Interviews

Everyone's favourite 7-piece heavy groove band The Seven Ups will bring the house down when they deliver their signature combo of spiritual funk and psychedelic fuzz rock to a live PBS audience for Drive Live during the last week of February. Ahead of this performance on The Afterglow on Feb 22, the septet will play at Riverboats Music Festival that's being held at Echuca’s Victoria Park Reserve from February 17-19. Tune in to Pojama People to hear frontman Trent Sterling talk about both shows.

Relentless Fest is a four-day inclusive Hardcore(ish) fest taking place in Narrm from February 23 across multiple venues. Co-organiser Christina visits the studio to fill us in.

Palestinian Naarm-based singer-songwriter and producer, Yara Alkurd joins Mz Rizk for a special Valentine's Day live in studio performance to celebrate the release of their new single 'Back of the Uber,' taken from their upcoming debut EP.

New York disco legend John Morales has been involved in the creation of hit records for decades. Ahead of his show at The Toff In Town on Saturday night, he joins Mike Gurrieri on Mystic Brew for a special Tuesday morning mix of magical tunes.

Burn Gently, a new independent documentary about Australian hip hop, looks at the evolution of the genre in the context of the complex societal issues in this country. Ahead of its premiere at Cinema Nova on March 23, director Sensible Antixx and co-producer N'fa Jones drop in for a chat with Ronan about the making of the documentary and the many local hip hop artists who are featured in it. Tune in to Hippopotamus Rex on Monday from 8pm.

Indonesian cinematic soul group Ali have played a few shows around town last week and are bringing their special brand of groove to PBS this afternoon when they perform an intimate live set on Headhunters. Tune in from 5pm.

Gadigal-based Salarymen celebrate the release of their 2nd EP, Head In The Sand, with a string of shows, landing at Lulie Tavern in Abbotsford Friday February 24. Kurt caught up with bass player and vocalist Renee de la Motte to chat about how their journey.

Naarm songwriter Hannah Blackburn is excited to share her debut album, I Want To Love You, and to announce a launch at Thornbury Bowls Club, alongside a string of in-store performances and headline dates in Tasmania and Point Lonsdale. She drops in on Milo for an intimate chat and acoustic set on The Breakfast Spread. Tune in early on Monday morning.

One of the world’s leading bluesmen of modern times, Eric Bibb will grace Australian shores this February and March to give an exclusive opportunity to audiences to hear material from his yet to be released album 'Ridin'.' Eric came in to PBS ahead of embarking on an East coast tour of Australia with his band and appearance at Melbourne Guitar Show 4 - 5 March.

Don Glori's deep fascination in jazz, house and Brazilian music shines through on their 2022 album 'Welcome,' parts of which the band will play as part of their Drive Live performance on February 20. Then in late March, Don Glori gears up for Good Times festival, which takes place at the same epic riverfront venue that traditionally hosts Strawberry Fields. Bassist and band leader Gordon Li drops in on Stone Love to chat about both performances. Tune in on Friday from 5pm.

Veteran Chicago funk/soul aficionado and all round legend Sadar Bahar is playing a very special mix on The Breakdown today. Need we say more?!

After 33 years of presenting Shock Treatment on PBS Kev Lobotomi decided to wrap it up in December 2022. To celebrate his decades of announcing join PBS FM at The Gaso on February 10 for Lobotomizer: The Last Laugh - a farewell and thank you show for Kev Lobotomi. Featuring sets from X, Grindhouse, Strawberry Fist Cake, Penny Ikinger, and The FckUps. Kev joins Phil for a special edition of Sunglasses After Dark ahead of the gig.

Australia’s own master of Oz indie-country, Henry Wagons unleashes his killer third solo album 'South of Everywhere.' This new offering has a much more hometown flavour as Henry plays the vast majority of the instruments on the album himself but also has enlisted a few of his favourite local gunslingers to round things out, such as Chris Cheney (The Living End), Hannah Crofts (All Our Exes Live in Texas) and Lachlan Bryan. Henry passes through the Swinging Doors for chat.

Inspired by the Dirty Three's concept to go freely where the song goes, Georgia Knight's latest EP 'Hell on Bent St' captures a feeling of urgency and escape along side some of Melbourne's dark grittiness. Georgia stops by Radio City to talk about the EP and its launch at Shotkickers on February 11.

Legendary New Zealand indie rockers and innovators of the Dunedin sound, The Chills return to Australia for the first time in six years with a setlist that spans their forty plus year career, featuring timeless gems like ‘Heavenly Pop Hit,’ ‘Pink Frost,’ ‘Doledrums’ and ‘I Love My Leather Jacket.’ Guitarist and vocalist Martin Phillipps calls in to Radio City to talk about their show at the Melbourne Recital Centre on February 18.

Melbourne musician Sinj Clarke has a new album in the works, from which he may sneak in a track when he visits Milo for a round of Musical Chairs on The Breakfast Spread this Thursday morning. Tune in early. It'll be worth your time.

Echoing the traditions and sounds of Motown and soul greats, Melbourne neo soul singer WILSN AKA Shannon Busch has just released her debut album 'Those Days are Over.' Shannon calls by The Afterglow to talk about it.

Blues guitarist Matt Dwyer joins Tom on Jumpin' the Blues talk about his upcoming gigs at the Dogs Bar as well as play a couple of tunes.

From humble beginnings at Melbourne venue The Catfish, rhythm section Blues Roulette have carved out a unique approach to performing by backing an ever rotating cast of some of Australia's finest blues musicians. Bassist Ben Wicks calls by the studio to tell listeners and what's in store for their performance at Port Fairy Folk Festival 2023.

To celebrate the life of the late Noel Goodwin who was a founding member of MBAS and life member to Root of Rhythm. Fellow MBAS member Ross "Rooster" Mortimer has organised a tribute gig at Central Club Hotel, Richmond on February 12, that will feature some of Melbourne finest blues musicians. Ross calls by PBS for a chat.