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.

Nestled between a volcanic crater lake and the Hopkins River just outside Warrnambool, GOOM is a not-for-profit music festival that brings together people who share a deep passion for music. Festival organiser Eithne comes into Homebrew - tune in to hear about the festival lineup and what it's like to put together a festival in this climate.

Having opened for BADBADNOTGOOD at a sold-out show and played the main stage at the renowned Montreal Jazz Festival, Canadian-Filipina artist Mary Ancheta offers a fresh take on jazz and electro-funk. Inspired by The Meters, John Scofield, and Prince, Ancheta crafts arresting melodies and irresistible grooves, embracing raw, fuelled moments and favouring grittiness over perfection. Tune in to Mystic Brew as Mike catches up with Mary ahead of her show at The Jazzlab on January 23.

Look Around You is thrilled to announce that on January 25th, QQQ ST. Park will feature local hero Claddy, with support from 非 Fēi. Having given so much to the local scene over the years, Claddy will warm up the 2025 airwaves with her vibrant, powerhouse energy. But first, she joins MzRizk in Boogie Beat Suite to catch up about the show.

'The Bad Fire' is a working-class Glaswegian term for Hell—or at least, that’s how the Scottish rock band Mogwai describe the title of their 11th studio album. Reflecting the difficult times the band members were going through, the music carries an updraft, a sense of beauty encased in the onslaught. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of Mogwai, Chris catches up with the band’s guitarist and vocalist, Stuart Braithwaite.

After two decades of waiting for this ride of wild headbanging and metal madness, the legendary Swedish band Enforcer will be playing at The Leadbeater Hotel on January 25th. Ahead of their Australian debut, Kene catches up with the band's founder—tune in as they chat about the band's tour, musical progressions and more.

Dominating the progressive death metal genre since 1990, Sweden-based band Opeth is coming back to Australia to perform songs from their 14th studio album, 'The Last Will and Testament'. Kene and Leah catch up with the band's Uruguayan bassist Martín, tune in to Burning Bitumen as they chat about his musical influences and life growing up in his home country.

Canadian deathcore band AngelMaker is about to embark on an Australian tour, supporting British heavy metal band Sylosis. Ahead of the tour, Ryan catches up with AngelMaker’s dual vocalists, Casey Tyson-Pearce and Ian Bearer. Tune in to Tyrannocoreus as Ian shares what it’s like to be the newest member of a 7-piece band that formed in 2011.

Florida band Hot Water Music are well-established figures in the punk rock and post-hardcore scenes. Since their formation in 1994, they've released nearly 10 studio albums, with their most recent record, 'Vows'. Bassist Jason Black chats with Ryan about the band's 30th anniversary this year. Tune in to Tyrannocoreus to hear when the band will next be playing in Australia.

At the age of 17, Luther Russell formed his first band with Bob Dylan's son, Jakob Dylan. He then went on to form The Freewheelers, followed by the start of his solo career in 1997, and later formed other musical projects such as Those Pretty Wrongs with Jody Stephens. Luther joins Crispi on Radio City; tune in as they chat about his 7th studio album, 'Happiness For Beginners', coming out on January 17th.

Producer, musician, and label head Aroop Roy has quickly become one of the most highly regarded DJs in the scene, with the likes of Mr. Scruff, Nightmares on Wax, Mele, Jamz Supernova, and many others hailing him as one of their favorite selectors. Catch him joining the dots between electronic music and borderless organic sounds at 24 Moons in Northcote on January 24th, but first, tune in to The Breakfast Spread as he shares his eclectic sounds with Milo on the Wheels of Steel.

An electrifying night of rhythm, grooves, and good vibes is about to unfold at The Evelyn Hotel as Melbourne's premier reggae band, Crown Heights, takes over the building on January 25th. Supported by Royalty Noise and Blak Roots, expect infectious beats, soulful reggae grooves, and funky rhythms all night long. Bringing their good vibes to PBS, tune in as Max and the crew chat with Jesse I about the show.

Crafted in Melbourne's outer suburbs, 'Pepperpot Magic' is the debut album from dreamy-folk singer-songwriter Bec Sykes. Inspired during a time of intense personal development, the album reflects her religious upbringing and leaving an unhealthy relationship. Tune in to The Breakfast Spread as Bec shares her raw talent and soulful wisdom with Claire in a special Monday morning performance.

