The Music Show

ABC Australia
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  • MUSIC INTERVIEWS
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All kinds of music and all kinds of musicians in conversation with Andrew Ford.

  1. 18 HR AGO

    John Darnielle: meaning, musicals, and The Mountain Goats

    The Mountain Goats started out as a solo project by then-psych nurse John Darnielle recording directly into a boombox in his room. Their latest album (Through This Fire Across From Peter Balkan) is a "full-on musical", complete with french horn and a string section, recorded on what sound like very nice microphones. Darnielle's tastes and influences are esoteric and wide ranging, and so is this conversation with Ce Benedict, in which they discuss religious schisms, instrumental choices, and musical theatre.  John Darnielle's new book, This Year: 365 Songs Annotated actually contains 366 songs and is published by Scribe.

    55 min

  2. 1 DAY AGO

    Going gospel with Robert Finley and going ham(mond) with Jake Mason

    Robert Finley's first album was called Age Don't Mean A Thing, which was fitting because he released it in his 60s. Before that, he was a military man and then a carpenter. When he began to go blind he sat down his tools and returned to music - initially the blues - but his latest album Hallelujah! Don't Let the Devil Fool Ya is a gospel album, and a very special one.  Robert is on tour in Australia 16-19 May.  Jake Mason's new album with the Jake Mason Trio is called The Modern Ark and it's got the hammond organ at its core. Jake joins Andy to talk about working with vocalists Kate Cebrano and Kurt Elling, why the trio is the perfect unit of music for him, and going ham(mond).

    54 min

  3. 12 APR

    Hitchock and Herrmann: the thrilling partnership that shaped an era of cinema

    Film composer Bernard Herrmann’s career started and ended with classics: his first film was Orson Welles’s Citizen Kane (1941), his last was Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver (1976). But it’s the nine films that Herrmann worked on with Alfred Hitchcock that define his legacy, and in his new book, Hitchcock and Herrmann: The Friendship and Film Scores that Changed Cinema, Steven C Smith examines the work they shared together. Music heard in this program: Title: Music from Psycho - The ShowerArtist: National Philharmonic OrchestraComposer: Bernard HerrmannAlbum: PsychoLabel: Unicorn Title: Music from The Trouble With Harry - OvertureArtist: Royal Scottish National OrchestraComposer: Bernard HerrmannAlbum: The Trouble With HarryLabel: Varèse Sarabande Title: Music from The Man Who Knew Too Much - Storm Clouds CantataArtist: London Symphony OrchestraComposer: Arthur Benjamin & D.B. Wyndham-LewisAlbum: The Man Who Knew Too Much Title: Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)Artist: Doris Day and Christopher OlsenComposer: Jay Livingston & Ray EvansAlbum: The Man Who Knew Too Much Title: Music from The Wrong Man - PreludeArtist: The Warner Brothers Studio OrchestraComposer: Bernard HerrmannAlbum: The Wrong Man Title: Music from The Wrong Man - HandcuffsArtist: The Warner Brothers Studio OrchestraComposer: Bernard HerrmannAlbum: The Wrong Man Title: Music from Vertigo Prelude and RooftopArtist: Royal Scottish National OrchestraComposer: Bernard HerrmannAlbum: VertigoLabel: Mercury Title: Music from Vertigo - Scène d'amourArtist: Royal Scottish National OrchestraComposer: Bernard HerrmannAlbum: VertigoLabel: Mercury Title: Music from Pyscho - FinaleArtist: National Philharmonic OrchestraComposer: Bernard HerrmannAlbum: PsychoLabel: Unicorn Title: Music from North By Northwest - OvertureArtist: The M-G-M Studio OrchestraComposer: Bernard HerrmannAlbum: North By Northwest Title: Music from North By Northwest - The CrashArtist: The M-G-M Studio OrchestraComposer: Bernard HerrmannAlbum: North By Northwest Title: Music from North By Northwest - The Stone FacesArtist: The M-G-M Studio OrchestraComposer: Bernard HerrmannAlbum: North By Northwest Title: Music from Psycho - The CurtainArtist: National Philharmonic OrchestraComposer: Bernard HerrmannAlbum: PsychoLabel: Unicorn Title: Music from Marnie - PreludeArtist: City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Paul BatemanComposer: Bernard HerrmannAlbum: MarnieLabel: Tsunami Title: The KillingArtist: National Philharmonic OrchestraComposer: Bernard HerrmannAlbum: Torn Curtain: The Unused ScoreLabel: Varèse Sarabande  Title: This YearArtist: The Mountain GoatsComposer: John DarnielleAlbum: The Sunset TreeLabel: 4AD The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Country Technical production by Antonia Gauci

