Interviews

Richard Barrett's music is widely regarded around the world for its complexity of both musical and conceptual ideas, often informed by his own background and interests in genetics, microbiology, physics, astronomy, and philosophy. Now based in The Netherlands, Welsh-born Barrett has a long association with Australia having worked with Elision Ensemble and Speak Percussion. Richard Barrett joins Ian to talk about his newly recorded work, 'close-up' for electroacoustic ensemble.

Joining Greg Sher on Stars In The Static this Sunday are Dylan van der Schyff and Peggy Lee from Open Thread. Having formed in 2023 during a series of improvised performances at Bar 303, the band are celebrating the release of their second album, 'Waiting Music’. Melodically rich, sonically diverse and rhythmically compelling, the new record reveals an even deeper sense of collaboration and cohesion. Tune in to hear about their upcoming show at Jazzlab on April 26.

Womaloya is an international musical collaboration between five female artists from the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific. Five artists from Réunion Island and Australia create new music together for the first time, blending the traditional Maloya of Réunion Island with contemporary Australian sounds. Tune in to Flight 1067 to Africa for an intimate live performance and interview with this remarkable collective of musicians.

Tune in to Blue Juice this weekend as Mohair Slim is joined by Ezra Lee and Jumpin Jethro Whittaker, who will be playing at The Rainbow Hotel on April 19. Lead singer and barrelhouse piano player Ezra Lee and his band The Moon Rockers, are a 1940s and 50s inspired combo playing only the wildest songs with the big boogie woogie beat featuring singer guitarist Jumpin' Jethro Whittaker and the red hot rhythm section of Big Ray West on bass and Danny Catalfi on drums.

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. 

On April 14 at The Retreat Hotel, Robert Bundle (Songlines), Leila Gurruwiwi (Agency Projects, 3KND), Fred Gesha (Festival Producer at City of Port Phillip) and Paul Gorrie (DJ PGZ) will explore how First Nations artists are creating spaces where wellbeing, cultural safety, and artistic integrity coexist. Local DJ PGZ joins Edd Fisher for a guest mix and to talk about this event, tune in to learn more about Yarning Strong - a panel event presented in partnership with Blak Stage.

Simon TK and Elsie from Skylab Radio will be stopping by The Breakfast Spread this Friday morning for a chat and guest mix with Milo Eastwood. Turning eight years young, they're celebrating with a big open air family affair at the Fairfield Amphitheatre on April 11, bringing their beloved presenters and listeners together to break bread and keep their station alive. Tune in to hear more about the festivities going down this weekend.

Brutefest is returning to The Tote this April 25 for another day of heavy metal chaos across two stages. Headlined by US thrash band Warbringer and supported by many Australian band, including Ratlord, Circle of Blood, Monoliyth and Virulent Invocation, Kene brings in Virulent Invocation to Burning Bitumen to chat about their Brutefest spot. Tune in to find out what time they'll be playing on the day. 

Vomitory was formed in 1989 by guitarist Urban Gustafsson, shortly after joined by drummer Tobias Gustafsson, during the emergence of the globally recognised Swedish death metal scene. Building on their momentum, the band announces their 10th album, 'In Death Throes'. Recorded at Leon Music Studios and Goff Studios with producer Rikard Löfgren, the album cranks up the intensity while featuring the first new line-up in 21 years. Kene catches up with drummer Tobias Gustafsson about the new record.

After nearly 30 years of tearing the underground to shreds, PLF (Pulverizing Lethal Force) are making their first trip to Australia this April. A ferocious two-piece band, PLF are a devastating blend of ultra-tight viciously fast old school grindcore ala Terrorizer and Insect Warfare and high octane thrash metal ala Kreator, Sodom and Possessed pushed to warp speed. Tune in to Burning Bitumen as Kene catches up with the band ahead of their show at Shotkickers the next night.

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.

Neo garage femme rock band Girl Monstar are back with a bangin’ new collection of songs. Having shared stages with The Ramones, The Buzzcocks, Sonic Youth, Iggy Pop and more, the group split in 1993, but the OG members of Sherry Rich, Anne McCue, Susan Shaw and Janene Abbott have reunited. Crispi catches up with Sherry from the local band, tune in to hear about their new record ‘GRRRR!! The Album’.

Fresh off the release of their new album 'Straight Line Was A Lie', Aotearoa/ New Zealand’s quartet The Beths are returning to Melbourne on April 25 for a show at the Forum. Across ten tracks, songwriter Elizabeth Stokes explores roundabout progress, mental health battles, and fraught family ties with lyrics that are both deeply personal and universally relatable. Ahead of their Australian tour, Crispi catches up with the band about the new record.

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.

Centred around the brother-sister partnership of Mira and Tori, Fade Evare rests on the push and pull of the siblings’ respective musical journeys, with Mira’s starry-eyed youthfulness playing off of Tori’s quietly assured and tasteful production. The tripwave trio have recently shared their new singles ‘Let It Go / Welcome Back' - the first release since their debut album. Tune in to hear about their show with Telenova at Forum Melbourne on May 2, and for a round of Musical Chairs with Milo.

Tune in to Club It To Death this Wednesday night as ALX; GoSlow joins Peter Bramley for an interview at the start of the show. Delivering guitar smutty roars of fuzz, ALX; GoSlow is launching their long-awaited cassette tape at The Retreat Hotel on April 16. Joining them is local party punk raconteurs, Loveboner, and the delicious serenading theatrics of LA's duo Popular Music. Listen in to hear about the show and tracks from the new cassette tape. 

Composer, lyricist and writer behind 'STELLA: The Musical – the Miles Franklin story', Monique diMattina will be joining Helen Jennings on Roots of Rhythm to chat about her event at the Sorrento Writer's Festival, 'Words and Music: Let’s Sing! Why choirs matter'. As Ella Fitzgerald once said "The only thing better than singing is more singing" - Monique's session will be a celebration of words and music, happening on April 26 at Ellen Grant Hall. Tune in to hear more about the event.

Honed by 57 years of experience playing local and international tours, having the honour of jamming onstage with the likes of Santana, Richie Blackmore (Deep Purple) and Ron Wood (Rolling Stones) to name a few, Kevin Borich is a force of musical nature. His latest album ‘Duets’, was met with rave reviews and shot swiftly to number one on the ARIA rock, blues and jazz charts. Ahead of his show at Memo Music Hall on April 16, Helen Jennings catches up with Kevin about his VIC and NSW tour. 

Hailing from Lutruwita/Tasmania, genuine sideshow freak Samora Squid brings their surreal, dark, physical comedy and deadpan cynicism to Melbourne. Joining Ryan live in the studio for a chat about their comedy festival performance at The Tote on Sunday, April 12 and 19, they'll also chat about fronting grind core bands like Onanizer and The Spewed. Tune in as Samora swallows a sword live in studio. 

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.