The Music Show

ABC
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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. 1 DAY AGO

    Ron Sexsmith and Mary Coughlan

    Ron Sexsmith is a Canadian singer-songwriter who more than earns the title of tunesmith with his melodies and storytelling. He's back on The Music Show to talk about his latest album Hangover Terrace, about finding his voice eight albums into his career, and being a songwriter's songwriter. Uncategorisable is how we like them on The Music Show and Mary Coughlan is certainly that. The Irish singer is headed to Australia for Port Fairy Folk Festival, and a run of other dates on what she says is her final Australian tour.  Music heard in the show: Title: I'd Rather Go Blind (live)Artist: Mary CoughlanComposer: Ellington Jordan, Billy Foster, Etta JamesAlbum: Live & KickingLabel: Hail Mary Records Title: Don't Lose Sight, It's Been A While, Angel on My Shoulder, Must Be Something Wrong With HerArtist: Ron SexsmithComposer: Ron SexsmithAlbum: Hangover TerraceLabel: Cooking Vinyl Title: Repeat RewindArtist: Mary CoughlanComposer: Mary Coughlan, Pete GlenisterAlbum: Repeat RewindLabel: Hail Mary Records Title: Marital BlissArtist: Mary CoughlanComposer: Mary Coughlan, Pete GlenisterAlbum: Repeat RewindLabel: Hail Mary Records Title: God Only KnowsArtist: Mary CoughlanComposer: Brian Wilson, Tony AsherAlbum: Repeat RewindLabel: Hail Mary Records Title: MaishaArtist: The Zawose QueensComposer: The Zawose QueensAlbum: MaishaLabel: Real World Technical production by Simon Branthwaite and Emrys Cronin The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country.

    55 min

  2. 2 DAYS AGO

    Marisa Anderson's UnAmerican Folk Music and paying tribute to Éliane Radigue

    Marisa Anderson says she learned to play the guitar three times. Once, as a young learner of classical guitar as a child. Then, being exposed to folk music at university, and, finally, when she threw away standard tuning about fifteen years later. On her latest album, The Anthology of UnAmerican Folk Music, she has taken inspiration from the record collection of Harry Smith and created her own version of music from countries that the USA has been at war with. And Éliane Radigue died this week at the age of 94. Radigue found her voice when she found the synthesiser, which enabled her to make long, pure, slow moving tones, and she leaves a remarkable legacy of sound. Two of her Australia collaborators, Cat Hope and Lawrence English, share what it was that made Radigue's music so special and what it was like to collaborate with her. Marisa Anderson's tour dates are here Title: KoumeArtist: Éliane RadigueComposer: Éliane RadigueAlbum: Trilogie De La MortLabel: Experimental Intermedia Foundation Title: HamdArtist: Marisa AndersonComposer: Marisa AndersonAlbum: The Anthology of UnAmerican Folk MusicLabel: Thrill Jockey Records Title: Waking/Cloud CornerArtist: Marisa AndersonComposer: Marisa AndersonAlbum: Cloud CornerLabel: Thrill Jockey Records Title: Onward 38Artist: Éliane RadigueComposer: Éliane RadigueAlbum: Vice Versa, Etc…Label: Important Records Title: KailashaArtist: Éliane RadigueComposer: Éliane RadigueAlbum: Trilogie De La MortLabel: Experimental Intermedia Foundation Title: Occam Hex IIArtist: DecibelComposer: Éliane Radigue & Carol RobsinonAlbum: Live recording Title: Camelot TowersArtist: Ron SexsmithComposer: Ron SexsmithAlbum: Hangover TerraceLabel: Cooking Vinyl The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Country Technical production by Emrys Cronin

    55 min

  3. 22 FEB

    György Kurtág at 100

    It's the hundredth birthday of György Kurtág, one of the most revered and increasingly performed of living composers. Cellist Steven Isserlis and baritone Benjamin Appl have both worked closely with the Hungarian composer on his rarefied music, and they tell Andy about his humour, high standards and a commitment to work that finds him currently composing a new opera in between taking Latin and Mandarin lessons. Kurtág centenary celebrations at ANAM in Melbourne include Kurtág and Friends and the ANAM 30th Gala, conducted by Simone Young Åkervinda are on tour now, starting with Perth Festival. The Music Show is live at WOMADelaide, 11:30am on Saturday 7 March