Melbourne via Berlin 3-piece Kino Motel pushes the dynamic beach goth range to extremes in both directions. Inspired by the spaces they travel through, their debut album 'Visions' conveys feelings and ideas of shifting landscapes and open-ended roads. Hot off their debut album release and extensive European tour, Ed and Rosa stop by Homebrew to chat with Brooke about their upcoming Australian tour and Melbourne show at The Curtain on the 14th of February.

High-energy, good old-fashioned bluegrass band Oh Gibson will be bringing the good times to Southern Style this January 28th. With Jim Taylor on double bass, Thomas Kendall on guitar, and Elwood Tze on banjo, tune in as Jan chats with the band about their latest musical ventures.

Brisbane nu-metal band Headwreck have developed a different style to writing with their new producer, Chris Lalic. Guitarist and bassist of the band, Jamo and Dayne, come into Tyrannocoreus to share this new approach with Ryan, along with their upcoming EP and Australian tour with Windwaker, Thousand Below and Diamond Construct.

'Is This How I Die?’ is the debut album from Sydney's sad-party-punk band Clay J Gladstone. The band took the new album on tour with Sienna Skies earlier this year, and has plans for an upcoming headline tour sometime soon. Tune in to Tyrannocoreus to hear about the band's latest release.

Getting back together for a very special show at MEMO Music Hall on February 9th, and returning to their spiritual home of St Kilda, is Zydeco Jump, the blues band that's been around since 1989. It will be the first time in 30 years that the extraordinary multi-instrumentalist and singer, Gerry Hale, joins the band, and they promise it will be a night to remember. Tune in to Jumpin' The Blues as Gary and George pop in to play some live tunes for Tom Sianidis.

At the beginning of the nineties, Boston band Come could seem like the negative of all the currents that were dominating the American circuit. Today, their albums 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and 'Near Life Experience' are considered cornerstones of the nineties, with the band being hailed as masters of rough aesthetics and indie ethics. Michael catches up with lead vocalist and guitarist Thalia Zedek - tune in to hear about the band's show at Northcote Social Club on February 15th.

Channeling their varied, wild upbringings into a fresh blend of dreamy, guitar-soaked, eerie alt-rock, Wet Season is a DIY 4-piece hailing from a couple of idyllic, coconut-lined Queensland towns. Coming into Homebrew to play tracks from their new album 'Here Now, Gone There'—a record written between a tropical studio in the hills of Kin Kin and the Gold Coast—tune in to hear this live Studio 3 performance, happening on the day of the album's release.

Taking inspiration from the jazz fusion movements of the '70s and '80s, Tamil Rogeon’s new album 'Wave Theory' joins forces with heavyweights from Melbourne’s thriving jazz scene to create textured soundscapes rich with cosmic synths, extended forms, soaring vocals, and deep jazz funk. The Melbourne-based, multifaceted jazz, classical, and electronic violin and viola player stops by Headhunters to chat with Elle about the album launch at The Night Cat on February 7th.

The swap-blues powerhouse band Opelousas' second album, 'OPELOUSAFRIED', was recently named one of PBS's top 10 albums for 2024. Keeping the momentum going, the band comes into Radio City to perform a few live tracks ahead of their show, Live at City Hall: Sunday Sounds, on February 9th. Tune in to hear Ali and Shorty perform live in Studio 3.

Playing innovative yet old-time tunes is local 4-piece band Double Dole Stringband. With a sound that's both sweet and rowdy, the band has become a familiar face at venues around Naarm, along with folk festivals across the country. Tune in to Southern Style as Jan brings them in for some live, old-time music.

Immersed in the Australian and US music landscapes, ARIA-nominated singer-songwriter and visual artist Sherry Rich has been mixing up a powerful musical brew of roots, country, folk, and rock since 1985. To celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, she’s putting on a show at George Lane on February 14th with her husband Rick Plant, along with other musical couples: Jeff Lang & Alison Ferrier, and Suzannah Espie & Jack O'Dell. Tune in to Radio City as Sherry pops in to talk about the lovely evening.

Created by award-winning artist Mindy Meng Wang, and sound technologist and composer Monica Lim, 'Opera for the Dead (祭歌)' is inspired by Chinese mourning rituals but speaks to our common experiences of death, mourning, and ancestry. This breathtaking contemporary Chinese cyber-opera will be running as part of Asia TOPA from the 20th of February - 10th of March at Space 28, University of Melbourne. Tune in to Deeep Space as Mindy and Monica chat with Lloyd about their epic new work.