Interviews

Australian blues and soul guitar icon Geoff Achison swings by Roots of Rhythm ahead of his 60th Birthday Gig at Memo Music Hall on August 29. Backed by his powerhouse band The Souldiggers, Geoff will celebrate his milestone with a night of blues, rock and soul, sharing the stage with genre-defying shredder Kathleen Halloran and blues master Shannon Bourne. Tune in for a chat about Geoff’s storied career, what fans can expect from this special gig, and why turning 60 is no reason to slow down.

Coming into Roots of Rhythm for the monthly segment 'Wordy Gurdy', Jackey Coyle and Helen Jennings chat about exceptional music and writing, scouring the past 100 years for rare and excellent blues, jazz, country, and more. Tune in from 9am to hear them analyse the best of the best.

Perth singer-songwriter Stella Donnelly is gearing up for a triumphant return to music after a few years away. No stranger to the global stage, Stella has performed on NPR Tiny Desk and has just signed with Remote Control Records. Tune in to The Breakfast Spread for an exclusive live performance from Stella Donnelly, and to hear more about her latest single 'Baths'.

Kaylie Melville from the RUBIKS Collective catches up with Cas on The Modernist to talk about the group’s tenth anniversary this September, marked by the world premiere of 'The Big Idea' – a genre-defying monodrama by Australian composer Matthew Shlomowitz and writer Vid Simoniti. They’ll discuss how the collective has successfully evolved from curating contemporary works to commissioning new ones, as well as their upcoming show at the Melbourne Recital Centre on September 25.

Coming back to Australia to play an out-of-this-world show at Good Things Festival this year is GWAR. With gnarly riffs and heavy metal insanity, Kene and Leah catch up with Jizmak Da Gusha from the band. Tune in from 10pm to hear from the space pirate. 

On August 23, Kitchen Witch will be popping over to Melbourne from their home in Adelaide to perform at Shotkickers. Expect desert grooves and immense wall-of-sound riffs to provide the cauldron into which The Witch herself, Georgie Cosson, deconstructs her soul for eternal sustenance. Tune in to Pojama People as Chris Pearson catches up with the band ahead of their show.

Melbourne’s heavy rock titans Devil Electric will celebrate a decade of doom with a massive hometown show at The Evelyn Hotel on August 30. Known for their crushing riffs, haunting vocals, and commanding stage presence, the band is set to mark 10 years of thrilling vintage doom. Joining the celebration are fuzz-fuelled rockers The Stripp, desert riff lords Full Tone Generator, and psych-doom powerhouse Howling Mountain. Ahead of the show, Chris Pearson catches up with Devil Electric.

Local duo Loose Tooth are launching their latest album 'New Age' at Brunswick Ballroom on August 22. With a title that nods to both woo-woo esotericism and a time of immense change, the album draws on '70s rock influences like Fleetwood Mac and Steely Dan, especially in layered singalongs like 'New Passion' and 'Bianca Meyers.' Loose Tooth drop into Underground Love, tune in as Grace Gibson catches up with Etta Curry and Nellie Jackson.

Sonic explorers, label heads, and pillars of the Melbourne underground, Sleep D delve into the rave unconscious, driving rhythms, hypnotic basslines, and the hazy bliss of the morning after. Childhood friends with Iraqi and Maltese lineage, the duo and their coveted Butter Sessions label have ushered in a new era, sensibility, and creative energy for the city that raised them. Elle catches up with Corey from Sleep D ahead of their opening night performance at Now or Never on Thursday.

‘Intervals’ - the new record from Naarm musician and producer L Lewis, blends jazz harmony, electronic production, and improvisation. Expanding on the sonic palette introduced in their debut, the release was built from live local studio recordings with L Lewis, Lachlan Thompson, Finn Milne, and Jordan Dunster, before being chopped up in London by L Lewis himself. Elle from Headhunters catches up with L Lewis about the new record, which is out now via Bathtub Music.

