Interviews

On November 21 in Castlemaine, Winter McQuinn will be bringing the 70s to Town Folk Festival. With three acclaimed albums and a spate of notable musical friends, Melbourne based songwriter Winter McQuinn explores country and folk, imbued by psychedelia with a contemporary edge. Stopping by The Breakfast Spread this Wednesday morning to catch up with Milo Eastwood, tune in to hear a live, acoustic performance from Winter McQuinn.

The Pearly Shells are launching their latest album 'Hot 5 Live!' at the Kindred Bandroom in Footscray on Saturday, July 4 from 3pm. Recorded Live at the now closed 'Claypots' in St Kilda, the band will be bringing the loose and live vibe to Kindred with their Hot 6-piece band and a stack of special guests, including Paula Maki on saxophone, boogie boogie prince Dan Wass on upright piano and Yoland Ingley ll on vocals. Steve Purcell stops by PBS to chat with Tom about the new album release.

This morning on Game Jams, Matt Schenkel will chat with UK composer and producer Oli Horton aka Dreamtrak, along with Martin Binfield. Having worked with collaborators such as Alex Burnett on numerous projects for Australian artists, including Thelma Plum, Hockey Dad, and others, Oli has teamed up with long-time collaborator Martin Binfield, game developer and owner of Abandoned Sheep. Tune in to hear about the making of 'Schrödinger's Cat Burglar' a puzzle-heist adventure.

In a relentless, restless world, Stu Larsen went in search of silence and stillness in some of the most remote corners of the globe. His new record 'Solitude' features 12 songs written over 12 months while hiding away in 12 different locations around the world - a year-long journey into the unknown. Stopping by Down By The River with his acoustic guitar, tune in for a live performance from Stu Larsen, and to hear about his show at the Wesley Anne on June 26

Joining Crispi on the show today is local indie rock sweetheart Hannah Kate, chatting about their show at Stone Fest, as part of Leaps and Bounds Festival. Taking place at The Gem on Sunday July 19, the festival will feature indie rock, alt-country and folk-adjacent artists, including Girlatones, Daisy Kilbourne, A.C Saunders, Hannah Kate and more. Tune in to hear about this free show, and what Hannah Kate has instore for the punters. 

Mark Sinton, Ian Freeman, Jeff Baker, Julian Chick and Matt Cotter are about to play their first show at The Gem on June 27. Performing only Beatles tunes, the band will be chatting with Crispi about their newly formed group, The Apple Scruffs. Tune in to hear how Mark is feeling ahead of their debut performance and what audiences can expect from the band on the night.

Since 1977, the Port Fairy Folk Festival has grown from humble beginnings into one of the most beloved regional festivals, bringing together extraordinary artists, passionate audiences, families, makers, storytellers, and free spirits from around the world. A four day celebration held by the sea on Peek Whurrong Country every Victorian Labour Day long weekend, the festival will celebrate its 50th year in 2027. Director Justin Rudge joins Ernie to chat about the incredible festival lineup.

Joining Michael Mulholland for this episode of Junkyard is Harry Howard and David McClymont. Having worked on a track together in 2014, their on/off friendship goes back to the murky days of living in London in the mid-1980s - Harry as a member of Crime and the City Solution and David as an ex-member of Orange Juice. Tune in to hear about their two new releases, 'Under The World' and 'Blistersticks'.

The new album, 'How a Mosquito Operates', from local fast and chaotic punk band Alien Nosejob, is set for release on June 26 via Anti Fade Records and Iron Lung Records in the USA. What began as a bedroom project by Jake Robertson has mutated into a six-piece band with seven albums, seven EPs, and seven tours across Australia and overseas to its name. Having just performance at Dark Mofo in Hobart, Jake catches up with the Prince of Darkness on the eve of the album's release.

Newly formed group Fancy Weapon is made up of Mick Turner, Claire Birchall, Joel Silbersher and Guy Maddison. An unexpected collaboration, the band sees a cross-generational group of Melbourne music perennials creating a singular brand of minimalist, incandescent, guitar-heavy rock in the tradition of other singular, minimalist, incandescent guitar-heavy rock bands that have been doing it for 50 years. Phil MacDougall catches up with the band, tune in to hear about their new self-titled album.

Bringing the rich tradition of classical Arabic instrumental music to life through a powerful contemporary performance experience, Ṣaltanah will transform the stage at Melbourne Recital Centre into an immersive celebration of Arab artistry, memory and musical innovation on July 2. Ahead of the show, they join Roger Holdsworth on the Global Village. Tune in for a traditional yet contemporary live performance from Ṣaltanah.

Acclaimed South African pianist, composer, healer, and philosopher Nduduzo Makhathini is releasing his new album, 'The Myth We Choose', on June 26. Co-produced by Makhathini and his 18-year-old son Thingo Makhathini, the album explores the awareness needed to create a legacy of love and healing in the present tense, and features special guests including Shabaka Hutchings. Tune in to Stars In The Static, where Greg Sher catches up with Nduduzo about the new record.

At the age of 72, 'Evil' Graham Lee, the pedal steel pioneer and veteran of the Australian band The Triffids, delivers his first ever album under his own name titled ‘I Think I’m Alone Now’. In addition to his work with The Triffids, Graham’s place in ambient history was cemented in 1990 when his evocative pedal steel became the soulful centerpiece of The KLF’s masterpiece, 'Chill Out' (specifically on the highlight "Baltimore to Fair Play"). Tune in to Deeep Space as Lloyd catches up with Evil.

