Interviews

Seshadri Varadarajan aka Sesh has been learning Veenai since the age of 12 under the guidance of Guru - Mr.Vijayendar Rao, and is now learning under Shri. Gopinath Iyer OAM. This Saturday Sesh joins Pradip for a special live performance of veenai and electronics from the Stay Soft Market at Collingwood Yards. PBS is live in the courtyard between 3pm and 7pm, so drop in for some killer tunes and all the fun of the Stay Soft Market.

Straight off the plane after a massive European run, Naarm’s IN2STELLAR are back for their biggest headline show to date. Presented by Soothsayer, the duo will be taking over 170 Russell for the night, bringing along special guests Moopie and Hannah D. Joining Edd Fisher on Tomorrowland, tune in to hear about their upcoming show, and where to catch IN2STELLAR this summer.

Kicking off Tomorrowland is Belgian DJ and producer Gratts. A seasoned DJ on the circuit for 20 years, Gratts is a versatile vinyl selector, just as comfortable spinning deep early-hour sets as he is delivering peak-time dancefloor energy. After releasing records under various projects and alter egos over the years (Ca$hminus, Icarus Traxx), he finally released his debut as Gratts, and hasn’t slowed down since. Edd Fisher catches up with Gratts, tune in to hear about his upcoming shows.

This Thursday night, Phil will be catching up with members of the bands playing at his 45th birthday party at The Tote on October 26. Kicking off the celebrations early, he'll be chatting with members of Alien Nosejob, The Breadmakers, Digger & the Pussycats, Garry Sacred & Cong Josie, The Hybernators, Mach Pelican, The Pink Tiles, Plastic Section, Spitting Chips, and The Wraylettes. Tune in from 8pm to hear the celebrations begin.

Born in Sydney in the early ’80s and formed by Radio Birdman frontman Rob Younger, The New Christs have made a name for themselves by appearing sporadically across Australia and internationally over their nearly four-decade history. Their latest album, 'The Burning of Rome – Selected Works', features a hand-picked selection of songs from across the band’s history. Michael Mulholland catches up with Rob, tune in to hear about their upcoming show at The Tote on October 25.

After years of honing his craft in bands like the powerpop-driven Rinehearts and the high-energy LEECHES!, Benny J Ward drops 'Super!', his self-recorded and debut album. Brimming with poptastic charm and irresistibly catchy tunes, 'Super!' is a joyous ride from start to finish, bursting with jangly guitars, glittering hooks, and pure melodic magic. Crispi catches up with Benny on Radio City, chatting about the new release and his upcoming show at The Tote on November 4 with The Meanies.

Part two of the CD series 'Legacy', featuring Doc Watson being interviewed by and performing alongside David Holt, will be airing on Southern Style. This part two concludes with 'The Legacy Concert', a live performance by Doc and David. Tune in to hear this special recording.

On this episode of Roots of Rhythm, local guitarist, songwriter, vocalist, producer, Jeff Lang drops in to chat with Helen Jennings about his upcoming shows. Having built a reputation for making startling music that is accomplished, intricate, gutsy, melodic and loaded with soul, Jeff has consistently inspired audiences with a stylistically diverse catalogue spanning 32 albums. Tune in to hear about Jeff's upcoming appearance at the Wangaratta Jazz & Blues Festival on November 2. 

'Bitter Disappointment' is the debut album from local nu-metalcore band Glow, and members of the band drop by Tyrannocoreus to chat with Ryan about how the release is going so far. Tune in to hear what they’ve got planned for the rest of 2025.

Sydney melodic hardcore band Bloom are set to release their sophomore album 'The Light We Chase' later this month. Lyrically, the album delves into themes of personal grief, broken trust, and the ongoing struggle with hope. Vocalist Jono Hawkey and drummer Jack Van Vliet join Ryan on Tyrannocoreus to talk about the band’s monumental growth over the past two years, tune in to hear how international audiences are connecting with their music.

