Interviews

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.

Local techno producer Mike Blyth, AKA Hasvat Informant, has made a name for himself locally and internationally with his pulsating, hypnotic underground techno. His debut album, 'Pluripotent XII', is a 12-track journey that moves between psychedelic electronics and contemporary techno. Joining Penny on Passing Notes, tune in to hear everything from driving, precise grooves to slower, textured explorations.

With a standout set at Strawberry Fields last year and a forthcoming vinyl release on the horizon, tune in to the second half of Tomorrowland as ROKA joins Edd Fisher on the show. Listen in to hear more about '1800 Play Turns 2 with Snad, Silki and ROKA (debut live set)' at Angel Music Bar on February 6.

'Lunacy' is back on February 7 with the boss of Nasgero himself, Gero (Klymax Discotheque, ID). Coming back for his second round at 'Lunacy', Gero takes over the basement for four house, with support from Lunatic Music DJs. Tune in from 1pm as Gero joins Edd Fisher to chat about his upcoming show at A Smith St Basement.

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.

On February 14, local artist Queenie will be taking her melting pot of immersive soundscapes, raw emotion and powerhouse vocals to Riverboats Music Festival in Echuca. Blending vulnerability with voltage, Queenie’s songs cut deep - led by 'Not Divine', which was shortlisted for APRA’s 2025 Song of the Year and cemented her reputation as a fearless, genre-blurring songwriter. Tune in to Swinging Doors as Queenie joins Ernie on the show.

Co-founder of 'Old Crow Medicine Show' and Gillian Welch and David Rawlings collaborator, Willie Watson is back with a suite of new music. Stripped of the cowboy hat and expectations, Watson has emerged as a songwriter of rare depth and truth. His new work stands proudly alongside the folk canon he has long championed - songs that remind us of our shared burdens, resilience and the possibility of renewal. Tune in as Ernie catches up with Willie ahead of his show at Brunswick Ball on March 4.

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.

The artist behind this week’s PBS Feature Album, Owelu Dreamhouse, will be dropping by for a round of Musical Chairs with Milo Eastwood. A collaborative project between vocalist Nkechi Anele and arranger and multi-instrumentalist Nic Ryan-Glenie, Owelu Dreamhouse’s self-titled debut album is a sonic blend of cinematic soul, psychedelia, and Afrobeat, weaving through the complexities of cultural ties, gender, and identity. Tune in to hear about their show at PBS’ Drive Live on February 20.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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'. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

'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".