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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.

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).

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

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

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

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. 

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.

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

Writing about and scholarship of Bob Dylan tends to focus on the words - he's a Nobel Prize winner for literature, after all - but his music deserves a deeper look too. Between the jangling guitar sound, rusty-hinge vocal stylings, and highly variable intonation, his unpolished and constantly shifting attitude towards performing his own music demands a long conversation with Steven Rings, author of What Did You Hear: The Music of Bob Dylan. Title: Things Have ChangedArtist: Bob DylanComposer: Bob DylanAlbum: The Essential Bob DylanLabel: Columbia Title: A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall Artist: Bob DylanComposer: Bob DylanAlbum: The Freewheelin' Bob DylanLabel: Columbia Title: Lord Randall Artist: Jean RitchieComposer: Jean RitchieAlbum: Ballads (From Her Appalachian Family Tradition)Label: Smithsonian Folkways Title: 1913 MassacreArtist: Woody GuthrieComposer: Woody GuthrieAlbum: Documentary # 1: StruggleLabel: Asch Records Title: Song To WoodyArtist: Bob DylanComposer: Bob DylanAlbum: Bob DylanLabel: Columbia Title: It's Hard On We Poor FarmersComposer: TraditionalAlbum: Archival Title: Running ScaredArtist: Roy OrbisonComposer: Roy Orbison & Joe MelsonAlbum: CryingLabel: London Records Title: Lay Lady LayArtist: Bob DylanComposer: Bob DylanAlbum: Nashville SkylineLabel: Columbia Title: One More Cup of CoffeeArtist: Bob DylanComposer: Bob DylanAlbum: DesireLabel: Columbia Title: A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall Artist: Bob DylanComposer: Bob DylanAlbum: The Concert For Bangla DeshLabel: Apple Records Title: A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall Artist: Bob DylanComposer: Bob DylanAlbum: Live 1975 (The Rolling Thunder Revue)Label: Columbia Title: The Jean GenieArtist: David BowieComposer: David Bowie & Mick RonsonAlbum: Aladdin SaneLabel: RCA Victor Title: It's Gonna RainArtist: Steve ReichComposer: Steve ReichAlbum: Works: 1965-1995Label: Nonesuch Title: A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall Artist: Bob DylanComposer: Bob DylanAlbum: The Great Music Experience 1994 Title: I Believe In YouArtist: Bob DylanComposer: Bob DylanAlbum: Slow Train ComingLabel: CBS Title: Blind Willie McTell (Take 5 - Infidels Outtake)Artist: Bob DylanComposer: Bob DylanAlbum: Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 16Label: Third Man Records Title: Blind Willie McTellArtist: Bob DylanComposer: Bob DylanAlbum: The Bootleg Series Volumes 1 - 3 [Rare & Unreleased] 1961-1991Label: Columbia The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, Kaurna, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Country Technical production by Ann-Marie Debettencor

Riccardo Tesi and Giua are bringing their melodeon, guitar, and Italian folk tradition to Australia for a series of concerts called Retablos. These are Peruvian magic boxes which create windows into different worlds. Riccardo and Giua join Andy to open a window into their world Points of Inaccessibility, the latest album by Rafael Anton Irisarri, began as an audio-visual improvisation at a former psychiatric prison in Utrecht. The ambient composer was interested in the emotional distance that exists through our online existence - eternally connected, but drifting further apart - and he explains how that led to melodies on the new record that never fully resolve. Tour dates for Riccardo Tesi and Giua are here. Title: Signals from a Distant AfterglowArtist: Rafael Anton IrisarriComposer: Rafael Anton IrisarriAlbum: Points of InaccessibilityLabel: Black Knoll Editions Title: Martini On The RocksArtist: Giua & Riccardo TesiComposer: Giua & Riccardo TesiAlbum: Retablos (Live)Label: Independent Release Title: Mex MoonArtist: Giua & Riccardo TesiComposer: Giua & Riccardo TesiAlbum: Retablos (Live)Label: Independent Release Title: Breaking the UnisonArtist: Rafael Anton IrisarriComposer: Rafael Anton IrisarriAlbum: Points of InaccessibilityLabel: Black Knoll Editions Title: Empire SystemsArtist: Rafael Anton IrisarriComposer: Rafael Anton IrisarriAlbum: A Fragile GeographyLabel: Black Knoll Editions Title: A Hard Rain's Gonna FallArtist: Bob DylanComposer: Bob DylanAlbum: The Concert For Bangla DeshLabel: Apple Records The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, Kaurna, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Country Technical production by Ann-Marie Debettencor