This Tuesday on Burning Bitumen, Kene and Leah catch up with Marcus aka Infernal, the founding member of black thrash band Desaster. Formed in Germany in 1988, Marcus joins the show to talk about the band’s tenth album 'Kill All Idols', and how the past 37 years have shaped Desaster.

Phil MacDougall aka 'Prince of Darkness' has been on the PBS FM airwaves since September 1980, with his iconic, long-running Thursday evening program Sunglasses After Dark. Marking the 45th birthday with a big celebration on Sunday October 26 at The Tote in Collingwood, Phil joins Claire on Firewater to chat about the big party, which kicks off at 3pm.

On October 17, the ferocious act The Maggie Pills will take over The Night Cat to launch their sophomore album, 'Hearts Enduring Lingering Loss'. With twelve tracks packed with grunge distortion and fuzz-drenched menace, 'Hearts Enduring Lingering Loss' explores themes of loss, desire, fear, and defiance in equal measure. Argentinian front woman Delfi Sorondo and guitarist Sarah Blaby join Jordan on Underground Love, tune in to hear more about their upcoming album launch show.

Manchester artist Freak Slug is touring Australia for the first time, ahead of the release of her EP ‘Loose Tooth And a Short Skirt’. A visual artist and painter as well as an unconventional, self-taught songwriter and musician, everything that fuels the creative output of Xenya Genovese aka Freak Slug, is about raw, authentic, sometimes weird but always totally true self-expression. Catch her chatting with Jordan on Underground Love before she headlines The Night Cat later that night.

Lebanese-French trumpeter and composer Ibrahim Maalouf is in town for the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, bringing his electrifying 10-piece band to 170 Russell on October 23 for 'The Trumpets of Michel-Ange'. Praised by legends like Quincy Jones and dubbed a “virtuoso” by The New York Times, Maalouf has lit up stages around the world, collaborating with icons such as Stevie Wonder, Sting, and Marcus Miller. Tune in to Boogie Beat Suite as MzRizk catches up with Ibrahim Maalouf.

The Holy Trinity Collective, made up of Philippa Conlon, Maree Pearson, and Stephanie Broadbent-Smith met at RMIT while doing a music industry course, and just instantly clicked. The collective focuses on female-identifying and gender non-conforming (GNC) artists and contributors from Naarm, with the goal of creating a safer and more diverse space in the local scene. Tune in to The Breakfast Spread as Claire Dickson catches up with the newly formed trio.

Admiring the assurance and power of connection to one another, On Diamond are about to release their upcoming album ‘Melon on the Vine’ on October 9. The first two singles ‘Letting The Wheel Go By’ and ‘Downslide’ have taken audiences through their range of musical styles and improvisatory freedom, and is only the beginning of what’s to come on the upcoming 8 track LP. Elle catches up with On Diamond to see how they’re going before the album drops on Thursday.

Highly sought-after keyboardist, producer, and music director Jake Amy has just released their latest single, 'Astro Shooter', a future-jazz cyclone packed with club energy, harmonic complexity, and a keys solo that tears open the silence surrounding trans and non-binary lives. The nu-jazz artist is also a member of over 15 projects, collaborating with Emma Volard, Alexander Flood, and Bumpy, to name a few. Jake drops by Homebrew, tune in to hear Brooke chat with Jake about their new music.

Local musician Stella Anning is taking to the Black Wax stage this October for a stripped-back, in-studio performance of her genre-blending music, drawing from jazz, neo-soul, and folk traditions. Performing on the electric guitar, she’ll share with Adam Rudegeair songs from her new album 'Yellow Brick Veneer' and chat about her residency under the mentorship of Shabaka Hutchings and Ganavya. Tune in to hear about her upcoming show at the Kew Court House on October 31.

Highly celebrated new voice in jazz, Samara Joy, is coming to Melbourne this October to perform at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival. With five Grammy Awards to her name and a chart-topping major-label debut, Samara has been compared to jazz legends Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday, performing at major jazz festivals around the globe. Calling in from her hometown of New York, tune in as Adam Rudegeair catches up with the rising star.