    55 min

  4. 21 FEB

    The surprising and eclectic sounds of Ben Nobuto and Black Country, New Road

    British Japanese composer Ben Nobuto's Hallelujah Sim. opened the BBC Proms in 2024, garnering a roaring, standing ovation (a rare feat for a world premiere). His musical vocabulary, which marries precise chamber music sensibilities with video game sound effects and electronic multitracking, is unique in the universe of contemporary composition. He joins Andy to unpack his composition process and the ideas behind a new composition called Hope Spiral.  Black Country, New Road brings together six musicians, each with their own style and influences, and blends them all together on every song. What could have been chaos instead became some of the most critically acclaimed music of the decade. Bassist and co-vocalist Tyler Hyde shares the surprising turns that have led the band to where they are today. Black Country, New Road tour dates are here Title: The Big SpinArtist: Black Country, New RoadComposer: Black Country, New RoadAlbum: Forever HowlongLabel: Ninja Tune Title: Hallelujah SimArtist: BBC Singers, BBC Symphony Chorus and the BBC Symphony OrchestraComposer: Ben NobutoLabel: Independent Release Title: TrioArtist: Ellie Blamires, Mikołaj Piszczorowicz, Ben Nobuto Composer: Ben NobutoLabel: Independent Release Title: Hope SpiralArtist: Ben Nobuto, Ben Goldscheider, Brother Tree SoundComposer: Ben NobutoAlbum: Hope SpiralLabel: NMC Recordings Title: Echoes of the HeartArtist: Aaron ShawComposer: Aaron ShawAlbum: And So It IsLabel: Leaving Title: BestiesArtist: Black Country, New RoadComposer: Black Country, New RoadAlbum: Forever HowlongLabel: Ninja Tune Title: MaryArtist: Black Country, New RoadComposer: Black Country, New RoadAlbum: Forever HowlongLabel: Ninja Tune Title: Up SongArtist: Black Country, New RoadComposer: Black Country, New RoadAlbum: Live At Bush HallLabel: Ninja Tune Title: Salem SistersArtist: Black Country, New RoadComposer: Black Country, New RoadAlbum: Forever HowlongLabel: Ninja Tune Title: Kafka-Fragmente, Op. 24; Pt. 1, BerceuseArtist: Anna Prohaska, Patricia Kopatchinskaja, Camerata BernComposer: György KurtágAlbum: Maria Mater MeretrixLabel: Alpha The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Country Technical production by Emrys Cronin

    55 min

  5. 15 FEB

    Nairobi comes to Adelaide with Blinky Bill, and the weird and wondrous sacred music of Gesualdo

    Carlo Gesualdo was a Renaissance composer, a prince, and a murderer. His sacred music, including his Tenebrae Responsoria, is a strange collection of settings full of dissonance and chromatic moving parts. AJ America is the Artistic Director of Luminescence Chamber Singers, and she joins Andy to talk about how the gory details of Gesualdo's life translate to the music. Blinky Bill is a Kenyan musician and producer who, as part of the group Just A Band, drove the development of alternative music in Nairobi and Kenya more broadly. His music draws from all over Africa and the diaspora, and he's about to come to Australia where he's performing at WOMADelaide... and you'll be able to see The Music Show in action there too!

    54 min

  6. 14 FEB

    Gillian Welch and David Rawlings celebrate new music and a big anniversary; and Raphael Pichon's surprising choice of Orfeo

