Interviews

The first lineup for Port Fairy Folk Festival has just been announced, with many global and local artists to get excited about. Programming director of the festival, Justin Rudge, comes into 5ft High and Rising to share with Myles who some of these talented artists are, and what we can expect at next year’s Port Fairy Folk Festival, presented by PBS.

To some, he is known as the unofficial mayor of St Kilda; to others, he is a punk musician from the heydays or an artist painting murals around Melbourne. This is Fred Negro 3183. His latest self-titled album was released earlier this month, and the launch show will take place at St. Kilda’s Bowling Club on July 20. Fred and his album co-writer, Rob Wellington, rock into Sunglasses after Dark to chat with Phil about their latest release.

Singing songs of humbleness and humor in a career that spanned over 60 years, John Prine was one of the most beloved country/folk singers of his generation. As part of Leaps and Bounds, Freya Josephine Hollick, Van Walker, Alex Gow, Lucy Thorne, Graham Lee, Mandy Connell, Cameron Hicks, and Jules Sheldon will play a loving tribute to Prine's songs at The Catfish on July 26. Van, Mandy, and Jules step in to Swinging Doors to chat about this one-night-only show, and to play a few live songs.

To celebrate and launch Leaps and Bounds 2024, PBS will be hosting a live broadcast at Corner Hotel on Thursday, July 25, from 1 pm. PBS hosts Crispi Winsor and Myles O’Neil-Shaw will be putting on four hours of special guests, rare records, and a few laughs as Radio City and Swinging Doors combine for this special broadcast. Tune into Radio City as Myles and Crispi chat about what to expect on the big day.

Melbourne band Tetsuians are an indie-rock band with a new single out called ‘Wasted on You’. Having just completed a tour around Japan, the band stop by Radio City to chat with Crispi about their upcoming show at the next Fuzzy Sunday event, happening in Coburg’s RSL on July 28th.

Coming out of Sydney, Speed are a hard-core band that formed in 2019. Showcasing a tough exterior, the band amplifies their sense of identity and community in everything they do. Ryan chats with band members Josh Clayton and Jem Siow about the band’s rise to fame, their debut album ‘Only One Mode’ and their tour plans.

Damon Renes is the vocalist and guitarist for Wollongong-based, five-piece metal-core band, Alienist. Wielding elasticated riffs, soaring melodies, and ambient gloss offset against beast-mode breakdowns, Alienist has released a new EP titled ‘Love/Hate’. Tune into Tyrannocoreus as Ryan chats with Damon about their headline Australian tour and signing to UNFD.

Harakiri For The Sky are a post black metal band from Austria. Since forming in 2011, the band have released five studio albums, mixing together melancholy and aggression, madness and meaning, and are about to embark on an international tour. Tune in to Burning Bitumen as Kene chats with the band about their upcoming show in Melbourne’s Corner Hotel on November 16.

Gold Coast musician, Lucas Stone, is currently holding down dual roles as a vocalist, guitarist and songwriter for Gold Coast rockers Hammers and drum duties for blues funk trio Hot Cobra. His work as a solo artist brings a venomous and dexterous twist to his creative repertoire, lined with sharp post metal and blackened alternative rock. Tune into Burning Bitumen as Kene chats with Lucas Stone about combining 35 years of writing music, into his new solo EP ‘Death bed’.

Moonseeds is made up of Lex from the blazing, psychedelic rock trio Seedy Jeezus, along with Lulu and Dave (aka Sula Bassana) from Electric Moon. They created a special, one-time release, and Lex comes in to Pojama People to chat with Chris about this exclusive album.

Fuzz pedals, heavy metal, and flamin’ grooves are a few ways to describe local punk rockers SPACEJUNK. This month, the band goes on tour with their pals Astrodeath, playing at the Old Bar this Saturday. Mark from SPACEJUNK pops into Pojama People to share with Chris some intel on the band.

Snowy Band is gearing up to release their third album, 'Age of Difference,' on July 19th through Blossom Rot Records. Each song ambles through big themes like religiosity, existentialism, fear of regret, time, and love — yet all find a triviality in the intensity. Tune in to Underground Love to hear Snowy and Nat from the band chat with Jordan and play a song live in the studio.

Versatile beat maker and bandleader, Alexander Flood, has developed a strong, progressive style on his kit through his 17 years of performing and studying. His music explores a fresh rhythmic and dynamic realm, blending nu-jazz, deep-house, and funk influences. Tune into Mystic Brew as Alexander comes in for a groovy Studio 5 live performance, and a chat with Mike.

Melbourne based singer-songwriter Gray Moyle has just released his debut single ‘The Weekend’. A call to get out of town and use your weekends to get lost in nature, this track is an upbeat guitar-driven song with catchy riffs and laidback grooves. Gray Moyle and his band come into Transfigurations to chat with Lucas about the latest single, and to play a couple of live tunes.

Within the sandstone walls and under the carved-oak vaulted ceiling of St Paul’s Chapter House, Liquid Architecture presents Carolyn Connors, April Guest, and Evelyn Ida Morris in three distinct performances, exploring the expanse and possibilities of the human voice in artistic practice. Vocalist, composer, pianist, and accordionist Carolyn Connors drops by PBS to chat with Ian on The Sound Barrier about this unique upcoming performance, happening on the 26th of July.

A versatile composer, producer, and keyboardist with stoner jazz outfit Special Feelings, Noongar artist Poli-Pearl delivers a special mix to celebrate this year's NAIDOC Week. Tune in to Tomorrowland on Friday from 1pm to hear the entire thing.

‘Gravity Waves’ is the latest EP release from local bassist, producer and composer, L Lewis. Seamlessly blending soundscapes, spiritual jazz, and improvisation, his newest creation encapsulates it all. To celebrate the 100th episode of Audio Vitamins, L Lewis drops in for an immersive Studio 3 performance, and a relaxed chat with Jonny about his newest release.

Nick Batterham is a Melbourne composer, producer, and a central figure in bands Blindside, The Earthmen, and Cordrazine. His seventh solo album, 'The Sentimentalist', explores love and hope through influences ranging from folk and noisy guitars, to orchestral pop. Nick comes in to Radio City to chat with Crispi about his latest album, and his Thursday night residency happening in July at Odeon Richmond.

Somewhere between punk and country, folk and psych, Bad Bangs find themselves Out Of Character. The Melbourne based outfit’s sophomore album bends across genres to form a unique soundscape of their own. The band jumps into Radio City to chat about their latest album, and their upcoming show at The Tote on July 26.

John Bush is the vocalist for heavy-metal band Armored Saint and former lead singer of Anthrax. Renowned for his commanding presence and powerful delivery, John's impressive career spans decades. Tune in to TNT as Tomarch and Takla chat with John about his new supergroup, Category 7, featuring members from Overkill, Exodus, Shadows Fall, and Machine Head, and discussing the band's debut self-titled album, out on July 26th.