391 episodes
- For hundreds of years, the Copper family have sung for their own pleasure, and for the pleasure of the people of Rottingdean, the East Sussex village where the family have been living since at least the 1500s. Singing together in pubs and houses, the BBC first recorded them in 1951, and they've gone on to become stars, particularly in the United States, where they toured extensively.
Andy went to East Sussex to sit down with Bob Copper, the paterfamilias of the family, in 2003 when Copper was 88 years old. In 32 years of presenting The Music Show, this might be his favourite ever conversation. Enjoy listening to this wide-ranging and philosophical conversation about an unbroken line of family singers and the music of the English chalk coast.
Music heard in the program:
Title: The Claudy Banks; Come Write me down, Ye Powers of love Artist: The Copper Family (Bob & Jim)Composer: Trad.Album: Come Write Me Down: The Copper Family of RottingdeanLabel: Topic
In the interview, Bob sings parts of The Birds in the Spring, and The Threshing Song, both trads.
Title: My Favourite ThingsArtist: John ColtraneComposers: Rodgers, Richard; Hammerstein, OscarAlbum: CMy Favourite ThingsLabel: Atlantic
This program was originally produced by Penny Lomax and Maureen Cooney. Ce Benedict did a tiny bit of work on this version.
Technical production by Harvey O’Sullivan - Drawing references to Kerouac, Munch, and Hildegard of Bingen, Bryce Dessner's music builds on a rich tradition of art that extends far beyond music. The classical composer (and guitarist for The National) is presenting the Australian premiere of his cello concerto, Trembling Earth, with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and talks to Andy about his influences, NY's music scene, and his new opera.
In a new sound installation called The Enormous Radio, Bob Scott and Roslyn Oades are tuning a huge room of old radios in to the sounds of the natural world. Frogs, dingoes, flies, and goats take on a ghostly tone, as field recordings are reshaped into something almost unrecognisable.
The Sydney Symphony Orchestra performance of Trembling Earth is on the 19th and 20th of September. And Bryce Dessner: A Portrait in Music is heading to Sydney and Melbourne.
The Enormous Radio is on as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival from Sept 30.
Music heard in this program:
Title: Pond LifeArtist: Bob Scott & Roslyn OadesComposer: Bob Scott & Roslyn OadesAlbum: Sound installation
Title: St. Carolyn By The SeaArtist: Bryce Dessner, Aaron Dessner, Copenhagen Philharmonic OrchestraComposer: Bryce DessnerAlbum: St. Carolyn By The SeaLabel: Deutsche Grammophon
Title: Song for Ainola Artist: Anastasia KobekinaComposer: Bryce DessnerAlbum: Bryce Dessner - SolosLabel: Sony
Title: Garcia CounterpointArtist: Bryce DessnerComposer: Bryce DessnerAlbum: Day Of The DeadLabel: 4AD
Title: DingoesArtist: Bob Scott & Roslyn OadesComposer: Bob Scott & Roslyn OadesAlbum: Sound installation
Title: Jane SheldonArtist: flowermuscleComposer: Jane Sheldon & Bob ScottAlbum: flowermuscleLabel: Independent release
The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Country
Technical production by Harvey O'Sullivan - To mark Andy’s departure from the show at the end of this year, we’re bringing you some of his favourite conversations from 32 years on air. This week, we’ll hear the American pianist, composer and teacher Seymour Bernstein in a conversation from 2015. Bernstein died earlier this year, just before his 100th birthday, and in that long life he passed on a huge amount of wisdom about music, from how to play Beethoven to helping Ethan Hawke overcome stage fright.
Benjamin Clementine, who is an amazing musician, says he’s not an amazing musician. He’s a British Ghanaian singer, pianist, songwriter, and creative sponge: one of those artists who soaks up so many influences it leads to a totally unique sound which defies categorisation. He’s about to tour Australia and he tells Andy how his songs start as poems, his influences, and his sanguine attitude towards categorisation.
Benjamin Clementine tour dates:
Adelaide 15 OctoberMelbourne International Jazz Festival 20 OctoberSydney 21 OctoberPerth 24 October
Music heard in the show:
Title: NemesisArtist: Benjamin ClementineComposer: Clementine, BenjaminAlbum: At Least For NowLabel: Virgin EMI
Title: Gottes zeit is Die Allerbeste Zeit, BMV 106: Prelude [Actus Tragicus]Artist: Seymour BernsteinComposer: Bach, Johann SebastianAlbum: Seymour: An Introduction (Soundtrack)Label: Varese Sarabande
Title: Intermezzo in A major, Op.118 No.2: excerptArtist: Seymour BernsteinComposer: Brahms, JohannesAlbum: Seymour: An Introduction (Soundtrack)Label: Varese Sarabande
Title: GethukArtist: The Jawa Pitu BandComposer: The Jawa Pitu BandAlbum: KapindhoLabel: Independent
Title: Pizza MindArtist: Benjamin ClementineComposer: Clementine, BenjaminAlbum: SingleLabel: Preserve Artists
Title: CornerstoneArtist: Benjamin ClementineComposer: Clementine, BenjaminAlbum: At Least For NowLabel: Virgin EMI
Title: Pizza MindArtist: Benjamin ClementineComposer: Clementine, BenjaminAlbum: SingleLabel: Preserve Artists
Title: You’re the VoiceArtist: John FarnhamComposer: Thompson, Chris; Ryder, Maggie; Qunta, Andy; Reid, KeithAlbum: Whispering JackLabel: Wheatley
The Music Show is produced on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country
Technical production by Antonia Gauci - You’re The Voice remains a favourite for generations of Australians and the album it's on, Whispering Jack, has sold more than 1.5 million copies. But John Farnham was 37 by the time he recorded that album and the music industry wasn’t all that interested in a new direction from a 60s pop star - until word of mouth began spreading that this was something special.
