Interviews

Heavy Congress is set for its long-awaited RISING Festival debut at The Forum on June 4. The evening features 10 crews of DJs, MCs and live performing artists, each wielding colossal custom speaker stacks and bringing the sound system tradition to the CBD. Adrian's Wall founder and selector Adrian Hough comes in to PBS to chat about the event and to drop some big bass on Wheels of Steel. Tune in to The Breakfast Spread and start your Friday morning right.

Last year, Scottish icons of post-rock Arab Strap released 'As Days Get Dark,' their first album in 16 years. It's an existential confrontation of middle-aged masculinity, and the sordid comedy and horror that come with it. On June 3, the duo will be bringing along a full band to play songs from their complex back catalogue as part of their RISING Festival show at The Forum. They also made time for a candid chat with Michael Mulholland that you can hear on Junkyard ahead of the concert.

Celebrating 11 years of 'Kickin the B at 303,' Paul Williamson's Hammond Combo, Cookin' on 3 Burners and PSI-PHI join forces on June 2 to put on an anniversary party to remember. Presenter Gary Jones chats with Tom Sianidis about this special occasion. Tune in from 1pm to Jumpin' The Blues.

Launched in 1982 in France as the Fête de la Musique and now held on the same day (June 21) in more than 750 cities in 120 countries Make Music Day celebrates music of all forms. Rob Walker and make music day ambassador Lloyd Spiegel call in to play a couple of tunes and talk about how you can participate in Make Music Day.

Spanning 1 - 12 June and comprising of 225 events and 801 artists from across the globe RISING festival will electrify Melbourne. Set in the heart of Melbourne and surrounding areas artists will take over venues, carparks, gardens and rooftops with art installations, theatre, dance and music performances. RISING co-artistic director Hannah Fox speaks to Annika about the program on State of the Art.

Naarm/Melbourne-based artist Hektor shares his exciting new sophomore EP, ‘Nighthawks’ as the natural follow-up to his 2020 debut ‘Rituals.’ The newcomer is quickly carving out a unique voice in the Australian electronic landscape. He joins Cas on The Modernist to chat more about his musical approach and practice. Tune in early on Wednesday morning.

Taking their name from a euphemism for sexual intercourse from 'Dictionary of Sexual Slang' and formed by members of sludge group She Beast and noise group Colostomy Baguette?. Religious Observance call in to Burning Bitumen talk about their tour.

Legendary guitarist Steve Lucas (X, Bigger than Jesus etc) visits PBS to have a chat with Chris on Pojama People. With a brand new blues album out in the world, and a rare live gig from X coming up at the Espy, Steve remains as busy as ever...but still finds the time to swing by our beloved station.

Best known for his collaborations with some of music's most finest artists and one half of new-beat dance band The Double, guitarist Emmett Kelly has cemented himself as a musical chameleon. Tune in to Pojama People as Emmett calls ahead of The Double's performance at RISING Festival June 1 and special solo show at Nighthawks June 2.

Jake Robertson (Alien Nosejob) and Violetta Del Conte-Race (Primo!) recently teamed up and put out a gorgeous album with Anti-Fade Records under the name 'Modal Melodies.' The record is synth-pop. But it's much more as it blends distortion with lushness, and fuses disco with synth-wave. Tune in to Underground Love when Jake and Vio drop in to visit Jordan and tell him all about the new record.

Having performed old time music and bluegrass for over 50 years, John Boothroyd has been a prominent figure of the Melbourne folk scene during this period. He has also taught banjo and guitar at major conventions. Throughout this time John has performed in various groups, recorded albums, published books and has been a regular fill-in host on Southern Style. John drops in to perform some tunes live at PBS.

Brooklyn-based global crate-digger Jitwam is set to debut a new show with a live band as part of RISING Festival. The soulful vibe-maker is joined by his creative partner, Melbourne-based Japanese violinist and producer Elle Shimada, when they drop in on Mystic Brew to chat with Mike about cultural curiosity and the future of music.

At the heart of Phil Stroud's forthcoming double LP 'Apparitions' is a deep love of improvisation and collaboration in music. The distinct ensemble focus on the album allows for the development of modal and rhythmic ideas that are imagined by Stroud and then fully realised with the help of such collaborators as Adam Halliwell and Henry Hicks. Tune in to Headhunters to hear more about this work from this visionary composer/percussionist.

In their first Australian shows since the release of their acclaimed 2021 record 'Mirror II,' Brisbane pop trio The Goon Sax bring their stylish, gothic anthems of youthful ennui to Melbourne for a night to remember. Ahead of their RISING show at Max Watt's on June 2 with fellow post-punk outfit EXEK, the band's Louis Forster visits PBS for an intimate chat with Kurt. Tune in to Homebrew from 3pm.

Melbourne soul quintet Velvet Bloom's debut EP, Glimmer, is as shiny and ethereal as its title suggests. Serving a lavish feast of R&B delights, the EP showcases the earnest, warm and heart stirring talents of front-woman Maddy Herbert atop a solid, soulful backing band. Maddy drops in on The Breakfast Spread to chat about Glimmer and to play a couple of stripped back songs from the EP.

The Konstantin Projekt: Grandmother's Tongue is an original song cycle for three voices, piano, trumpet and violin - that straddles borders, tracking chickens and people, alive with music, storytelling, performance making and puppetry. It explores migration, immigration and refuge, asking 'where do chickens actually come from?' They are actually south-east Asian birds that cannot fly. Konstantin the Rooster is the Trickster and the hero of the story. Musical director Nela Trifkovic talks about.

Outlaw folk duo Above The Bit release their gritty Americana single 'Walyer' ahead of their self-titled debut album release on 26 May. Comprised of singer-songwriters Nigel Wearne and Luke Watt, Above The Bit shines a light on true tales of mutiny and civil disobedience in Australian history. Tune in to hear Nigel talk about their album on 5ft High & Rising.

amuwa is the nom de plume of Sydney/Eora-based Joshua Deering. Last year, the 25 year old producer put out a solid debut EP titled 'Force Majeure' about which he's calling in on Passing Notes. Tune in from 8 on Friday night to hear his chat with Penny.

Created as a way to rebel against rock stereotypes and sexism, Scene Queen is the hyper-feminist character created by Hannah Collins. Ryan chats to Hannah about her debut EP 'Bimbocore,' touring the UK and going viral on Tiktok.

Melbourne teenage punks William Smith & Nate Hughan of Dewey talk to Ryan about their debut album 'Point Of Break,' supporting The Chats and upcoming show supporting Nicolas Cage Fighter.