Interviews

'Homophonic!' is Melbourne's annual celebration of queer composers and a regular part of the Midsumma Festival, and local double bassist and Artistic Director of the event Miranda Hill will join Ian on the show. Now in its 16th year, 'Homophonic!' brings a tremendous array of LGBTQI+ composers to Melbourne audiences, including the annual Pride Prize for a newly commissioned work by an Australian queer composer. As the Festival describes itself, 'Homophonic!' is, "classical music, but gayer".

Joining Claire Dickson for an intimate, live in-studio performance this February 2 is local atmospheric pop trio Hydroplane. Having released their new album, 'A Place In My Memory Is All I Have To Claim' late last year - their first music after more than two decades of radio silence - Andrew Withycombe, Kerrie Bolton, and Bart Cummings return to the gentle, close-quarters musical world they shared around the turn of the century. Tune in from 8am to hear this ambient, electronic performance.

Brazilian composer and multi-instrumentalist Alcides Neto has just announced his debut album, 'Amu', set for release on February 27. Written over several years, each track carries its own small story, rooted in a shared source of inspiration: his childhood in the countryside of São Paulo state, Brazil, whose landscapes, rhythms  and memories quietly shaped the music. Tune in to Homebrew as Alcides brings in his acoustic guitar to play a few live songs and to chat about the new album.

From DJing at Burning Man in the USA and Devconnect in Turkey, to dominating festival main stages around Australia, along with hosting his own show 'Coburg Up Late', Callum aka DJ Be Kind To Other People will be dropping in to Boogie Beat Suite. Tune in to hear about 'Coburg Up Late 50th Episode Live-Recorded Charity Event' at Revolver Upstairs on February 12, along with an up-beat guest mix. 

Local based DJ and dancefloor curator Jeyson Iza aka Iza's journey began in 2004, rooted in vinyl culture and shaped by Bogotá’s underground scene through the Airbag collective. After developing his craft in Spain with residencies in Madrid and performances across Europe and Latin America, he refined his sound through formal study at Madrid’s Microfusa School and radio work with Radio Círculo. Tune in to Dounya to hear Iza's storytelling approach to the decks, guided by dancefloor energy.

US deathcore group Signs Of The Swarm are about to go on tour, supporting their US friends Born Of Osiris at Max Watt's Melbourne on March 19. Celebrating their decade of dominance with a completely sold out US tour and reputation for being one of deathcore's most ferocious live band, David Simonich from Signs Of The Swarm catches up with Ryan. Tune in to hear about the band's latest album 'To Rid Myself Of Truth'. 

US progressive deathcore group Born Of Osiris are about to embark on their long awaited Australian tour this March, celebrating their 15th anniversary of their breakthrough album 'The Discovery’. Ahead of the tour, Ryan chats to Cameron Losch (drums) and Ronnie Canizaro (vocals) about their most recent album, 'Through Shadows', and how they're navigating the loss of a longtime member. 

The eight voices from Grammy-award winning, North American vocal band Roomful of Teeth will fill Elisabeth Murdoch Hall on February 11, revealing an extraordinary sonic landscape distinct from any sounds you’ve ever heard. Presenting works from their 'Rough Magic' album, Roomful of Teeth are known for blending contemporary classical precision with bold experimentation, earning praise for their “consistently yet freshly cutting-edge” sound. Tune in as Cas chats with artistic director Beachamp.

Way Out West Roots Music Club (WoW) is an institution in Melbourne’s western suburbs, offering a feast of cool blues and roots music on Sunday afternoons. With a new venue for 2026, WoW President Rob Rowe joins Helen Jennings on Roots Of Rhythm to chat about the new venue and the gigs they have coming up.

Back by popular demand, the Burning B3 Trio (Sammy Owen, Liam Kealy and Tony Martin) return to Jumpin' the Blues to play an exclusive live-in-studio set at PBS. Tune in as the trio rip through red hot jump blues, smokey slow blues, burning funk and everything in-between.

