Midnight Chats iHeartPodcasts

In two days time (25 July), the short list for the 2024 Mercury Prize will be announced. On this week's show, Stu and Greg discuss who they think will DEFINITELY be on the list, and who they hope will be. 
Greg also spills the beans on what it's like to be on the Mercury Prize judging panel (something he's done 3 times), we ask how relevant the award is in the instant age of TikTok, and throw in some of all-time our favourite past winners. 
Come back next week to see just how right we were about our nailed-on nominees. 
You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod.
Credits:
Editing by Stuart Stubbs 
Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines
Artwork by Kate Prior
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Nottingham duo Sleaford Mods release a 10-year anniversary edition of their breakthrough album Divide & Exit, frontman and lyricist Jason Williamson revisits the album that changed his life, the time he threw the bleakest album release party of all time, and how he finally found success in his 40s on his 7th album.   
You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod.
Links to stuff mentioned in the episode: 
'Tied Up In Nottz' video
Modern Life is Rubbish... still – early Loud And Quiet interview from 2014
Sleaford Mod Loud And Quiet archive
 Jason on Episode 65 of the podcast
Credits:
Interview and editing by Stuart Stubbs 
Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines
Artwork by Kate Prior
 
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Look around and you’d be forgiven for feeling the world is completely broken in 2024. War. Division. Crises. How did we get here? That’s the fundamental question Norwegian songwriter AURORA explores on her latest album What Happened To The Heart?. It’s a project that is technicolor in feeling, and in sound.
Host Greg Cochrane went to meet her to talk about activism, conflict and why she and the iconic Brian Eno are like “an old married couple”. It’s a deep listen, for sure, but these are deep times – even if you can focus on the glimmers of light. 
You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod.
Links to stuff mentioned in the episode: 
Hear Brian Eno discussing his work with AURORA on episode 127 of Midnight Chats
The letter ‘We Are The Earth’ by Sônia Guajajara and Célia Xakriabá
Credits:
Interview by Greg Cochrane 
Editing by Stuart Stubbs 
Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines
Artwork by Kate Prior
Video by Robbie Hamilton

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stuart got the hot ticket. Greg did not. In the field, and from the sofa at home, Midnight Chats does Glastonbury 2024. 
Your hosts tackle the biggest talking points from the most famous music festival in the world. Did Dua Lipa fulfill her promise to turn Worthy Farm into a club on her headliner debut? Was SZA's microphone fresh out of batteries? Did Coldplay bring the world together in a moment of communal feeling, or was it a bad acid trip? Did Louis Tomlinson steal a TV from the local Curries? All these essential questions answered, and more.
What did you make of this episode. Please let us know and share your thoughts and questions at Greg@loudandquiet.com or DM us on Instagram @midnightchatspod. 
And for those in the UK (sorry to those elsewhere), here are links to our top performances on BBC iPlayer. You've a month to watch before they disappear. 
Sampha IDLESAURORA
Little SimzColdplay
LCD Soundsystem Dua Lipa Confidence ManPJ Harvey 
Everything is bigger and better at Glastonbury, including my unexpected fits of crying
Credits:
Interview and editing by Stuart Stubbs 
Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines
Artwork by Kate Prior
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James Smith from Leeds band Yard Act met New Zealand comedian Rose Matafeo at Glastonbury festival a couple of years ago when the pair were watching little Simz. Since then, Smith's group has invited Matafeo to sing on their second album, Where's My Utopia?, star in one of their music videos and open for them in their hometown.
What better excuse did we need to get them both in a room to discuss the time Rose accidentally put her hand up Jools Holland's back just after Rod Stewart winked at her, the horrible gig that led to James writing the song Rose would become the face of, what Taskmaster is really like to film, and how James and Yard Act will attempt to navigate this year's Glastonbury. 
Watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod.
Links to stuff mentioned in the episode: 
Yard Act 'Petroleum' video starring Rose
Rose's Taskermaster country rap song
Yard Act perform 'Dream Job' live on Later... with Jools Holland
Credits:
Interview and editing by Stuart Stubbs 
Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines
Artwork by Kate Prior
 
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frontman with one of Britain’s biggest modern rock bands, Yannis Philippakis recently launched Yannis & The Yaw – not so much a solo project, more of an experiment in collaboration. Dial back seven years and Yannis spent time writing songs with one of his heroes, the icon drummer Tony Allen – godfather of Afrobeat and distinguished collaborator with everyone from Damon Albarn to Air. The result is a posthumous project – Allen died in 2020 – titled ‘Lagos Paris London’ released in August 2024. 
Yannis goes deep with host Greg Cochrane about his “cross generational” bond with Allen, and the other legendary artists he'd love write with Yannis & The Yaw. Plus, he discusses the evolving future of his band Foals, chats about his passion for gardening and why he’s writing music for some contemporary theatre productions. 
You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod.
Links to stuff mentioned in the episode: 
More Yannis? He joined us on episode 64 of Midnight Chats back in 2019
Check out the videos for Yannis & The Yaw tracks ‘Under The Strikes’ and ‘Walk Through Fire’
Further reading: Yannis on his love for gardening, interviewed in The Telegraph 
The Confessions theatre production Yannis wrote the score for in 2023 
From 2023: Original bassist Walter Gervers rejoins Foals, via NME
Credits:
Interview by Greg Cochrane 
Editing by Stuart Stubbs 
Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines
Artwork by Kate Prior
Video by Robbie Hamilton

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.