Interviews

On Radio City this week, Crispi will be joined by Scott Thurling, the founder of local record label Popboomerang. Releasing music since 2002 with over 80 recordings to date, Scott will be chatting about releasing a compilation called 'Shake Yer Popboomerang 4', featuring rare and unreleased tracks from Australian bands on July 3. Tune in to hear about the compilation launch shows at Shotkickers on August 9, followed by The Tote on August 15.

Local singer-songwriter Barb Waters returns with new music under her own name for the first time in over 15 years. A duet with her daughter Jeanie Pilkington of Folk Bitch Trio, 'Farmer's Wife' was produced by Barb's partner and Jeanie's dad Craig Pilkington (who also played bass on the recording), making for a real family affair. Barb and Craig join Crispi on Radio City, chatting about their new music and upcoming show at Brunswick Ballroom on August 16.

Queenscliff Music Festival is about to announce it's second line-up of musicians at the annual, three day festival taking place on November 27 - 29. With the first announce including musicians such as Peter Garrett & The Alter Egos, Baker Boy and Steph Strings, Festival Director Claire Stickland will be sharing the second line-up live on Swinging Doors. Tune in to hear what other incredible artists will be playing at this years Queenscliff Music Festival, down on the Bellarine Peninsula.

2026 marks the 50th year as a recording artist for Australian musician Ed Kuepper. To celebrate, he is taking to the road with The Exploding Universe (of Ed Kuepper), a full band performance featuring the added talents of drummer Mark Dawson, bassist Peter Oxley, keyboard player Alister Spence and brass arranger Eamon Dilworth, tackling material from right across Ed’s illustrious 50-year career. Ed Kuepper joins Michael Mulholland on the show to chat about the tour.

Blending 90s nostalgia with modern South Asian electronic sounds, Ritviz’s 'Kurta Saree Dance Party' invites people into a world of colour, culture and connection. Expect a fully curated environment - from striking visuals and décor to a crowd that becomes part of the experience, dressed in kurtas, sarees and sneakers. Pradip catches up with Indian artist Ritviz ahead of the show at 170 Russel on July 26, chatting about this celebration of global identity and youth culture.

The world of claire rousay is one of irregular, overlooked and intimate beauty. Over the course of her ever-growing body of work, she has charted a musical terrain that remains utterly personal while resonating on a deeply communal level. Following her intimate solo voice and piano Studio 5 Live performance, Hannah catches up with claire to discuss her Australian tour, and how she's finding Melbourne.

Catching up with Helen Jennings this morning is locally based blues and soul singer-songwriter Andrea Marr. Her current projects include the Andrea Marr Band, The McNaMarr Project and Urban Praise Gospel Choir. She's also a vocal coach and songwriting teacher, and is the Coordinator for 'Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society Women In Blues'. Tune in to Roots of Rhythm to hear about her upcoming 'Blues Guitar Roadshow’s Victoria' tour. 

Coming into Roots of Rhythm this morning is vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Kaliopi Stavropoulo, from local group Kaliopi & The Blues Messenger. Following their award-winning 2024 album 'The Devil’s Voodoo Curse' - which charted in the ABARAC Top 25 for twelve months and earned VIC/TAS Blues Award recognition, the band entered a defining chapter with the release of 'How The Caged Bird Sings' (2025). Tune in to hear about the band's new album.

The darkwave project of Brisbane artist Jed A. Walters, Chiffon Magnifique has evolved into a full live band drawing from post-punk, goth rock, and minimal wave to create a dynamic live show. Ahead of their debut Naarm/Melbourne show at 'Black Planet', Jed joins Bleeding Black Hearts Revue to talk about his influences and surviving the dark subculture in sunny Queensland.

Formed in 2023, Sydney darkwave band INAUGURAL channel the perspective of two biblically accurate angels navigating late-stage capitalism. Tune in to Bleeding Black Hearts Revue as they discuss their musical roots, songwriting process and their EP 'Stone Tapes' ahead of their live performance at Nighthawks on July 25.

