After 40 years of PBS, we can conclusively say that Studio 5 Live is an institution in its own right, exhibiting hundreds of fantastic bands and artists of all genres from around Australia and the world. This year has seen over 40 bands play live to air in Studio 5. Lets take a look at some of those bands, and some musical highlights of the year here at PBS.
The year truly kicks off in February when we emerge from Summer hibernation to the patter of feet in Studio 5 for Drive Live, a full week of drive time live to air specials. This year was no exception in outstanding quality as we saw 15 acts blow us away.
All of these artists have had huge years, but none more so than Sampa The Great. The release of The Return in September this year stopped us in our tracks, delving deep into themes of home and belonging with tastes of R&B and afrobeat, earning Sampa an ARIA win for best hip hop release.
Hip hop artist, DRMNGNOW (AKA Neil Morris) began 2019 with the release of Ancestors, the first of three singles for the year and an ode to heritage with gentle and emotional backing vocals by Kee'ahn. DRMNGNOW burst into Studio 5 in February with a set that purely reflects respect and reverence for country and Morris' indigenous identity.
Gentle psychedelic dream pop Kiwis Tiny Ruins were another band with an early and hard hitting release this year, releasing Olympic Girls into the world in February. They followed the release up with a tour through Europe, New Zealand and Australia, ending up in Studio 5 in May.
May ended with local up-and-comers Pinch Points in Studio 5 sharing their mechanical riffs and system-critiquing lyrics. They finished their set with Stranger Danger, a fast-paced warning and single from their debut album Moving Parts.
In June, futuristic, percussion driven funk outfit Ghost Note made their way to Melbourne from Texas for the Melbourne International Jazz Festival and into Studio 5. The band is an ever rotating roster of stellar musicians with members featuring in bands for the likes of Prince, Snoop Dogg, Erykah Badu, Herbie Hancock, Kendrick Lamar, Marcus Miller, Toto, Justin Timberlake and more.
Stoner metal trio Wo Fat have six studio albums under their collective belt and don't seem to be slowing down. They brought their unique meld of psychedelic blues doom down under for an Australian and New Zealand tour, stopping off in Studio 5 along the way. Their set was all rock and no stop.
Tammi Savoy and the Chris Casello Combo joined us in July for Studio 5 Live with an undeniably catchy and soulful combination of 40s, 50s and early 60s R&B and rockabilly instrumentation. Both heroes of their scenes, Tammi Savoy is the 2019 Ameripolitan “Female Rockabilly Artist of The Year”, while Chris Casello is a 2nd generation inductee into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
In July, award-winning adopted Melburnian Jess Ribeiro shared songs off her third album, Love Hate, taking us on a cinematic journey through the metamorphosis of love, from passion to madness. She finished off the set with Young Love, a hypnotic and driving song about teenage love and lust.
Los Angeles based, South American punks, Generacion Suicida made their way to Australia for the first time in September for a celebratory tour following the release of Reflejos, (their 16th release to date). They tumbled energetically into Studio 5, despite their constant touring, with short and to the point songs, bringing the best elements of punk through a spanish language lens.
Most recently, Mia Dyson, Liz Stringer and Jen Cloher made their way into the Studio 5 Live history books with a set celebrating the reunion of their formidable trio, Dyson Stringer Cloher. There's nothing else like their satircal lyrics combined with lovingly constructed vocal harmonies.
Thanks to all of the fantastic musicians who graced us with their performances this year. Studio 5 Live would not be possible without the ongoing support of Mountain Goat Beer and don't forget that all Studio 5 Live sets are available to listen back to on our website.
Cover photo by Naomi Lee Beveridge.
