Interviews

The iconic Gertrude Street Projection Festival (GSPF) returns for its 15th year in 2023, weaving together community, art, public spaces, night and sublime light installations for everyone to enjoy for free. From July 27 – August 6, audiences will be invited to experience a confluence of projections by 11 of the Festival’s artists-in-residence, alongside community and collaborative projects, events, parties, talks and screenings. Annika chats with artistic director Priya Namana about the line-up.

US band Automatic are in town to play an intimate show at the Night Cat, and a stadium show with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. On Wednesday morning they drop in to PBS to chat to Annika on the Breakfast Spread about their current tour and what we can expect from these two very different live shows.

Vocalist for Melbourne emo/grunge band Bad Juju, Russ Holland joins Ryan on Tyrannocoreus to talk about the band's debut album 'Blue Heaven' releasing July 21 and their plans for the rest of the year.

Guitarist from Norwegian death metal stalwarts Cadaver, Anders Odden joins Kene to talk about their new album 'The Age of the Offended,' playing in cadaver since the late 80's, playing live with Satyricon, trying to play shows with busy band members and focusing on Cadaver.

Melbourne doom death band, Carcinoid join Kene to talk about their lead singer Josh playing his last show at Dethfest and hopefully writing some new material and future plans.

California goregrind death metal legends, Exhumed drop by the station to talk about their three Melbourne shows and cause some mayhem.

‘The Same Cave’ is Pascal Babare’s 5th LP, and his first solo departure from folk songs into electronic music. Imagined and realised throughout 2021 in his Melbourne home studio, the project began spontaneously – late nights on his computer experimenting with mangling found sounds and old recordings – but quickly became more conceptually grounded. Tune in to Underground Love to hear more from Pascal about this work.

Embracing a funkier and more soulful approach to his songwriting and sound whilst continuing to explore and expand upon his style, Naarm-based singer-songwriter and guitarist Dom Brinkley is readying himself to release his new single ‘Bad Wine.' Tune in from 5am on Transfigurations to hear Dom catch up with Lucas about the single and its launch show at Bar Open July 21.

'Punch the Shark' explores the ferocious power of resurrection and pulls Sweetie towards the grisly end of their flagship devo-country-punk style, and draws on influences from early riot grrls and lo-fi grunge rock icons. Sweetie calls in to Homebrew to talk about 'Punch the Shark.'

High Pass Filter were one of the most prolific, progressive and important bands in Melbourne's thriving alternative scene through the 1990s and early 2000s. This month La Sape Records are releasing a retrospective look at some long-lost High Pass Filter recordings, and there's talk of some shows in the near future. Guitarist Kelly Ryall drops in to Deeep Space to tell Lloyd all about the release and some fond memories of HPF from the 90s and early 2000s.

'Jenfest' is a tribute to singer and film producer Jennifer Ross. Jenfest will give a chance for everyone who knew Jenny, or was touched by her presence or her work, to celebrate her life. Phil chats with Jennifer's brother David Ross about the tribute at the Bendigo Hotel July 23.

Dark Dream folk ensemble Dandelion Wine have released their fifth album 'Hereafter.' Combining medieval Anglo/Celtic and Greek/Byzantine traditions with contemporary synthesis, 'Hearafter' sees the group in quartet mode and features co-founders Naomi Henderson and Nicholas Albanis, along with cellist Francesca Mountfort and Phil Coyle on frame drums, tombak and aludu. Tune in to Bleeding Black Hearts Revue to hear the band play a couple of tunes.

With the vibrant sound of a saxophone wailing over the full-bodied throb of a Hammond B-3 organ being pushed along by a driving beat from the drums, it is no wonder why Paul Williamson’s Hammond Combo has been one of the most popular bands over the past thirty plus years on the Melbourne scene. Saxophonist Paul Williamson catches up with Tom to chat about the combo's Leaps & Bounds show.

Melbourne International Film Festival returns for its 71st edition with two stellar Australian films as the festival’s Opening Night (Shayda) and Music on Film Gala (Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story) features. The two Galas will lead an expansive 2023 program with the festival returning to cinemas from 3-20 August, regional locations between 11- 13 and 18-20 August and online with MIFF Play from 18-27 August. Annika chats with MIFF programmer Kate Jinx about the 2023 program.

Vocalist Matt Flood and guitarist Craig Robinson of UK post-hardcore band Caskets speak with Ryan about their upcoming new album 'Reflections,' coming to tour Australian in July and plans for the rest of the year.

Palace Of The Blues is the stripped back version of hard rockers Palace Of The King. Tune in to Pojama People from 8pm Tuesday to hear the band play a set in Studio 3 and talk about their July residency at Ringo Barr.

Stalwarts of the Melbourne pub-rock scene from the noughties, The Double Agents are putting the band back together for a special show on July 14th at Northcote Social Club to celebrate a compilation of some of their best work, now out on vinyl. Titled "Best Bits… So Far," the compilation is a response to vocalist and songwriter Dave Butterworth's battle with cancer, which has consequently inspired the band to write new songs. Tune in to Firewater to hear from Dave and fellow member Kim Walvisch.

Tune in to Underground Love this arvo from 4:30pm to hear Jordan chat with bubblegum psych explorers Parsnip! They'll be letting us know all about their upcoming performance at PBS' Rock A Bye Baby this Thursday, plus the rest of the goss from Parsnip HQ!

Titan Debirioun came to Australia as a four-year-old with no parents. Today, the South Sudanese recording artist from Melbourne's outer western region is a social justice advocate dedicated to continuing the exploration of art as a means of protest. As part of Multicultural Arts Victoria's NEWPRINT2 program, Tinan presents Crescendo II, a carefully curated event series that aims to elevate local artists. Ahead of the show at Howler on July 14th, Titan drops in for a chat with MzRizk.

Known as the Grammy nominated keyboardist/co-producer and cowriter of Hiatus Kaiyote, Simon Mavin has released his debut solo EP 'Only You & Me.' Simon chats to Mike about the Ep.