sign up and details at: https://mono.dk/deltag-i-mgm-festival-meet-up-og-mod-fem-festivaler/
MGM Festival Meet Up is created in cooperation with and supported by MXD – Music Export Denmark and Tuborgfondet.