Interviews

This week PBS presents a very special delayed broadcast of The Juke Joint Live in Concert, recorded at the 2026 Port Fairy Folk Festival. Tune in to hear live sets and interviews from Nick Charles, Anna Scionti (pictured) and the Lloyd Spiegel Trio as well as a thrilling all-in jam to bring the concert to a close.

After 35+ years in music, juggled between careers in family law and as a Federal Circuit Court Judge, feminist and political songwriter Judy Small bids farewell to music due to illness, releasing two final tracks 'Stand or Fall' and 'Within These Walls (Yad Vashem)', marking the close of her music story. Joining Roger Holdsworth on the Global Village, tune in to hear about Judy Small's incredible musical journey. 

Australian composer, performer, and academic, Professor Cat Hope, will be joining Ian Parsons on The Sound Barrier to talk about the music and legacy of Éliane Radigue, one of the world's most important composers of experimental music, who died on February 23 at the age of 94. Éliane Radigue is especially known for her deeply immersive music, which focuses on stillness and slowly, microscopically shifting sound colours and textures. Tune in to hear about Cat's friendship with Éliane Radigue

Mutti Mutti, Yort Yorta and Nari Nari Songman, Kutcha Edwards has been recognised as one of the nation’s most powerful and soulful voices. Since emerging in the 90’s, Kutcha has been prolifically combining songwriting and activism. Through his songs, stories, and the connections he makes with others, Kutcha shares truths that are too often unheard. Playing at the Recital Centre on April 17, Kutcha stops by The Breakfast Spread. Tune in for a live performance from Kutcha Edwards and Jay Jerome.

Local duo Zoltan Fecso and Anna Morley are about to release their debut collaborative album 'Desire Path' on Sydney's Oxtail Recordings on March 27. A collection of atmospheric duets for vibraphone and synthesiser, the album was recorded live and unedited. Tune in to Deeep Space as they join Lloyd to chat about their upcoming east-coast tour with shows in Hobart, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.

Boorloo / Perth-based experimental psych outfit Monotonic have just released their new single, ‘Lazers At Dawn’, the second track to be taken from their upcoming album ‘Heavy Metal’, out March 27. A hazy, fuzz-drenched expedition fuelled by cult cinema and various altered states, ‘Lazers At Dawn’ pushes deeper into the band’s hypnotic, genre-blurring sound. Lucas is joined by Liam Coffey, tune in to hear more about this band that's made up of veterans from Perth’s golden alt-rock era.

On April 2, Brunswick Ballroom will host Bluetile Lounge’s first live performance in over 20 years. Persevered with refining a unique downtempo sound in Perth in the 1990s adrift from contemporary rock values, Bluetile Lounge favours slow burn permanence to quick reward. Although their two albums ‘lowercase' and 'Half | Cut' went unrecognised, in the decades since they have been rediscovered and admired. Dan of Bluetile Lounge joins Claire Dickson to chat about the band's upcoming show.

Southern California’s Spite, the decibel-and-soul-crushing deathcore unit, are returning to Melbourne this April for their first-ever Australian headline tour, bringing with them Pennsylvania’s Varials and local heavyweights DIESECT. Having released their debut album 'Nothing Is Beautiful’ in 2017, the band are entering the next cycle as they drop their new album, 'New World Killer' via Rise Records. Tune in to Tyrannocoreus to hear about their show at Max Watt's Melbourne on April 30.

Another artist joining Ryan on Tyrannocoreus this Tuesday night is Shane Lyons, the guitarist for Pennsylvania metalcore band Varials. Their 2025 album 'Where The Light Leaves' marks a rebirth, pulling from their heaviest roots and introducing Skyler as the band’s new frontman. Chatting about the reception their new record has received across North America, tune in to hear about their Australian tour in April, supporting Spite.

Anchored by their lead single 'The Deep' - a driving, cinematic statement of intent, Telenova's sophomore album 'The Warning' expands the group's universe into something more urgent and exposed than ever before. They'll be taking their shadowy, sample-driven songs laced with trip-hop and electronica influences to Forum Melbourne on May 2. But first, Telenova stops by PBS to join Milo Eastwood on The Breakfast Spread. Tune in for a live, stripped back performance from Telenova.

Calling the road home and working tirelessly as full-time musicians, the whiskey-drenched Americana and hill-country blues artists Julian James and Beci Kate are true to life troubadours - living out of a bus while enthralling and connecting with audiences across Australia through their performances. Bringing their new record 'Prey to the Crow' to towns across Australia this month, Helen catches up with the duo on Roots of Rhythm to chat about their new album.

Local singer-songwriter Flynn Gurry has released his new EP 'Gold', a heartfelt and energetic collection that captures a defining moment for the rising artist. Led by the gritty folk-rock single 'Bones', the EP finds Flynn expanding his sonic palette while staying true to the warmth, relatability and storytelling that have quickly set him apart. Catching up with Lauren Plant on Down By The River, tune in to hear a live, acoustic performance from Flynn Gurry.