In some ways it’s that background that makes the result so remarkable. Andrew Ford charts the story behind Farnham's biggest hit and explores why Farnham's voice has earned him such admiration.
Featuring interviews with David Hirschfelder, Gaynor Wheatley, Michael Paynter, and Poppy Stockell.
The Songs of John Farnham: A Living Legend, The Celebration Concert is on September 20.
The Sydney Theatre Company’s musical, Whispering Jack, begins on November 15.
Music heard in this program:
Title: Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My HeadArtist: John FarnhamComposer: Burt Bacharach & Hal DavidAlbum: Looking Through A TearLabel: Columbia
Title: Sadie The Cleaning LadyArtist: John FarnhamComposer: David White, John Madara, Ray GilmoreAlbum: SadieLabel: Columbia
Title: Playing To WinArtist: Little River BandComposer: John Farnham, Graham GobleAlbum: Playing To WinLabel: Capitol Records
Title: The TempleArtist: John FarnhamComposer: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim RiceAlbum: Jesus Christ Superstar - 1992 Australian Cast Label: Polydor
Title: Age of ReasonArtist: John FarnhamComposer: Johanna Pigott, Todd HunterAlbum: Age of ReasonLabel: Wheatley Records
Title: That's FreedomArtist: John FarnhamComposer: Jean Anne Chapman, Tom KimmelAlbum: Chain ReactionLabel: Wheatley Records
Title: You're The VoiceArtist: John FarnhamComposer: Andy Qunta, Chris Thompson, Keith Reid, Maggie RyderAlbum: Whispering JackLabel: Wheatley Records
Title: Blind EyesArtist: Little River BandComposer: John Farnham, David Hirschfelder, Ray ChapmanAlbum: Playing To WinLabel: Capitol Records
Title: It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'N' Roll)Artist: John FarnhamComposer: Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Bon ScottAlbum: Age of ReasonLabel: Wheatley Records
Title: Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say)Artist: John FarnhamComposer: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim RiceAlbum: Jesus Christ Superstar - 1992 Australian Cast Label: Polydor
Title: Pressure DownArtist: John FarnhamComposer: Harry BogdanovsAlbum: Whispering JackLabel: Wheatley Records
The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Country
Technical production by Antonia Gauci Robert Forster's Swedish Strawberries and the Red Spirit Singers let their voices ring out
04/09/2026 | 54 mins.Recorded (largely) as-live in Sweden, with a group of that country's indie luminaries, Robert Forster's latest album Strawberries shows the singer-songwriter in a playful mood and embracing the role of storyteller. Speaking to Andy for the first time in quite some time, Forster explains why he made the trip and why he refused to tour the album until he could bring the band over to play it with him.
With up to thirteen singers and ten drummers, all clustered around a giant communal drum, the Red Spirit Singers produce a huge sound. The group, composed of members of the Ute Nation in Utah, have been performing their music for almost 40 years, with multiple generations involved over that time. Founder AJ Kanip talks about that history and about the importance of the songs, old and new.
Music heard in this program:
Title: Bear DanceArtist: Red Spirit SingersComposer: Red Spirit SingersAlbum: Land of the SunLabel: Independent release
Title: StrawberriesArtist: Robert ForsterComposer: Robert ForsterAlbum: StrawberriesLabel: Tapete Records
Title: DiamondsArtist: Robert ForsterComposer: Robert ForsterAlbum: StrawberriesLabel: Tapete Records
Title: All Of The TimeArtist: Robert ForsterComposer: Robert ForsterAlbum: StrawberriesLabel: Tapete Records
Title: Veteran's SongArtist: Red Spirit SingersComposer: Red Spirit SingersAlbum: Land of the SunLabel: Independent release
Title: Meet Me At The Ute PetroleumArtist: Red Spirit SingersComposer: Red Spirit SingersAlbum: Land of the SunLabel: Independent release
Title: You're The VoiceArtist: John FarnhamComposer: Andy Qunta, Chris Thompson, Keith Reid, Maggie RyderAlbum: Whispering JackLabel: Wheatley Records
The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Country
Technical production by Tegan Nicholls
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All kinds of music and all kinds of musicians in conversation with Andrew Ford.
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