Inclusive Groove

Cooper Smart and Harry Leighton are two members of local band Dirty Merchants who formed in late 2023 when the four of them found themselves jamming in a garage after previous bands had fallen apart. Made up of three brothers and a best mate, the band has quickly developed a loud, energetic sound built for live shows. After winning the opening slot at Changing Tides Festival in 2024, they've been busy playing wherever we can and working on new music. They've recently released their debut EP 'Waste the Day' and are super stoked for what's to come.

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Renzo, Lincoln and Lana are members of High Catz, an emerging punk-rock band from Wollongong. Having already headlined their own shows and shared the stage with local acts including Earl Gray and Dead Nettles, the band are quickly building a name for themselves within the region’s lively punk and alternative music scene.

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Composed of lead vocalist Jack Clare, drummer Jarrah Henderson-Jackson, guitarist Harvey Jakubiw, bassist Jye Gibson and keyboardist Martin Sholl, giraffeHead are creating a unique combination of Jazz, RnB, Funk and Soul, with a distinctive and direct goal of creating the most enjoyable, crowd-pleasing, funky music audiences have ever heard.

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Paul Greene is an ARIA Finalist Songwriter, Producer and performer based on the South Coast of New South Wales, Australia.

His music has been difficult to define, melding elements of folk, roots, soul and Americana, but his new work is at home in 'country".

He is also the founder of Sounds Delicious, which is many things:

1: Recording Studio: making music sound good, refining and developing artists and creating music since 2001 also creating high quality video and photography

2: A record Label: helping artists maintain a sustainable career in the music...

Originally from Batemans Bay, Lizzie Jack is a singer songwriter based in Wollongong. She fronts the local band The Beanstalks, a folk-rock four piece based in the gong whose music blends Noah Kahan lyricism over Aussie pub rock musicality.

Alex Fordyce is a founding member of The Beanstalks, starting as the bassist and later switching to lead guitar. As one of the main songwriters in the band, he brings the riffs and rock influence to the bands music.

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Brendan Neville is the primary songwriter for the band Dribs - who have been playing in sheds, odds and ends since 2017.

We've been in love with being silly our whole lives and see the band as an expression of what we felt was a huge amount of overly seriousness particularly in music.

We aspire to ensure our live performances are real and an opportunity to feel as if you were just watching us play in our loungeroom - you can say what you feel and we're happy to just hang out rather than...

Max Reuben is a singer, songwriter, producer and multi- instrumentalist from Wollongong, Australia, whose music refuses to stay confined to a single genre. Blending elements of indie, psychedelic pop, alternative rock and metal, his work is driven by a curiosity for experimentation while remaining grounded in honest, introspective songwriting.

Rather than settling into one lane, Max sees every project as an opportunity to explore a different side of himself.

Max first emerged in 2015 as a founding member of the rock band Left Lane, where he co-wrote, recorded and performed original music, releasing several...

Logan Ritchie and Harry Dawkins are the lead singer and lead guitarist from Roommates which is a pop rock band hailing from Wollongong, NSW, known for their catchy, energetic, and poetic sound that instantly pulls listeners in.

Blending infectious hooks with raw emotion, Roomates craft a unique brand of rock that captures the heart of their coastal city and beyond. Their music draws inspiration from the highs and lows of life, with lyrics that are as introspective as they are anthemic.

The band's electrifying live performances and tight-knit chemistry create an atmosphere where...

Australian trio Necko draw on the sounds of 1970s stadium rock: atmosphere, catchy hooks and extended guitar solos. The three Sydney boys go from a whisper to a roar with Alek Necko's delicate R&B-flavoured falsetto and vintage wail, Reno Torrisi's explosive drumming and Alex Damon's dextrous bass and keys tap-dance.

Their eponymous debut EP launched the band into over two years of touring across Australia, including support slots for The Radiators and a finals appearance at Bluesfest Byron Bay's Busking Competition. And now, the fanbase that's been built as a result sees the group release...

Jack Earl and Adam Bransgrove are the lead singer and lead guitarist from Earl Gray. They're a five piece band, brewed on Dharawal land, rocking the East Coast with a fresh blend of indie rock! Full flavour, full volume, full throttle!

After an enormous 2024, your favourite Illawarra indie band has returned with a shot of caffeine, ready to bring you a taste of what the future holds! All new music, new merch, some new friends, and a whole lot of energetic rock music to sink your teeth into!

Driven by a catalogue of...