On April 10 at The Corner Hotel, Kim Salmon will be putting on a night of seminal swamp rock with his bands The Scientists and Kim Salmon and the Surrealists. Kim Salmon’s most enduring legacy, though not one he particularly set out to create, will no doubt be that many blame him, or at least The Scientists, for 'grunge.' Tune in to Radio City as Crispi catches up with Kim about the show, which will thematically and dynamically glide through the band's musical evolutions.

At Lulie Tavern on March 29,  Van Walker will be taking to the stage with his band Badlanders. With a new swag of originals to share, Van will be joined by Nick O’Mara (Raised by Eagles) on guitar, Mick Stylianou (Saint Jude) on bass, Dave Rose (Joni Lightning) on drums and Camilla Hodgkins (Boof!) on keys. Coming in to Swinging Doors to play a couple of live, acoustic songs for Ernie, tune in to hear about his upcoming new album 'Healing Descent'.

Joining Penny for this episode of Passing Notes is Helsinki artist Jeku. His latest release ‘Peyote Trance’, follows Jeku's journey into the 'trip', where mother nature pulls the strings, instead of the tin foil hatted puppet masters that hold the strings to us all. Finding solace in the dance and opting for psychedelic enlightenment over psychological terror, tune in for an energetic guest mix and interview from the Paris based producer. 

'Sono Una Pera' is an Italian folkloric inspired album by local musician Adam Halliwell. Weaving between improvisations and compositions using old and new forgotten technologies, the album relays stories, fantasies, tales and false experiences inspired by a quasi-Italian life with his grandparents in Diamond Creek. Performed solo and recorded live early last year, Lloyd will be catching up with Adam about the new album. Tune in to find out when it's due for release.

A tango between vintage doom metal and modern heavy rock, Devil Electric's new album 'Tahlia' is a homage to the Latin phrase 'that which nourishes me, destroys me'. Known for their crushing riffs, haunting vocals, and commanding stage presence, the band are coming on to Pojama People for a Studio 5 Live performance. Chris Pearson catches up with the four-piece about their new album. 

Born in post-grunge Collingwood in late 1995, Augie March are celebrating 20 years of their platinum album 'Moo, You Bloody Choir' which saw the band gate-crash the mainstream party in 2006. Playing their third studio album in its entirety at The Croxton on April 9, the record features their hit, 'One Crowded Hour' which topped Triple J’s Hottest 100 at the time. Tune in to Radio City as Crispi catches up with vocalist/guitarist Glenn Richards while he's in town. 

Boasting a collection of high-calibre musicians with an impressive pedigree (The Cat Empire, The Badloves, Ajak Kwai), PSI PHI will be launching their debut album at Shotkickers on April 18. Drawing inspiration from the gatefold-era of 70s prog and psych rock hedonistic excess, PSI PHI evoke the gods and monsters of the golden age of rock with virtuosity and intensity. Members of the group stop by Pojama People, tune in to hear them chat with Chris Pearson about the upcoming show.

This week on Down by the River PBS presents a special delayed broadcast from the 2026 Port Fairy Folk Festival. Join Lauren on stage for live sets and interviews from Irish Mythen (pictured), Svavar Knútur and Charley Castle and the Boys in the Well. Re-live the magic of this concert and feel the energy of this unique live radio event.

Three respected and influential singer-songwriters - Sara Storer, Shane Howard and Shane Nicholson - will join forces in an extraordinary live collaboration, celebrating the craft, power and legacy of Australian songwriting at MEMO Music Hall on May 14. This event will bring together three distinct voices whose songs have shaped the nation’s cultural landscape across generations. The two Shane's join Ernie, tune in to hear an intimate live performance from them.

Coming on to Swinging Doors to perform a couple of live songs for Ernie is US musician Mike Frazier. Hailing from the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia but relocated to Seattle, Washington in 2022, Mike Frazier is carrying on the tradition of record craft with a focus on authentic songwriting and high-quality production. Tune in to hear what brings him to Naarm/Melbourne. 

Formed in Santiniketan, West Bengal, in 2009, The Three Seas grew out of an all-night jam between Australian saxophonist Matt Keegan and local musicians Raju Das Baul and Deo Ashis Mothey, alongside Kolkata-based drummer Gaurab 'Gaboo' Chatterjee. Joining Pradip on Tiger Beats Elephant Grooves, tune in to hear about their new album 'Antahkarana', a luminous meeting of Baul mysticism, Himalayan folk, rock and dub, which they'll be performing at Jazz Lab on April 11. 

Solo artist of the year from the 2021 'Australian Folk Music Awards', Ruth Hazleton is taking her darkfolk album 'Heronbones' to Brunswick Ballroom on Sunday, April 29. A collection of stories (both traditional and composed), Ruth draws from deep wells of folklore and trad song, reshaping these narratives through a darkfolk lens, blending electronic sampling and sound design with guitar and banjo. Ruth Hazleton joins Lauren Plant on the show to chat about the upcoming album launch.