Interviews

Equally at home on acoustic or electric guitars, Fiona Boyes mostly original repertoire is like a blues travelogue. With Delta slide guitar, single chord Mississippi Hills grooves, intricate country blues finger picking, catch her playing at the Newport Bowls Club on October 5. Tune in to Roots of Rhythm as Helen catches up with Fiona ahead of the show.

Featuring a stellar lineup of some of Melbourne’s finest jazz musicians, including Andrew Swann on drums and vocals, Melbourne Jazz Collective is a powerhouse 12-piece ensemble performing in the style of the classic sessions that took place in New York, Chicago, and Kansas City jazz clubs during the golden era. Helen Jennings chats with Andrew on the day of the performance, tune in to hear about 'Big Band Super Sessions', taking place at Bird’s Basement on September 24.

Having emerged from the fiery depths of Melbourne's underground metal scene, DREGG will be performing their debut album 'The Art of Everything' at Howler on September 27. Having quickly carved out a reputation for their uncompromising sound and electrifying live performances, they'll be joined by special guests Gravitate and Aurateque. Tune in as Ryan catches up with vocalist Christopher Mackertich, chatting about DREGG's recent signing with Fearless Records.

Hailing from the USA, I Prevail have been crafting a blend of nu-metal, post-hardcore and heavy rock since 2013. They gained major attention with their debut EP 'Heart vs. Mind' in 2014, and have since released Gold and Platinum certified singles, with their work also earning Grammy recognition. Ryan catches up with  I Prevail vocalist Eric Vanlerberghe, tune in to hear about their new album 'Violent Nature' and their busy European tour schedule.

Ukrainian psych-prog band Stoned Jesus are bringing their seismic sound to Melbourne on October 4 as part of their XV Anniversary Tour, celebrating 15 years of shaping the stoner rock and doom metal scenes. Known for their thunderous riffs, introspective lyrics, and genre-defying albums, Stoned Jesus will be playing at The Leadbeater Hotel in Richmond. Chris Pearson catches up with the band, tune in to hear about their Australian debut.

Art-punk project PROPERTY taunts a lustful musical effigy of 20th century sex and rock'n'rolla. Rising from the rubbles of the housing market, the kinetic three piece aims to question genre, gender and general life whilst slowly building a DIY dynasty. Coming on to Underground Love, tune in to hear them chat with David Pisker about their EP launch '12 Reps to Revelations', going down at Bell City Takeaways on September 28. 

A collective of women who love vinyl, Music Is The Massage are bringing their tunes and turntables to Dr Morse on Friday, September 26, for a night of good music and party vibes. They’ll be joined by JNETT and Lady Love Potion, with the evening kicking off from 4pm to 1am. Dropping into Headhunters, tune in to hear more about this Grand Final Eve party.

'Telepathic Fish: Trawling The Early 90s Ambient Underground' recounts the seminal underground ambient party scene from South London. An album compilation of personal favourites that were played at the 'Telepathic Fish' parties during the 90s, the tracks are picked and arranged by David Vallade, Mario Aguera and DJ Food who combed their collections for key pieces they associate with the time. Tune in to Deeep Space as Lloyd catches up with UK DJ Kevin Foakes, aka DJ Food. 

Led by ARIA-nominated trumpeter-producer Reuben Lewis, I Hold The Lion’s Paw are popping in to Studio 5 Live to share with Stars In The Static listeners their twisted blend of funk, electro-grunge, and psychedelic jazz. Using the stage as a laboratory while practising post-production sorcery in real time, Greg will catch up with the band after their live performance. Tune in to hear about I Hold The Lion’s Paw third studio album, 'Potentially Interesting Jazz Music'.

Opa Bato! and Estudiantina of Melbourne will come together for a riotous evening at the Brunswick Ballroom on Saturday, September 27. Con Kalamaras from Estudiantina and Dušan Mitrović from Opa Bato! visit Global Village to share the story behind this vibrant overlap of frenetic Balkan brass music from Serbia, Macedonia, and beyond, with the local blend of Greek, Turkish, Jewish, and Armenian influences. Tune in to hear their spellbinding fusion of cultures and traditions.

