Interviews

Jazzparty – a big 8-piece band taking jazz and infusing it with beatnik, rock’n’roll and sassy soul. Much like their first album release ‘Monday Night’ which was released in 2017, the band will be playing a residency at The Evelyn Hotel every Monday night this June. Tune into The Afterglow this Wednesday as Lyndelle chats with band member Loretta Miller about the upcoming residency, and the new single that Jazzparty are about to release.

Tommy McEwan has been at the top of the Roots music scene in Australia since his first album as Louis King was released in 1996. Now performing extensively again throughout the country as Louis King and the Liars Klub, Tommy joins Helen on Roots of Rhythm to chat about his upcoming album release.

Performer and songwriter, Iseula Hingano, has soulful, rich vocals, which fits perfectly for her passion for the Blues. Fronting local band Blue Eyes Cry, she has played multiple shows across some of Australia’s biggest blues festivals. She comes in to join Helen on Roots of Rhythm to chat about her new single ‘Why’, set to be released on June 4th.

Jazz Sabbath is an instrumental jazz trio from the UK, playing jazz interpretations of Black Sabbath songs. Lead by pianist Adam Wakeman (Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne’s solo band since 2004), Jazz Sabbath explores the boundaries between jazz and the songs that define heavy metal. Tune into Pojama People as Chris chats with the band about their upcoming show at the Brunswick Ballroom on July 27th.

After twelve years, Dirty Three is back with new compositions to play and new stories to tell, marking their return to the hometown stage where it all began in 1992 at an Abbotsford pub. They don’t get together very often these days, but to see them perform is to witness three men shoulder-deep in the task. Join Claire as she chats with Warren Ellis about Dirty Three's upcoming show at the Hamer Hall during this year’s RISING Festival.

Jim Mills was a banjo player from North Carolina, considered one of the best bluegrass banjo pickers in the world during the peak of his career in the early 2000s. Mills received six international bluegrass banjo player awards and six Grammy Awards, touring extensively with bluegrass hall of fame musician, Ricky Skaggs. Tune into Southern Style this Tuesday as Jan pays tribute to the banjo legend, re-playing an interview she had with Jim Mills in 2006.

Mixing their love for the Australian bush into traditional bluegrass music, High Street Drifters are a bluegrass quartet based in South Australia and Victoria. Incorporating the sounds of the fiddle, mandolin, guitar and bass, they are set to release their first single, Back to the Hills, followed by their debut album this June. Tune into Southern Style as band members Daniel Watkins and Justin Vilchez chat to Jan about these new releases and upcoming Melbourne show at the Wesley Anne June 7th.

The unstoppable psychedelic rock band Pond has been delivering their big sounds since forming in 2008. On May 29th, they are set to release a new single, "So Lo," ahead of their tenth album, "Stung!," which drops on June 21st. Tune into Homebrew as Pond chats with Brooke about their latest single and their upcoming show at Northcote Theatre on June 28th.

Melbourne based garage-pop-girl group Don’t Thank Me, Spank Me create music influenced by the likes of Britney Spears and big-hair 80s guitar bands. Lead by Esther Henderson and Nitida Atkinson, the group will be coming onto Homebrew to perform songs from their debut album, ahead of their debut self-titled album launch at The Tote Hotel on June 8th.

Last month, local singer-songwriter Phoebe Go released her highly anticipated debut solo LP "Marmalade." Phoebe drops in on The Breakfast Spread to tell Milo about the LP and to play a couple of songs live in-studio.

Unconventional local trio Ball Hanlon Schulz are playing a series of Quiet Tangents concerts at the Eleventh Hours theatre, including a collaboration with the Daftar Aval Trio on June 15th. Accordionist Anthony Schulz, oud player Reza Kashi and cellist Zoë Barry visit the Global Village to play some live music and to talk with Roger about the performance.

David Hirschfelder is globally acclaimed as one of Australia's most distinguished screen composers, boasting Oscar nominations for Scott Hicks' "Shine" and Shekhar Kapur’s "Elizabeth", as well as winning two British Academy Awards for "Strictly Ballroom". Join Julie and Lucy on Lights, Camera, Action, as David discusses his latest project with Bette Midler and Susan Sarandon, and reflects on how his work with Baz Luhrmann and Russell Crowe has shaped his career.

The Counterfeit, a 10-piece band performing a dynamic array of Italian soundtracks from the greatest Spaghetti Western films of the 1960s and 70s. Featuring the vocals of Ballarat’s renowned Freya Josephine Hollick, the band will perform at Memo Music Hall on June 2nd. Tune into 5ft High and Rising as Myles chats with Freya about The Counterfeit's upcoming performance.

On June 8th, RISING's Day Tripper laces Melbourne Town Hall, Capitol Theatre, and Max Watt’s with a big old day party in the middle of the long weekend, featuring such wonderful artists as Yasiin Bey, Asha Puthli, HTRK and Surprise Chef. Closing things down with a captivating set of live electronic composition is Polito, Melbourne's own techno dance troupe. Tune in to The Breakfast Spread to hear from Polito member Robert Downie who will play a special guest mix on the Wheels of Steel.

As part of his 2-hour special on acclaimed Aussie punk outfit Radio Birdman, Phil MacDougall chats with the band's founding member Rob Younger about the band's beginnings in Sydney's punk scene half a century ago, their breakup and reunion, and various studio albums. Tune in to Sunglasses After Dark on Thursday night from 8pm to hear this exclusive interview.

The Fiction - a high-energy, pop-punk band that formed in 1978 during the explosion of Punk and New Wave in Melbourne. 40 years on and the band release ‘Hollywood’, a Punk album with nods to the Buzzcocks and the Undertones. Tune into Junkyard as Mike chats with Rob Wellington and Rob Griffiths from The Fiction about the band's history, and the launch of their new album 'Hollywood' at the Brunswick Ballroom on the 31st of May.

Adelaide band The Cold Field are easily Australia's best current darkwave band, gaining traction overseas by signing onto Germany's Cold Transmission label. In advance of the release of their 3rd album 'Alive' and upcoming Australian tour, the band's singer, songwriter and guitarist, Ian, joins Kristen on the Bleeding Black Hearts Revue to talk all things The Cold Field.

To celebrate 13 years of Kickin’ The B @ Bar 303, Paul Williamson's Hammond Combo, Mini Melt and Buttered Loaf will be putting on a special evening to celebrate their 13th birthday. Tune into Jumpin’ The Blues as Tom chats with Gary Jones about the special event and what to expect on the night.

Possessing a voice that invites comparison with the blues of Muddy Waters, and the soul of Ray Charles, Andy Cowan is a piano and keyboard player containing both energy and melodic beauty. His songwriting and performing skills give him a strength and quality that define him as the complete artistic entity. Tune into Roots of Rhythm as Helen chats with Andy about his new album ‘Undercover’.

Three-time Australian Blues Music Award winners Blues Arcadia are coming to Melbourne this June 1st to celebrate unleashing their second album ‘Now Or Never’. Influenced by the legendary soul of Stax and Motown, Blues Arcadia creates a unique, dirty-soul sound delivered with swagger, style, and sensitivity. Tune into Roots of Rhythm as Helen chats with frontman Al Boyle about the band’s music and upcoming show in Melbourne.