Irish singer and multi-instrumentalist Andy Irvine has been coming on The Music Show for over thirty years, so he's the perfect person to start our occasional 2026 series Music Now & Then, in which Andy (Ford) speaks to long-running guests about how the world of music around them has changed over the years. Andy spoke to Andy in front of a gaggle of session-goers at the Gaelic Club in Sydney. The Music Show is recorded on Gadigal, Gundungurra and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Technical production by Harvey O'Sullivan and Simon Branthwaite

Spanish violinist María Dueñas makes her Australian debut with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, playing Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. Signed to Deutsche Grammophon since she was nineteen, her distinctive style of playing, her expressiveness, and her youth have all captured audiences. She talks to Andy about embracing canonical repertoire like Beethoven, and new music like the work she's premiered by Mexican composer Gabriela Ortiz.  Claire Edwardes is an old friend of the show: one of Australia's pre-eminent percussionists, a composer, and the artistic director of new music group Ensemble Offspring, which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year. Her new album, Dual Attractor, is a celebration of marimba and vibraphone, as well as the music of women composers and arrangers... and it ends with a bang.  María Dueñas performs with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra March 13 & 14, and with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra March 19, 20, & 21.  Claire Edwardes launches Dual Attractor in Melbourne, Amsterdam, Adelaide, and Canberra between now and July.  Asteroid Ekosystem launch Sounds Have Dreams in Sydney 20 & 21 March.

On stage at WOMADelaide, the world's festival on Kaurna Country, Andy hosts bands from Tanzania, Colombia, and India via the USA. The Zawose Queens, La Perla, and Ganavya demonstrate their diverse musical languages in front of a live audience.  The Music Show is made on Kaurna, Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Country Technical production by Ann-Marie Debettencor

First discovered as a 17-year-old, Annahstasia found the music industry had a vision for her that she didn't recognise. Leaving the industry behind gave her a chance to find her voice - both metaphorically and literally, with months spent testing various mics and studios to get the right right for her latest album, Tether. While she points to influences like Nina Simone and Bill Withers, Annahstasia shares with the Music Show that it was schoolyard bullying that originally made her realise that she could sing. When four jazz students in Sweden developed an interest in Scandinavian folk songs, they blended those influences together into an a cappella group, Åkervinda, that pays tribute to the past, while creating something entirely their own. Iris Bergcrantz, Agnes Åhlund, and Linda Bergström talk about their love for traditional music. Title: Om Du är LedsenArtist: ÅkervindaComposer: ÅkervindaAlbum: Så Skall Hat och Avund SmältasLabel: Naxos Title: VillainArtist: AnnahstasiaComposer: Annahstasia EnukeAlbum: TetherLabel: Drink Sum Wtr Title: Be KindArtist: AnnahstasiaComposer: Annahstasia EnukeAlbum: TetherLabel: Drink Sum Wtr Title: I Was Unhappy in My MarriageArtist: Bhutan BalladeersComposer: Bhutan BalladeersAlbum: Your Face Is Like The Moon, Your Eyes Are StarsLabel: Glitterbeat Records Title: Jag Står Upp en MorgonArtist: ÅkervindaComposer: ÅkervindaAlbum: Så Skall Hat och Avund SmältasLabel: Naxos Title: En MidsommaraftonArtist: ÅkervindaComposer: ÅkervindaAlbum: Så Skall Hat och Avund SmältasLabel: Naxos Title: BlågetaArtist: ÅkervindaComposer: ÅkervindaAlbum: Så Skall Hat och Avund SmältasLabel: Naxos Title: GuaracharArtist: La PerlaComposer: Diana Sanmiguel, Giovana Mogollón, Karen ForeroAlbum: GuaracharLabel: Independent release The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, Kaurna, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Country Technical production by Ann-Marie Debettencor

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.