    Gillian Welch and David Rawlings are one of the great couples of Americana, with a catalogue that stretches back decades. Along the way they've put their stamp on the classics of American folk, and created more than a few classics of their own. On the twenty-fifth anniversary of Time (The Revelator), they're heading back to Australia to show off their latest collection of new material: Woodland. They performed material from both albums live in the Music Show studios.  Raphaël Pichon leads Ensemble Pygmalion, a French historically informed performance group which, unusually, is a choir and orchestra operating as one ensemble. They’re making their Australian debut at the Adelaide Festival with three programmes - including Monteverdi and Bach and, after 400 years, the Australian debut of Rossi's Orfeo. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings' tour dates are available here. And Ensemble Pygmalion are performing Bach, Monteverdi, and Rossi at the Adelaide Festival. Title: Requiem in D minor, KyrieArtist: Ensemble Pygmalion, Raphaël Pichon, Ying FangComposer: Wolfgang Amadeus MozartAlbum: Mozart: RequiemLabel: Harmonia Mundi Title: Empty Trainload of SkyArtist: Gillian Welch & David RawlingsComposer: Gillian Welch & David RawlingsAlbum: WoodlandLabel: Acony Records Title: HashtagArtist: Gillian Welch & David RawlingsComposer: Gillian Welch & David RawlingsAlbum: WoodlandLabel: Acony Records Title: Everything Is FreeArtist: Gillian WelchComposer: Gillian Welch & David RawlingsAlbum: Time (The Revelator) Label: Acony Records Title: Missa Brevis in F major; II. GloriaArtist: Emiliano Gonzalez-Toro, Sydney Fierro, Magid El-Bushra, Eugénie Warnier, Raphaël Pichon, Ensemble PygmalionComposer: Johann Sebastian BachAlbum: JS Bach: Missæ BrevesLabel: Alpha Title: Hymnus "Ave maris stella"Artist: Raphaël Pichon, Ensemble PygmalionComposer: Claudio MonteverdiAlbum: Monteverdi: Vespro della beata VergineLabel: Harmonia Mundi Title: Extract from the Tenebrae settings for Maundy ThursdayArtist: Luminescence Chamber SingersComposer: Carlo GesualdoCourtesy of Luminescence The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country, and Turrbal and Yuggera Country Technical production by Ann-Marie Debettencor and Steve Fieldhouse

    54 min

  7. 8 FEB

    Lachlan Skipworth on expanding his compositional palette and Worlds Only embrace the moment

    Lachlan Skipworth, one of Australia's most beautiful compositional voices, has a very unusual new double concerto - for trumpet and clarinet - set to premiere with Omega Ensemble. He tells Andy how a series of 'joyful and uplifting' commissions added a new string to his bow. And Thomas William Smith & Mara Schwerdtfeger from the ambient collective Worlds Only share why they prefer to exist in the moment, creating live shows that are full of pieces of structured improvisation that might never be heard again.  Omega Ensembles performance dates are available here Worlds Only performance details here Music in this program: Title: Tarmac in the ProvinceArtist: Worlds OnlyComposer: Worlds OnlyAlbum: Raw & Hot & UncutLabel: Independent release Title: Altiora Peto, Concerto for Trumpet and Strings; I. Moderato ritmico – Adagio – Tempo primoArtist: David Elton & Sydney String VirtuosiComposer: Lachlan SkipworthAlbum: Altiora PetoLabel: ABC Classics Title: Quintet for Bass Recorder and String Quartet; II. TranquilloArtist: Genevieve Lacey & Australian String QuartetComposer: Lachlan SkipworthAlbum: Altiora PetoLabel: ABC Classics Title: The Night Sky FallArtist: Ashley William Smith, Louise Devenish, Emily Green-ArmytageComposer: Lachlan SkipworthAlbum: Lachlan Skipworth: Chamber WorksLabel: Navona Records Title: Song for Sad TimesArtist: GanavyaComposer: GanavyaAlbum: NilamLabel: Leiter Title: SanctuaryArtist: Worlds OnlyComposer: Worlds OnlyAlbum: Raw & Hot & UncutLabel: Independent release Title: TabbedArtist: Worlds OnlyComposer: Worlds OnlyAlbum: Raw & Hot & UncutLabel: Independent release Title: Meteoric ChatArtist: Worlds OnlyComposer: Worlds OnlyAlbum: Raw & Hot & UncutLabel: Independent release Title: The Bells And The BirdsArtist: Gillian Welch & David RawlingsComposer: Gillian Welch & David RawlingsAlbum: WoodlandLabel: Acony Records The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Technical production by Ann-Marie Debettencor

    54 min

  8. 7 FEB

    Andrea Keller's Transients; and Ian Thompson takes us to the French musical underground of 1968

    Andrea Keller is not only a pianist, composer, bandleader and educator, she's also the Jazz Ambassador at this year's Clarence Jazz Festival, celebrating its 30th year. She joins Andy to talk about creating a web of collaborators in her Transients series.  Ian Thompson's book, Synths, Sax and Situationists, examines the music of the French underground that began with the Paris 'events' of May 1968. For the next decade, bands such as Daevid Allen's Gong, Red Noise and Heldon were sometimes overtly political, but always subversive. Andy talks to Ian Thompson about the times and the music.

    54 min
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Hosts & Guests

About

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

Information

  • Creator
    ABC
  • 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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