Velatine is a Melbourne-based goth/darkwave musical project led by producer/engineer Loki Lockwood. The project features moody, synth-laden atmospheres and brooding post-punk/industrial textures. This week on Bleeding Black Hearts Review Velatine drop by to chat about their latest music and to play some tracks live in the studio.

Local country-blues-rock band Little Quills is about to release 'Strong Bold Brave’ at Coburg's Post Office Hotel on February 15. Born from friendship, resilience, and a shared love of singing, the new album is a soulful and heartfelt testament of survival against the odds, with nine songs telling a story about the power of friendship and strength in the face of adversity. Tune in to hear from band members Pina and Sally as they join Crispi on Radio City.

Tune in to Junkyard this week as Michael Mulholland catches up with members from local super group Bleak Squad. Made up of Adalita, Mick Harvey, Mick Turner and Marty Brown, the alternative 4 piece will be coming in for a Studio 5 Live performance. Having received an AMP nomination last year for their debut album, the band has unveiled their new single 'Black and White' as their inaugural national tour draws to an end. Listen in to hear how the tour has been so far.

The new album 'Hotel Texas' from The Smith & Western Jury takes listeners on a captivating journey through tales of pain, love, and loss, showcasing the true quality of Australia’s alt-country scene. Rolling like a runaway freight train on stage, the band’s live performances take the golden twang, iconic guitar lines, and killer vocals of the recordings to another level. Tune in to hear about their show for the Summer Sizzler series, taking place at Memo Music Hall on February 21.

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Norris Man is a distinguished roots reggae artist known for his soulful vocals and spiritually conscious lyrics. Inspired by reggae legends like Bob Marley, his musical journey began in the 1990s. After his break through with his 1997 single 'Persistence,' Norris Man has released numerous albums, including 'Life' (2023) and 'Free Man' (2024). Tune in to Babylon Burning as Jesse I catches up with him while he’s in town.

Blending acoustic, traditional folk, roots, and pop sounds, singer-songwriter Lucy Wise’s voice pulls hearts out from the shadows. She masterfully articulates the things we don’t often say out loud, describing in rich detail what it’s like to live in the world at this particular moment. Stopping by the Global Village to play a few live songs, Lucy chats with Roger about her forthcoming album 'Salt' and its crowdfunding campaign. Tune in to hear about her show at The Lomond Hotel on February 14.

Local psych-rock band Brown Spirits are playing at this year’s Drive Live on February 18 on The Afterglow Radio Show. Bringing their deep funk and jazz-influenced instrumental music live to air for a free show at Collingwood Yard’s CY venue, Brooke catches up with Tim from the band. Tune in to hear what Brown Spirits have on the cards for 2026.

Eight years after their debut LP, local trio Grim Rhythm return with a new single, ‘Forever Eating Sh*t’, which also serves as the title track of their upcoming album. The release signals the start of a long-awaited new chapter for a band that has spent more than a decade building its reputation outside the usual channels. Tune in to Pojama People as Chris Pearson catches up with members of the band about the new album, soon to be released on March 11.

Melbourne alternative-metal band Thornhill are set to celebrate their 2025 album ‘BODIES’ at Forum Melbourne on February 27, marking both their first Australian shows since the album's release and also the group's biggest headline shows to date. Ryan catches up with vocalist Jacob Charlton about the band’s recent success, tune in to hear how Thornhill were asked to play at Good Things Festival just three hours before it began.

Tune in to Tyrannocoreus as Ryan chats with Daniel Furnari, drummer for Eora/Sydney metalcore giants Polaris. Formed in 2012 and with multiple ARIA Award nominations up their sleeve, Daniel will chat with Ryan about Polaris' self-curated festival 'Life’s a Beach', their upcoming US tour with Linkin Park and Electric Callboy, along with their new fourth studio album.

Tasmanian folk troubadour Zac Henderson is rolling through town this February for his 'Change the Tides' album tour. Known for his poetic lyricism, rich vocals, and effortless storytelling, Zac brings his new record to life with a captivating live set that drifts between heartfelt reflection and spirited acoustic energy. Playing at The Old Bar on February 14, The Thornbury Local on the 15th and Mama Chen’s on the 16th, tune in to Down By The River to hear an acoustic live set from Zac.