Interviews

This year, RISING Festival's expansive program of 185 events will feature more than 400 artists, including 35 commissions and 12 world premieres, and is set to ignite the heart of Melbourne from 7—18 June. Co-artistic directors Hannah Fox chats to Annika Priest about the program.

Jeddah-born, Dublin-based producer and DJ Moving Still catches up with PBS' DJ Matab for a chat about his recent EP 'Kalam Hub.'

American crossover thrash band Enforced have a new album coming out in April titled 'War Remains.' In a PBS exclusive ahead of the album's release, Kene chats with lead singer Knox about the scene in the band's hometown of Richmond, Virginia and how Enforced are a rising star in the metal world.

When wrestler Snuff Daddy Gore isn't hitting people with chairs or throwing people around or watching horror, he is listening to extreme metal and he's coming to guest program on Burning Bitumen. Expect to hear some nasty death, black and thrash metal to get you ready to pick up a chair and smash someone yourself. (Burning Bitumen does not condone smashing people with chairs or any other inanimate objects.)

For the past couple of years Ben Salter has been a musician in residence at Museum of Old & New Art in Nipaluna, where he's written and recorded over 200 songs, on top of the 250 odd he's already written. To celebration the release of his latest single 'STATS' Ben has announced a national tour across all Eastern states. Ahead of his Melbourne show at the Gem Bar on March 14 Ben rings in to Firewater for a chat.

Off the back of their 2022 EP 'Same Boat,' NSW blues duo Hussy Hicks are currently touring around the country. Leesa Gentz and Julz Parker stopped by the station whilst in Melbourne to play some tunes and chat.

Punk four-piece Money Boys are about to embark on their first national headline tour throughout March and April to celebrate the release of their single 'Gun.' The band dropped in to PBS for a chat ahead of their Melbourne show at the Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar March 24.

Ethan Enoch is a Quandamooka MC from Meanjin. Ethan has just released his new EP called Voices on Milesago records from Brisbane and this week drops in to PBS to chat with Ronan about the record on Hippopotamus Rex.

Renowned Greek musician and academic Dimitris Mystakidis performs remakes of popular rebetika songs on guitar. Tune in to hear an interview with him by Dan Rosenberg from Toronto's Café International, in which Mystakidis illustrates his style of guitar playing, influenced by the move of rebetika to the USA.

Bouzouki player Kostas Kalamaras and guitarist Stavroula Thomopoulou of Erinaki call by the Global Village to play a couple of tunes and talk about the launch of their debut album 'Einai Arga' on March 19 at the Northcote Social Club.

Live electronic artist Christopher Coe pulls apart rhythmic structures and builds them up again unexpectedly, creating a soundtrack of chaos and decay underpinned by the deep relentless throb of the ever present kick drum. Ahead of his intimate show at Moser Room Chasers on March 18th, Chris drops in for a chat with DJ Ides on Electric Sunset.

LA-based Canadian R&B artist Rochelle Jordan defies categorization in her bid to create slinky, dance-floor bangers that channel her U.K. roots. She drops in to PBS for a chat with Milo ahead of her show at Golden Plains, so do tune in early on Friday morning.

Wollogong's post-hardcore duo Chimers call in to Sunglasses After Dark to talk about their recent 7" single 'Generator' and shows across Victoria.

British iconic punk and new wave rockers, The Stranglers, will be touring Australia, playing shows across five cities in April. Guitarist and vocalist Baz Warne chats with Michael Mulholland for a 1-hour Junkyard special.

Cosmic-country-rocker and songwriter Ben Mastwyk calls in to Swinging Doors to play a couple of tunes and, talk about his new single 'Actually' and upcoming shows.

Reigning 'queen of the minor key' Eilen Jewell and her band present a night celebrating the ‘queen of country’ Loretta Lynn. Highly influenced by Lynn's music Eilen released her 2010 album Butcher Holler- A Tribute To Loretta Lynn. For one night only on March 12 at the Brunswick Ballroom, Eilen and her band will pay homage to Lynn’s humble roots and straightforward, hard-hitting performance style. Eilen and guitarist Jerry Miller stop by Swinging Doors for a chat and to play a couple of tunes.

Dave Mason (The Reels) and Brendan Gallagher (Karma Country) have teamed up for an acoustic show that will feature all the great songs from The Reels as well as some ‘oddball covers.’ Dave calls in to Radio City for a chat ahead of the gig at the Brunswick Ballroom March 23.

Known for his collaborations with Gil Scott-Heron in the 1970s, American keyboardist, flautist, singer, composer, and producer Brian Jackson has also worked with such artists as Earth, Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder, and Roy Ayers. In 2022, this versatile artist released his first solo album in over 20 years. He brings his brand of soul and jazz to the Night Cat on March 9th, and at Golden Plains over the weekend. Ahead of these shows, Jackson plays Musical Chairs with Milo on The Breakfast Spread.

Peaches is back, sharing her subversive and gaudy live performance with Australian audiences. Ahead of her March 8th Northcote Theatre show, the legendary feminist icon sits with PBS's Sarah Blaby for an instructive conversation about how best to fight against sexism and gendered double standards in the music industry. You will hear this chat on Lyndelle Wilkinson's Drive show The Afterglow so do tune in from 5pm!

To celebrating International Women's Day, Helen talks with some of Melbourne most finest women in blues.