    55 min

  4. 11 APR

    Sparks rennaisance continues and Mo'Ju's rebel heart

    There aren’t many bands that are still going after 50 years, but Sparks, who had their first big hit back in 1974 with This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us, have seen a renaissance of sorts in the last few years - they wrote a film, starred in a documentary, collaborated with Cate Blanchett, and have released some of their best work. The brothers, Ron and Russell Mael, talk about their shifting style, creative use of repetition, and the work of Bernard Herrmann.  After performing with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Mo'Ju has swapped the stage for the library - as one of the musicians commissioned by the State Library of Victoria to write a song for their Rebel Heart exhibition, works inspired by letters that reveal tales of love, and of rebellion. Sparks tour dates available here. Music heard in this program: Title: Far Too LateArtist: Mo'juComposer: Mojo Ruiz de LuzuriagaAlbum: Native TongueLabel: ABC Music Title: Do Things My Own WayArtist: SparksComposer: Ron Mael & Russell MaelAlbum: MAD!Label: Transgressive Records Title: This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of UsArtist: SparksComposer: Ron MaelAlbum: Kimono My HouseLabel: Island Records Title: Tryouts for the Human RaceArtist: SparksComposer: Ron Mael & Giorgio MoroderAlbum: No. 1 In HeavenLabel: Virgin Music Title: My Baby's Taking Me HomeArtist: SparksComposer: Ron Mael & Russell MaelAlbum: Lil' BeethovenLabel: Lil' Beethoven Records Title: The Girl Is Crying In Her LatteArtist: SparksComposer: Ron Mael & Russell MaelAlbum: The Girl Is Crying In Her LatteLabel: Island Records Title: AgapitoArtist: Mo'JuComposer: Mojo Ruiz de LuzuriagaAlbum: State Library of Victoria Exhibition Label: Independent  Title: I Just Wanna KnowArtist: Mo'juComposer: Mojo Ruiz de LuzuriagaAlbum: Native TongueLabel: ABC Music Title: Music from Psycho - The MurderArtist: National Philharmonic OrchestraComposer: Bernard HerrmannAlbum: PsychoLabel: Unicorn The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Country Technical production by Antonia Gauci

    55 min

  5. 5 APR

    Tabaran is a Sound of Australia and Carl Vine's final collaboration with the Goldner Quartet

    Tabaran, the 1990 album by Not Drowning, Waving and the musicians Of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea featuring Telek, has been inducted into the National Film and Sound Archive as one of the Sounds of Australia. David Bridie looks back on the album, which saw the band head to Papua New Guinea to work with George Telek for the first time. The music of Australian composer Carl Vine serves as a swan-song for the Goldner Quartet, who have wrapped up by releasing their final album Child's Play. The title comes from one of Carl's pieces, and he joins Andy to talk about the music and collaborating with the Goldners.  Music heard in this program: Title: Piano Quintet "Fantasia" IIIArtist: Goldner String Quartet & Piers LaneComposer: Carl VineAlbum: Carl Vine: Child's Play, Piano Quintet & Other Chamber MusicLabel: Hyperion Title: TabaranArtist: Not Drowning, Waving And The Musicians Of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea Featuring TelekComposer: Not Drowning, Waving & Telek Album: TabaranLabel: WEA Title: The Kiap SongArtist: Not Drowning, Waving And The Musicians Of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea Featuring TelekComposer: Not Drowning, Waving & Telek Album: TabaranLabel: WEA Title: Call Across The HighlandsArtist: Not Drowning, Waving And The Musicians Of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea Featuring TelekComposer: Not Drowning, Waving & Telek Album: TabaranLabel: WEA Title: String Quartet No. 6 "Child's Play" I. PlayArtist: Goldner String Quartet Composer: Carl VineAlbum: Carl Vine: Child's Play, Piano Quintet & Other Chamber MusicLabel: Hyperion Title: String Quartet No. 6 "Child's Play" V. RunningArtist: Goldner String Quartet Composer: Carl VineAlbum: Carl Vine: Child's Play, Piano Quintet & Other Chamber MusicLabel: Hyperion Title: This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of UsArtist: SparksComposer: Ron Mael & Russell MaelAlbum: Kimono My HouseLabel: Island Records The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Country Technical production by Emrys Cronin

