Interviews

Blending country, blues, and rock, Queenie is a soulful and emotive musician kicking off the summer series Live at City Hall: Sunday Sounds, presented by Kingston Art and PBS, this weekend. DJ Myles O’Neil-Shaw will join Queenie for an afternoon of relaxing live music in a family-friendly atmosphere. Tune in to 5ft High and Rising the day before the event as the two catch up.

Coming into The Breakdown to chat with DJ Manchild about his latest projects is Hudson Whitlock, local drummer for jazz-funk bands Surprise Chef, Karate Boogaloo, and Pro Teens (to name a few). Tune in to hear about his latest musical endeavors.

'POP OFF!' is the ultimate Iggy Pop competition, and it’s back with a very special show. Celebrating its 11th year of crowning Iggys, one band and six Iggys will battle it out with their chosen Iggy songs, with the winner selected by the judges. Rusty Teluk pops into Sunglasses After Dark to delve deep into the Iggy Pop tribute show. Tune in as he chats with Rodney about the event happening at George Lane in St Kilda on Saturday, January 18th.

Two-piece outfit Boogie Rockafella is a rock and roll fusion of big-riffin’, hard-hitting, and foot-stomping boogie. They will kick-start 2025 by releasing their new EP 'Makin' Money' and playing the launch show at the Town Hall Hotel in North Melbourne on January 18th. Tune in to Radio City as one half of the band, Liam Hopkins, chats with Crispi about their new music.

On January 17th, High Note will host the launch of the new and independent record label, Awake Nu Records. The night will feature performances by Dean Kalaitzidis, Pani ਪਾਣੀ Rose, Ffion Stoakes, and the debut of a new group formed by Ohmi and Marley Del Prete. On the eve of the launch, Marley Del Prete joins Shio on Eternal Rhythm for a jazzy conversation about the new label, which promotes free and spiritual jazz.

Busking on the streets of Boston was a means of survival for The Space Lady in the 70s, but when she put on her iconic winged helmet and captivated audiences with her otherworldly interpretations of contemporary hits, she pioneered a cosmic, synth-driven style, inspiring generations of listeners and artists, including Synthesize Me hosts, Bridget and Henry. Tune in to hear the duo meet with their heroine, The Space Lady, for the first time.

Glistening with charisma, sonic experimentation, and a puckish spirit, Los Bitchos’ new album 'Talkie Talkie' is a Technicolor explosion on the dancefloor. The London-based, all-female quartet's contagious energy has had no problem transmitting to the world, establishing themselves as one of London’s brightest bands to watch. Lead guitarist Serra Petale joins Annika on The Breakfast Spread, tune in as they catch up ahead of Los Bitchos' show at The Curtain on January 22nd.

When raw talent and diverse rock influences collided in 2016, High Vis was born. Fresh off the back of an Australian tour with Sydney hardcore band SPEED, the London-based five-piece has just dropped their newest album, 'Guided Tour'. Ryan catches up with vocalist Graham Sayle to discuss the release. Tune in to Tyrannocoreus for a glimpse of what High Vis has in store for 2025.

'Five Arrows' is the name of the highly anticipated new album from UK hardcore/metal band Polar. Since forming in 2009, the band has gone through multiple lineup changes, yet this hasn’t stopped them from touring consistently around the world. Vocalist Adam 'Woody' Woodford joins Ryan on Tyrannocoreus—tune in to hear when the band will next be playing in Australia.

American rock 'n' roll bands Supersuckers and Nashville Pussy are on tour in Australia for a helluva hoedown. Raised on a diet of Marshall stacks, Gibson guitars, Jack Daniels, and weed, Nashville Pussy will kick off the party at The Croxton Bandroom on January 24th, followed by The Supersuckers—the 1988 band whose music spans alternative rock, country rock, and cowpunk. Tune in to Pojama People as Chris catches up with the band ahead of their Melbourne show.