‘Promise To Keep / Change Of Heart’ are the latest singles from multi-award-winning contemporary soul artist Ella Thompson. Released through Mr Bongo, ‘Promise To Keep’ is an irrepressibly upbeat groover that echoes the sound of mid-to-late-1960s vocal groups, while its flip side, ‘Change of Heart’, is a cold, downtempo deep-soul tearjerker. Ella brings her incredible vocals to The Breakfast Spread for an intimate Wednesday morning performance, tune in to hear about her show at Howler on July 4.

This morning on Roots of Rhythm, Helen Jennings will be catching up with guitarist, songwriter, vocalist and producer, Jeff Lang. Set to perform with Dom Turner at the Winter Blues Festival in Echuca from 23 - 26 July, Jeff Lang has released 32 albums, published a book, and won three ARIA Awards during a storied career spanning more than three decades. Tune in to hear about his upcoming tour with Sydney-based guitarist and vocalist Dom Turner.

Tune in to The Afterglow Radio Show for a special live performance from the legendary Emma Donovan. Throughout her celebrated career, Emma has enchanted audiences with her mesmerising voice and commanding stage presence. This NAIDOC Week, Emma and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra will bring 'Take Me to the River' to life at Hamer Hall on July 10. Owen McKern catches up with Emma Donovan to chat about her new record, which is a tribute to the timeless soul classic.

Folk diviner Leah Senior has just released her fifth studio album 'Pt. Roadknight', with the album launch taking place at The Tote on July 18. Having shared the stage with artists such as Wilco, Iron & Wine and Jessica Pratt, the record explores Leah’s introspective, nature-loving side, while honing the singular baroque psych folk that has captivated listeners around the world. Stopping by Down By The River, tune in to hear a live in-studio performance from Leah Senior. 

This week on Junkyard, Michael Mulholland will be joined by Mick Harvey, Cash Savage and Robert Tickner to talk about 'These are the Waves' - The Music of Conway Savage', a tribute show taking place at Brunswick Ballroom on July 17. Conway Savage was a highly respected keyboard player, composer and member of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, and the show will celebrate his music, performed by family, friends, colleagues and peers. Tune in to hear tracks from the new 'Conway Savage Anthology'.

Spinning the Wheels of Steel on The Breakfast Spread this morning is Alice Payne. Her new EP 'Evolution' is a three-track EP that weaves between deep house, tech house and dub reggae infusions. Each track focuses on percussive grooves that gradually evolve into uplifting, dreamy energies. Tune in to hear about her upcoming show at 'Riggy Fest' in Bodriggy on July 18, as part of Leaps and Bounds Festival.

Fresh off the release of their debut EP 'Sicko', Naarm’s Jeane return to The Tote this July 24, with support from local bands Sonic Reducer and Gloomie. Led by front woman Jazz Johnston, 'Sicko' explores faith, femininity, vulnerability and self-expression through jagged guitars, hook-heavy songwriting and raw, unfiltered storytelling. Jeane stop by PBS, chatting with Brooke on Homebrew about their new EP and the release show.

Joining Claire Dickson this morning on The Breakfast Spread for a special, Tuesday morning guest mix, is PBS announcer Bridget Small. With a selection of tunes that reflect a deeply thoughtful ear and an intuitive approach to programming, her sets favour leftfield chuggy downtempo, homespun DIY guitar music and long-lost gems uncovered through close listening and curiosity. Find out about her upcoming DJ set at 'HIGH GROUND: IN MOTION' on July 18 at The Evelyn Hotel, as part of Leaps and Bounds.

'Under The Under' is the new sophomore album from local band Growth. Starting as a reflective space to explore the sorrows and sharp angles that come attendant with a lifelong diagnosis, Growth has found meaningful ways to channel the ugliest and most jarring fragments of the self. Opening for Rivers of Nihil at Max Watt's on August 15, tune in to Tyrannocoreus as Ryan catches up with the band ahead of their show with the US death metal group.

This week on Tyrannocoreus, Ryan catches up with George Clarke, vocalist for US black-metal trailblazers Deafheaven. Coming over to Australia for a bunch of shows, their 2025 album 'Lonely People With Power' is their sixth album, and embraces the band’s full identity after years of evolution. The record captures Deafheaven’s innate ability to mix and merge melody with brutality, and pain with poetry. Tune in to hear about their show at The Forum on July 9.

Coming in to Roots of Rhythm this morning to join Helen Jennings in the studio, is multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Daryl Roberts. His band Hey Gringo have eight funky blues albums of original music, which have charted up to No. 2 on 'The Oz Blues & Roots Airplay Charts', and they are about to drop their ninth album 'Adios Amigos'. Tune in to hear about the bands upcoming shows, along with tracks from the new record.

The Echuca Moama Winter Blues festival is running from July 23 - 26, and on the line up is award-winning artist, powerhouse bassist, and soulful vocalist Sweet Felicia and the Honeytones. Since forming the band in 1999, Sweet Felicia has shared stages with legends including BB King and Ron Wood, and in 2010 represented Melbourne as a semi-finalist in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. Listen in to Roots of Rhythm to hear more about Sweet Felicia's extensive musical career.

Link McLennan from Bagful of Beez and Ross McLennan from Heir to the Squandered Millions will be stopping by Radio City this week to chat with Crispi about their new singles. Link Meanie - aka Link McLennan - has always been known for his love of pop, even when screaming his guts out in the Meanies, while Ross McLennan is known for his power-pop outfit Snout. Tune in to hear about their release show at The Tote on July 16.