Renowned for her elegant, elastic voice, singer-songwriter, producer and classically trained pianist Agnes Obel is coming to Naarm/ Melbourne. Performing at Hamer Hall on September 26, Obel's poised, melancholic chamber pop draws from the same atmosphere-heavy well as cinematic spellcasters, but with a distinctly Scandinavian sense of refinement. Ahead of her Australian tour, Lauren Plant catches up with Agnes Obel on Down By The River.

Coming on to Junkyard this evening is Finn Andrews from Aotearoa/ New Zealand band The Veils. Returning to the spotlight with 'Fragile World', the new album marks a striking shift in tone and energy for the band. Recorded live to tap, 'Fragile World' captures The Veils in an urgent and instinctive mode.
With an album release show taking place at Northcote Social Club on August 21, tune in for an intimate discussion between Michael Mulholland and Finn Andrews about the new record.

One of metal's most uncategorizable acts The Amenta have been synthesising the ugliest aspects of death, black, and noise into a unique maelstrom for over 25 years. Well known across the world for their intense live shows, The Amenta combine speed, anger, and weird sound with smoke and strobes to create a brutal, overwhelming experience. Ahead of their 'Black Plant' show at The Bendigo Hotel and Nighthawks on July 25, Kene catches up with keyboardist Tim Pope on Burning Bitumen.

Knife's trajectory has been relentless since forming in 2020. The band have cemented their reputation on Australian stages, appearing at 'Metal In The Mountains' and 'Essence Festival', supporting international acts and legends like Vicious Circle, and sharing bills across metal, grindcore, punk, and noise scenes. Tune in to Burning Bitumen as Kene catches up with Knife ahead of their 'Black Planet' appearance on July 25. 

Taking influence from Hindustani, Sufi, Afrobeat, and Anatolian rock, Adelaide band Maajela creates a powerful celebration of music through the different melodies, traditions, and rhythms these genres possess. Combining the sounds of the cultures they represent with contemporary, layered, and expressive writing, the band are coming to Melbourne on July 31 for a show at The Evelyn Hotel. Pradip catches up with the band on TBEG, chatting about their new album 'Man Ke Andar'. 

Local three-piece Dumbhead will be taking their experimental electronica, trip hop and live beat-making to Studio 5 Live on Homebrew this July.  Formed by Maayan Barnatan, Billie Raffety, and Zach Salmon, the group are known for their genre-bending sound, creating bass-heavy music built for late-night movement. Tune in to hear them chat with Brooke about their latest single ‘White Knuckles’, and what they have in store for the rest of this year. 

Groovy organ trio Hook Turn, featuring Adrian Whitehead, Daniel Berry and Tim Nikolsky, will be sharing their funky and spacey original music with Tom Sianidis live on Jumpin’ The Blues this week. Named after Naarm/Melbourne's infamous intersection manoeuvre - where you swing left to turn right - Hook Turn takes the indirect route to the pocket, and that's exactly where they live. Tune in from 1.30pm to hear the band perform live on the show.

Melbourne's own dreamy goth/darkwave act Chiron are returning after a long hiatus with a new album 'A Dark Beauty'. Founded in 1997 by vocalist Michael Aliani (aka Carrodus), after he left popular cult dark wave band Ikon, Michael, Ivan and Dino will join Kristen on Bleeding Black Hearts Revue to discuss the new album. Tune in to hear about the making of the album, along with tracks from the new record.

Joining Ian Parsons for an interview after her Studio 5 Live performance is Finnish/Australian double bassist, vocalist and composer Helen Svoboda. Her new album 'Headwater' was a PBS Feature Album in July, and it explores notions of fragmentation, individuality and wholeness, shaped by disparate and complementary aspects of Helen Svoboda’s practice. Tune in to hear about the distinctive sonic world that Helen has created in this record.