    55 min

  6. 4 APR

    Disney's Renaissance man Alan Menken

    Alan Menken’s name is synonymous with Disney’s 1990s purple patch: a so called ‘renaissance’ of the animation empire’s fortunes, where a run of films starting with 1989’s The Little Mermaid cut through to a new generation. Ahead of a series of solo performances in Australia, he talks to Andy about how he's brought characters to life through songs.  And from the archives, conversations with three musicians inducted into the National Film and Sound Archive's Sounds of Australia for 2026: Marcia Hines, Joe Dolce, and Missy Higgins. A Whole New World Of Alan Menken is in Melbourne on 6 May and Sydney 8 May.

    55 min

  7. 29 MAR

    Pits, picket lines and pop music: the 1984-5 UK miners' strike

    We're digging into the archives for a special program looking at the role that music played in the UK miners' strikes: a political, industrial and personal struggle. From Peggy Seeger to Paul Weller, Billy Bragg to brass bands—there's music supporting the striking miners, songs tormenting strikebreakers and tracks referencing (and sometimes sampling) National Union of Mineworkers leader Arthur Scargill and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Emeritus Professor of Politics at the University of East Anglia John Street guides us through the history and music of this divisive time, plus we hear interviews from the ABC archives with folklorist A L Lloyd, singer songwriter Billy Bragg, Grimethorpe Colliery Band, folk singers Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger and composer David Lumsdaine.

    55 min

  8. 28 MAR

    Flinders Quartet and Melody Eötvös plan ahead, Cassie To gets personal, and Mantis shares his award-winning hip-hop

    Zoe Knighton of Flinders Quartet is undertaking a multi-year project with composer Melody Eötvös. It's fittingly called The Eötvös Cycle, and The Music Show will be following this creation of new Australian repertoire over the next five years.  Composer Cassie To has told other people's stories when she's scored for the screen and advertising, but her debut album, Heart Songs, takes her into a deeply personal space.  Mantis is the 2025 Pacific Break winner, for his track Weatherman. It's a breakthrough song for Mantis, a Vanuatu artist inspired by Kendrick Lamar and the West Coast sound. He talks to producer Ce on the ground at WOMADelaide where he performed for the first time in Australia. Music heard in this program: Title: Cassie ToArtist: The StormComposer: Cassie ToAlbum: Heart SongsLabel: Amica Records Title: The Unspoken EightArtist: Flinders QuartetComposer: Melody Eötvös & Rishin Singh Title: ShivelightArtist: Quercus TrioComposer: Melody Eötvös  Title: Cassie ToArtist: Open HeartComposer: Cassie ToAlbum: Heart SongsLabel: Amica Records Title: WeathermanArtist: MantisComposer: Ethan-Xavier HakwaAlbum: SingleLabel: Palm Tree Studios Title: There Is Power In A UnionArtist: Billy BraggComposer: Billy BraggAlbum: Talking With The Taxman About PoetryLabel: Liberation Records The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, Kaurna, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Country Technical production by Tegan Nicholls

    55 min
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About

All kinds of music and all kinds of musicians in conversation with Andrew Ford.

Information

  • Creator
    ABC Australia
  • Years Active
    2006 - 2026
  • Episodes
    946
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All right reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Music Show

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