Stella Eve is a Canberran ballad songwriter whose style blends the sonic aesthetics of her childhood playlist with groove-hitting, mood-lifting music. This is the music you'll be whistling around the office come Monday. Stella has supported artists like Josh Pyke, Thelma Plum, Little Quirks, Rum Jungle, and many more...

Her debut project, Here For You (2025), brought together multiple producers and musicians to create a body of work full of texture, grounded in community. Her sound values ​​honesty, connection, experimentation, and, in every way, expresses Stella's desire to make music that makes you feel something.

Host...

Marley Fox is a non-binary artist, performer, and creative advocate whose work is all about self-expression, connection, and authenticity. They are known for blending music, performance, and community into spaces where people feel seen and celebrated. As a vocalist and member of The Midnight Tides, they bring passion, individuality, and heart to everything they do.

Beyond music, they are an event curator within the performing and creative arts world, as well as a proud advocate for gender fluidity and the LGBTQIA+ community. Whether they're on stage, creating opportunities for others, or simply being unapologetically themselves, Marley...

Hailing from the heart of one of Sydney's Southern coastal splendours, Kim Girdlestone is a truly authentic and captivating singer/songwriter. Her style is what she calls 'Daisy Chain Blues' a rich, raw blend of blues, folk, and Americana grounded in heartfelt storytelling and soul- drenched vocals.

Recently featured on 7NEWS with her band as part of Sydney's live music revival and she's just come off playing her sixth year performing at Cronulla Jazz & Bluesfestfestival.

A 2024 finalist in the Sydney Memphis Blues Challenge, Kim has performed at prestigious events including Cronulla Jazz & Blues...

Chelsea Daghita is an Australian indie singer-songwriter and musician based in the Wollongong and South Coast area of New South Wales. Known for her stripped-back, emotional music, her sound blends heartfelt, DIY storytelling with delicate melodies.

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Autumn Sunset was born in Wollongong, inspired by some of the most breathtaking sunsets you'll ever see. This 7-piece band blends the brightness of indie rock with the rich colours of jazz and funk, creating a sound that feels like a masterpiece painted across the sky.

Like autumn leaves gathering along a footpath, Autumn Sunset has grown into an overflowing collection of imagination, groove and soul-music that's impossible not to move to. With the rhythm of the wind and the warmth of the sun, the music is made to soothe the hardest of souls.

LEON is a south coast NSW singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who spent years performing and recording as a session musician alongside artists including Charlie Collins, Ben Swissa, Hein Cooper, Billy Otto and Ben Morgan.

Now focused on his own project, LEON blends blues, folk, rock and modern indie influences into songwriting that feels both timeless and current.

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Mick Thomas is best known as chief songwriter of pub-rock icons Weddings, Parties, Anything. His current band The Roving Commission features old "Weddoes" bandmate Squeezebox Wally on Piano Accordion and a rotating schedule of talented performers to keep the party alive with Mick's unique mix of folk, roots and country.

Running along side the Roving Commission is a whole raft of projects such as the magnum opus theatre piece The Vandemonian Lags (featuring Tim Rogers, Brian Nankervis, Liz Stringer, mong others). There's more theatre work in development coupled with the running of a boutique inner city...

Keens Brewer is a 23 year old Indigenous Australian Musician. Living with unilateral deafness, Keens has been playing music since she was 12 years old and has been singing her little head off since words could form in her mouth.

Growing up, Keens was heavily inspired by blues and rock music, with herher dad introducing her to Jimmy Hendrix, Eric Clapton, BB king, and Pink Floyd at a young age. Later, she developed her own interest specifically in artists like Nina Simone, Etta James and Bessie Smith.

She is currently working on an EP called "...

Wollongong-based singer songwriter Emily Duncan weaves a dreamy tapestry of ethereal vocals and introspective lyrics over stripped-back guitar on her latest EP, 'Maybe I Needed Time', sets the scene for a new, more mature musical direction for Emily, honest story- telling, without the frills, dealing with themes of personal growth, connection to the body

and the sense that there's a kind of comfort in finding a stable home and community. Taking inspiration from the likes of Australian icons Julia Jacklin and Jen Cloher, as well as US, Faye Webster and Adrienne Lenker, Emily combines hazy folk...

Raised in Cronulla by a first-generation Greek mother and an Aussie father, Adam Newling is a singular voice in Australia's alternative music scene. Blending grungy alt-rock and country sensibilities with poetic lyricism and an unruly, heartfelt vocal style. Newling has carved out a sound that feels both nostalgic and entirely his own.