On September 19, Audio Vitamins is turning six! To celebrate, Jonny is bringing on Italian DJ and producer Raffaele Arcella. Related to the Periodica Records collective, Raffaele’s music blends cosmic sounds, proto house, jazz-funk, and electronica. Tune in as Jonny chats with Raffaele about his forthcoming material, career to date and the 'Naples' sound, followed by a high-energy guest mix.

Tune in to Stone Love this Friday for a dreamy live performance of kaleidoscopic folk music from Matty Groves. The band will join Richie 1250 to share their latest album, 'The Magical Speckled Band', a collection of songs written over the past several years, exploring themes of urban pressure, capitalism, reincarnation, and the contradictions of modern existence. Listen in to hear about Matty Groves' album launch at Cactus Room on September 26.

After 14 years, The Vasco Era are back with their fourth album, 'I Don't Mind', and they’ll be bringing their intoxicating rock energy into Studio 5 Live. Comprised of brothers Sid (guitar and vocals) and Ted O’Neil (bass), along with lifelong friend Michael (drums, percussion, arrangements), the new album explores the driving force fans came to know and love, with wild, angular, ethereal moments juxtaposed against delicate, beautiful lightness. Tune in as Phil catches up with Ted.

Melbourne’s three-guitar rock’n’roll power poppers The Prize have announced the imminent release of their debut album 'In The Red', out September 19 via Anti Fade Records. Since gaining global attention with their 2022 EP 'Wrong Side of Town', the band have also released a new single, 'From The Night'. Nadine Muller and Carey Paterson from the band stop by Radio City to chat with Crispi about the new album - the day before it drops.

Tune in to Boss Action for an incredible, live acapella performance by The Bamboos vocalists, Lance Ferguson and Kylie Auldist. This year marks 25 years of the local funk and soul trailblazers, and to celebrate, they’re releasing a deluxe compilation, 'The Bamboos Best', and performing live at Northcote Theatre on September 20. From their raw, deep funk beginnings to their genre-defying evolution, tune in to hear how the last 25 years have shaped the group.

After more than two years since performing in their home country, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard are back this December with two uniquely Melbourne shows. Night one will see the band perform with a 29-piece orchestra at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl on December 12, followed by a second night showcasing King Gizz in all their rock glory. Members of the band drop in to PBS to catch up with Milo, tune in to hear all about their latest and twenty-seventh studio album, 'Phantom Island'.

Tune in to Tyrannocoreus this September 17 as Ryan catches up with deathcore band The Rising Tide, hailing from Aotearoa/New Zealand. They’ll be chatting about their debut album 'Trauma' and their recent tour with trap metal/nu-metal band The Weight Of Silence. Listen in to find out when we can next expect to see them in Melbourne.

After quietly dissolving at the end of 2023, Melbourne post-hardcore act Alera have made a surprise comeback with their new single, 'Killing For Something'. Ryan chats with vocalist Hayden Oakley and guitarist Thomas Katgert about the breakup, performing under the pseudonym Cruelty In The Constellations, and what’s next for the band. Tune in to Tyrannocoreus to hear about their upcoming show at The Espy on September 20, along with the digital release of their redux EP, 'Beware The Snake'.

Known as the forefathers of desert rock, the Californian Brant Bjork Trio are back in Melbourne to promote the release of 'Once Upon a Time in the Desert', their first album in the current Trio format. With long time collaborator Mario Lalli (Yawning Man, Fatso Jetson) on the bass, the band creates a fluid heavy groove that they'll be sharing at Blacken Open Air Festival on September 19 - 22. Tune in to Pojama People as Chris Pearson catches up with the band while they're in town.

Experimental producer and art-pop auteur ROMÆO celebrates the release of her new concept EP ‘Eternal Recurrence’, a sophisticated exploration of im/permanence that meanders through the moody waters of trip-pop and ambient soundscapes. Supported by local resident electro-country-murder-ballad lesbian Toy Shaw, heavy-hearted-yet-hopeful Second Skin, and pig-in-a-wig Miss Piggy Mit, ROMÆO joins Brooke on Homebrew to chat about the show going down at Cactus Room on September 19.