In 2022, Claire Stuchbery caught up with vintage-infused, garage-psych band Shannon and the Clams. Since then, the band has released their seventh album, 'The Moon Is In the Wrong Place', a record that channels the unimaginable loss of singer-bassist Shannon Shaw’s fiancé in a car accident just weeks before their wedding. Produced by Dan Auerbach, it's a holistic exploration of grief and celebration, which they'll perform at The Croxton Bandroom on January 19. Tune in for this intimate catch up.

Embarking on their first-ever Australian tour, US indie supergroup The Hard Quartet consists of Jim White (Dirty Three), Stephen Malkmus (Pavement), Matt Sweeney (Chavez), and Emmett Kelly (The Cairo Gang). Together, they produce rock ’n’ roll that feels both familiar and new, warm yet icy, melodic but Sphinx-like in its seductive and subtle riddles. Jim White joins Jordan on Underground Love - tune in as he chats about the band's upcoming show at the Northcote Theatre on January 25th.

From their early days playing in a pub together in the 90s, 4-piece band The Chilli Pickers are coming into Southern Style for a full-on performance of folk, Appalachian, and bluegrass. Featuring Jane McCracken on vocals and guitar, Kate Connor on fiddle and harmonies, Gus Macmillan on banjo, and Keith Urquhart on double bass, tune in to join the shindig.

Making their name by seamlessly crossing between hip hop, jazz, and other contemporary genres, Canadian group BADBADNOTGOOD continues to push musical boundaries in their latest release, 'Mid Spiral'. The alt-jazz ensemble received their fifth GRAMMY nomination this year and has been on the road since the release. Mike Gurrieri catches up with the band during their time in Melbourne; tune in to hear this PBS exclusive interview.

Dabbling in modern jazz, psychedelic pop/soul, and progressive rock, genre-fluid five-piece FAIRTRADE NARCOTICS is taking over every Friday night this January at The Fitzroy Pinnacle. Featuring ethereal vocals, a dynamic horn section, dual guitars, and energetic rhythms, frontwoman Brooke Kymberley and producer and guitarist George Inglis drop in to Black Wax to chat with Adam about the band's newest single 'PIVOT.'

Having recently played at Strawberry Fields and with an upcoming show at Rainbow Disco Club on February 8th, local DJ Ed Kent brings his prowess this Saturday for a guest mix with Sam U on Electric Sunsets. Tune in for this two-hour takeover.

Local party purveyors Modern Hypnosis and Upstairs // Downstairs are proud to present a stacked line-up at Sub Club this Friday night featuring three critically-acclaimed artists. Azu Tiwaline, Al Wootton, and DJ Plead will join forces for a night of deep dance music rooted in dub foundation, percussive rhythms, sound system music, and techno. Ahead of this unmissable show, the trio drops in to PBS for a chat with Edd Fisher and to play an exclusive collaborative guest mix on Tomorrowland.

A key figure in Australia’s alternative rock’n’roll scene of the 70s and 80s, John Dowler’s Vanity Project is the culmination of Dowler’s previous works. Formed in 2014, JDVP have steadily built a profile in Melbourne’s inner-city scene over the past decade, and their third album, 'Existential Friend', has just dropped. John Dowler stops by Radio City to catch up with Crispi—tune in as they discuss the album and its release show happening on January 25th.

Drenched in wah-wah guitar riffs, hard-driving beats, and more hair than any band has a right to possess, Wollongong 90s band Tumbleweed has released a new punk/garage single called 'When We Were Young.' The five-piece has been touring across Australia since its release in November, with their next show taking place at Brunswick Ballroom on January 11th. Ahead of the launch show on Saturday, Richie from the band stops by Pojama People to chat with Chris about the new single.

Fostering the electronic sounds that would go on to dominate dance floors worldwide, in a club known as The Music Institute in Detroit during the '80s, MzRizk sits down for a chat with legends DJ Alton Miller and Chez Damier. Tune in for this 40-minute exclusive, where they explore music and philosophies that have shaped their journey and the culture they’ve helped create.