Interviews

Pub: The Movie details the infamous Melbourne ratbag Fred Negro, whose role in the local music scene cannot be underestimated: a musician and artist, an impresario and familiar local barfly, a satirist and cartoonist who chronicled his beloved St Kilda as the heart of musical talent in his weekly Pub comic strip. director Andrew Leopold talks to Annika about the documentary and it's appearance at MIFF.

Psycroptic have challenged the way the world thinks about Australian death metal for the last 23 years. Lead singer Jason Peppiatt tells Kene about their tale and upcoming brutal release called 'Divine Council.'

Mongolian throat singing metal band The HU call in to talk (through an interpreter) to Kene about vocal warm up for throat singing, touring Australia, sourcing traditional instruments, Metallica and heavy music from Mongolia.

Figures return to the stage for the first time post-Covid. Joining forces with Mushroom Giant and Seims to grace Fitzroy’s Evelyn Hotel for one of the biggest progressive rock nights in years. Tune in to Pojama People to find out the details.

After a seven year gap between albums German psych band My Sleeping Karma return with their new album 'Atma.' The album tells a story of humankind from a spiritual point of view and takes it's name from the Sanskrit word that refers to the (universal) Self, or self-existent essence of individuals, as distinct from ego, mind and embodied existence. Bassist Matthias Vandeven rings in to Pojama People to talk to Chris about the album.

Furious rock n' rollers Future Suck are about to release their fiery new LP 'Simulation.' Vocalist Grace Gibson drops in to Underground Love to talk about their LP ahead of it's release on Rack Off Records August 5.

Known for his mastery of a special two-handed tapping technique on the guitar’s fretboard called ‘touch technique,' it is no wonder why Stanley Jordan has become one of the most lauded and daring modern jazz guitarists of our time. Stanley takes some time out to talk with Adam ahead of his headline tour of Australia’s east coast in early August 2022.

Tango Noir Quintet are performing for the first time since the start of the pandemic. Classical mandolinist Ruth Roshan joins Roger in the studio to talk about their concert happening at the Paris Cat August 6.

A few years ago Steve Lucas (X) started playing the blues. A bunch of odd gigs, some playing around with ProTools, and a couple of lockdowns later, Steve Lucas and The Rising Tide finally put out 'Cross That Line,' a 10-track tribute to the blues in its many shapes and forms. Tune in to The Juke Joint to hear Steve chat with Matt Frederick about his love for big band swing and Dixieland jazz and how that has informed the making of this album.

Azu Tiwaline fuses dub with traditional Amazigh rhythms. TSVI makes functional, electronic percussive tracks with influences from all over the world. They each will bring something truly special to Sub Club when they headline Modern Hypnosis' next event on July 29. Tune in to Tomorrowland to hear Azu and TSVI share a few stories and tunes with Edd.

Sensational jazz vocalist Jennifer Salisbury brings the fabulous "Cole Porter Songbook" back to Melbourne's Paris Cat Jazz Club. This wonderful show is bursting with timeless songs like De Lovely, Love for Sale and Anything Goes, artfully arranged for jazz sextet by Melbourne composer and producer Mark Morand. Jennifer and Mark call by the station to talk about their show at the Paris Cat Jazz Club on July 29.

Polito is the collaboration between musicians Robert Downie and Finnian Langham and dancers Arabella Frahn-Starkie and Hillary Goldsmith. The ensemble will bring their fusion of improvised techno and contemporary dance to The Forum on July 30 as part of Melbourne Music Week's Butter Sessions x Research Records showcase. Tune in to The Breakfast Spread to hear them chat about the event and play a special mix on Wheels of Steel.

Award-winning shorts filmmaker Jennifer Ross makes her feature debut with a story about the Aussie punk assault of the 1970s and 80s. Titled "Age of Rage - The Australian Punk Revolution", the film rediscovers how radical punk musicians and activists found transgressive alternatives to the status quo, and in turn battled with the harsh realities of housing, duress from police, drugs and grief. Tune in to Junkyard to hear from Jennifer about the making of this far-reaching film.

Aria Award winner for 'Best Metal Band' (you read that correctly) Tropical Fu*k Storm returned from their hugely successful sold-out European Vacation Tour. After catching up on some much-needed snooze time, they are hitting the nation's domestic check-in counters, arguing with the airlines about the amount of excess baggage they need to bring to make your ears bleed. Guitarist and vocalist Gareth Liddiard calls by Fang It to tell listeners about the band's show at The Croxton on August 12.

Brainchild of Australian folk-rock husband & wife duo Jeff Lang and Alison Ferrier, High Ace release their debut album 'Snowcap Menace.' Blending their varied styles, ‘Snowcap Menace’ was born out of boredom throughout the long Victorian lockdowns and wanting to record something together. Jeff and Alison join Crispi in the studio to talk about 'Snowcap Menace' and play a couple of tunes.

'Life Tax' is the sixth studio album from singer-songwriter Darren Hanlon. Written and recorded whilst caretaking for the Northcote Uniting Church Hall during 2019, 'Life Tax' has a pared back sound compared to prior albums. Darren joins Crispi to talk about the album and show with Leah Senior at Collingwood Town Hall on July 29.

After a couple of years of cancellations, uncertainty and lockdowns, Echuca Winter Blues Festival returns with a line up of some of Australia's finest blues artists. Pianist Jules Boult calls in to Roots of Rhythm to talk about his performance along side his band The Redeemers.

Melbourne’s artiste provocateurs Finucane & Smith return to the heart of the city with FUTURE. JOY. CLUB. a sultry decadent celebration of golden era burlesque and variety vanguard. Led by gothic glamazon Moira Finucane, The FUTURE. JOY. CLUB. will reside in the lush, mirrored ballroom of Sofitel Melbourne On Collins from 7 July – 7 August 2022. Sophie Koh and chief alchemist and club host Moira Finucane talk to Annika on State of the Art about this spectacular.

Guitarist and vocalist of trash metal band Black Jesus, Adrian Naudi is coming in to spin some tunes on vinyl and talk about all things music related. So, tune in to this special guest programming collaboration with Kene's usual burning bitumen bullshit.

With finer details yet to come, Motherslug vocalist Cam calls by Pojama People to chat about their forthcoming release titled 'Blood Moon Blues.'