The latest single ‘End of the Day’ from local musician Hannah Kate kicks off with an almost misleading brightness, piloted by its plucky bassline. But when met with Hannah’s vocals, it oxidises to form a coolness that carries throughout the track with ease, fusing together any frays left by obscure time changes and wonky guitar lines in the process. Coming in to Homebrew, tune in as Hannah discusses her latest single with Brooke.

Composer Kate Neal and percussionist Kaylie Melville from the Rubiks Collective join Ian this Sunday to talk about their new work 'A Book of Hours'. Merging stop-motion animation, screen dance, and a quirky live musical score from a choreographed ensemble of musicians, the piece is a meditation on the mystery of time. Tune in to hear about their performances in Melbourne and Bendigo this September 3 and 5.

Sydney based double bassist and composer Max Alduca presents his debut album ‘Monastery’, drawing inspiration from a personal journey through music and spirituality, reflecting themes of interconnectedness, trust, and hope, while also paying homage to his teachers and collaborators. Bringing together some of Sydney’s leading jazz musicians, the album draws on contemporary jazz, free improvisation and cinematic soundscapes. Greg catches up with Max ahead of his show at The Jazz Lab on August 21.

Saray Iluminado and The Klez Dispensers Down Under are getting together to present  a soiree of klezmer, Bosnian sevdah and Sephardic Jewish music in Australia, under the title 'Baklava and Blintz', at Memo Music Hall on August 31. Nela Trifkovic, Amy Zakar Banner and Galit Klas drop into the Global Village to share some of this music and to talk about this intercultural dialogue around music, food and drink.

Taking jazz and infusing it with beatnik, rock’n’roll, and sassy soul, Jazzparty will be playing at Northcote Social Club on August 23 as part of the venue’s 20th birthday celebrations, running from July through to August. With an array of instruments and a big, bold live sound, tune in to Stone Love to hear Richie 1250 catch up with the local 8-piece.

When Cong Josie confessed to Garry Gray aka Garry Sacred that he ripped off the Sacred Cowboys’ track 'Nothing Grows in Texas', the two recognised a kindred spirit, they bonded over their shared love of Alan Vega and ’70s boogie. Next thing you know, they’re releasing an EP together called 'Sacred Money'. Tune in to Sunglasses After Dark to hear Phil MacDougall chat with the duo about their collaborative new release.

Delivering intense sonic soundscapes that merge folk, experimentalism, electronica, and rock, Hugo Race has released his new album 'The Vigil'. Over the course of three decades, Hugo has left a mercurial trail of musical works, spanning numerous solo releases and international collaborations across studio albums, film and theatre productions, tours, and festivals. Tune in to Junkyard as Michael Mulholland catches up with the internationally based musician and author.

Carving out their own space within Australia's instrumental and dance scenes, Intermood’s blend of psychedelic jazz and high-energy neo-disco has risen from sold-out shows within Melbourne/Naarm’s thriving dance scene. Following the success of their debut EP 'Casuarina', an East Coast tour, and festival performances, the group is set to play two shows at BIGSOUND this September. Tune in to Radio City as Crispi catches up with the band ahead of their Brisbane stint.

Purveyors of all things soul, Sweethearts bring fresh energy to the genre with their dynamic performances. Each musician of the 17-piece ensemble contributes unique talents, from fiery saxophone solos to delicately crafted melodic storytelling. Tune in as Vince Peach catches up with members of the band for an exclusive interview, following their mesmerising Studio 5 Live performance.

Australia lost one of its greatest voices when Renée Geyer passed away on 17 January 2023. For over five decades, Renée was celebrated as Australia’s queen of soul, captivating audiences with her powerful voice and uncompromising artistry. On August 22 at Birds Basement, members of her own band will come together for a special evening to honour Renée’s memory. Tune in to Roots of Rhythm as Nichaud Fitzgibbon chats with Helen about the show.