Cutting his teeth as the longtime guitarist in Ruby Fields' band (and a featured vocalist on her ARIA #1 debut album Been Doin' It For A Bit) Newling stepped into the spotlight with his own deeply personal songwriting. His 2023 EP Dorothy Painted Portraits landed at #9...

Max Carr is an Australian singer-songwriter and frontman of Profannity, whose music blends raw blues, pub rock, and lived experience. As both a solo artist and the driving force behind Wollongong band Profannity, his sound is built on unfiltered storytelling, gritty grooves, and a deep connection to live music.

Originally starting as a stripped-back acoustic project, Max's music evolved into Profannity-a hard-hitting rock/grunge outfit featuring Wilson Featherstone (drums), Fergus Bolack (bass), and Reece Thurkettle (guitar). Known for their energetic live shows and powerful sound, the band has become a standout in the Illawarra scene, regularly...

Chiara Kovac is a Sydney-based musician whose work has grown from early acoustic songwriting into a fuller, heavier live sound shaped by collaboration, instinct and a love of Australian indie music. In this episode, Chiara reflects on learning saxophone, singing from primary school, teaching herself guitar, and developing her sound through recording, performing and working closely with her band. She also shares how songs like “Angry Ghost” marked a turning point in her confidence, musicianship and live energy.

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Matt "Chibbsy" Bragg is an Australian musician, producer, and podcaster with deep roots in the South Coast music scene. Over the years, he's played in bands including Trample, Toy Not Suitable, Fires Were Started, and currently performs with Mac Tango and Fat Bald Idiot. Alongside performing, Matt is the host of two podcasts, 1001 Songs That Make You Want To Die and Screech & Roll, the latter focused on the Illawarra Hawks.

Previously, Matt ran Bragg Recordings, where he worked closely with a wide range of artists including The Bungalows, Inanimate Objects, Tokyo Spares, and 19-Twenty. Whether on...

Max Mandile and Baylen Russell are the lead singer and drummer of Indie-Surf band Streless from Dharawal/Wollongong. Despite this label, the South-Coast band come from many different genres and influences. A must-see energetic live act, their recording style is much more reserved as proven by their debut single 'Fourth Wheel!'

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Kane Calcite is an independent folk-inspired songwriter whose sound drifts between sun- washed surf rock and grounded alternative folk.

Blending aspustic storytelling with coastal rhythms and electric warmth, his music feels equally at home on long road trips and late-night campfires. Rooted in melody and mood, Kane's songs capture movement, memory, and the quiet pull of the ocean.

On stage, Kane Calcite's music invites stillness as much as movement - a space where folk storytelling meets the open horizon, and every song feels like part of a journey still unfolding.

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Ramstone are an Australian classic/heavy rock band from Nowra on the South Coast of NSW. Formed in 2021 and evolving from an acoustic duo into a full four-piece in 2023, they write and perform big, rhythmic rock ’n’ roll anthems built for pubs and stages alike, and have shared stages with iconic Aussie bands including The Angels and Dragon. Drawing influence from classic and modern rock - from AC/DC and Led Zeppelin to Wolfmother and Audioslave - Ramstone bring a fresh, modern take on classic rock ’n’ roll.

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Glenn Whitehall is a touring/session musician and songwriter based in The Illawarra. Over a varied 20+ years in music, he has shared stages with international and local legends, and is frontman for soul/rock band The Sacred Crows.

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This project is the creative outlet of producer and multi-instrumentalist Lucas Trevisan. Lucas embarks on this solo journey to truly express his creative purpose with his extensive musical knowledge and skill-set. The 7-piece one-man band describes his genre as 'psychedelic groove', which is based around a fusion of funk and psychedelic rock with a sprinkle of jazz and samba groove.

He is dedicated to representing a rainbow of cultures through his worldly genre awareness. In his live performances; hip-hop beats, hand-played percussion, melting chords and funky bass-lines are looped to create a magical atmosphere; opening space...

South Coast artist Cassy Rae is known for her smooth live vocals and a quirky, genre-blurring sound shaped by indie, rap, blues and singer-songwriter influences. Her music balances raw emotion with strong rhythmic feel, creating songs that are both intimate and groove-driven.

Raised in a musical household and surrounded by guitars, Cassy Rae found her way into music early, playing Avril Lavigne covers to her bedroom walls. Two decades later, she's performing live most weekends, building a reputation for honest songwriting and captivating live shows.

