The Music Show

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