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The Vanns are a four-piece indie rock band from Kiama, Australia, formed in 2012. I've been following them since Keep My Cool, and it's been amazing to see them evolve throughout their discography of Through the Walls, Last of Your Kind, and All That's in My Head, selling out shows across Australia and touring internationally.

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Patrick Rogers is a key part of the vibrant Wollongong music scene, known for his dynamic musicianship and ability to elevate every project he's involved in.

A versatile and passionate drummer, Patrick has performed with a range of acclaimed artists and bands, including Warbaby, Adam Newling, and Ruby Fields, showcasing both technical skill and an instinctive feel for rhythm that brings power, character, and heart to the stage.

His drumming style doesn't just support a song - it enhances it, helping to shape the sound, energy, and emotion of each performance. Beyond music...

Dan Southern is a Nowra-based creative, musician, and drummer at heart who has been writing, recording, mixing, and releasing his own music since 2012. He is married, has three kids, and five dogs, and lives a life that is loud, chaotic, and permanently soundtracked by whatever he's working on next.

Entirely self-taught, Dan founded his home studio, Ghetto Bird Studio, recording artists such as Adams Parade, Mac Tango, and Polly Hazelton. As a session drummer, he has played with Topnovil, Mac Tango, and even Joey Cape of Lagwagon over the years.

His current focus...

Jack Tickner is a music therapist from Wollongong specialising in neuro-affirming practice and improvisation. He also plays in Basil's Kite, Wollongong, and the American/Australian band Yowie.

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Jack Tickner is a music therapist from Wollongong specialising in neuro-affirming practice and improvisation. He also plays in Basil's Kite, Wollongong, and the American/Australian band Yowie.

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Luke Mahler is an artist and producer based on the Central Coast. He has been active in the music scene, playing in bands and producing for the last 10 years.

He is currently part of the band Sugar Soap along with his brother Jordi. Sugar Soap has swiftly become a fixture on the local circuit. Their journey has seen them grace stages across the east coast, sharing billings with acts such as their brother Tom's band The Moving Stills, Spacey Jane, Telenova and Velvet Trip.

The duo were also lucky enough to win and...

The Tin Knees are a theatrical music confection based in Sydney and Wollongong. With humble roots on Australia's east coast, in both the Gong and the quaint country town of Dubbo, the group indulge in a signature synth pop, surf rock, jazz-infused sound with saucy lyrics that get even the most sensible mothers hot and bothered.

Lead by the unapologetic creativity of Leonardo Sunshine on lead vocals and guitar and Frankie Desire on drums, the six piece band had its beginnings playing gigs at local music venues, including Wollongong's dearly departed RAD Bar. In early 2020, they...

Born and raised in the coastal town of Thirroul, Robbie discovered his passion for music at an early age. The sound of waves and the laid-back beach culture deeply influenced his musical style, creating a unique blend of warmth and sophistication.

While completing his Music Degree at the University of Wollongong, Robbie embarked on a professional musical journey that has spanned over a decade. His experience ranges from intimate solo performances to dynamic band collaborations with Circadia, Toruadh, Sleepy Jo and the Bananas, and more.

As both a solo artist and accomplished band...

Matt Roach is a local musician who's been playing in bands and venues around the Wollongong area for the past 10 years. Originally from the South Coast, he now focuses his time as the bassist for local band Roomates. Matt plays a key role in shaping the band's sound with his steady rhythms and thoughtful approach to music.

In this episode, we talk about his influences, old bands he was in, his upbringing in church, the people who have shaped his life, we talk about disability, and so much more.

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Futureheaven are a rock/shoegaze 5-piece band from Sydney, blending crushing heaviness with dreamy melody. Known for their emotive vocals and textured guitars, they carve out a sound that's both raw and atmospheric, a modern take on 90s-inspired heaviness that hits hard and lingers. Balancing chaos and calm, Futureheaven delivers music that's as powerful as it is immersive.

In this episode, Futureheaven and I talk about how this was their first interview, the shows they've done, how I met Bridie, and how the band came about. Plus disability and so much more!

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Australian alt-rock band LSF are gearing up to release their new album 'Haunted' alongside a national headline tour kicking off on Triple J's Hottest 100 Day, January 24, 2026.

Born in a warehouse and built entirely DIY, LSF have grown a dedicated following through high-energy shows, self-produced releases, and national radio attention. 'Haunted' marks their most refined work to date as a blistering mix of '90s grit, explosive hooks, and emotional weight, all produced in-house by frontman Blake Lauricella.

The album arrives as LSF embarks on their biggest run yet: a multi-city headline tour bringing...