Alt Down Under

James Hatcher and Andy Clutterbuck, better know as HONNE are this week’s artist in residence on Alt. Down Under.

Fresh from the release of their latest album, Ouch, the British electronic duo drop by to talk us through the stories behind the new tunes. From stepping into fatherhood and making sure to squeeze all that you can from life.

And of course, the boys build their Dream Gig Venue. How the hell do they aim to remain sexy when free cheese and onion appetisers are on the menu?

This comes all before their tour in Australia later in March 2025!

Another fantastic guest artist interview for you in episode 14 of Alt. Down Under...

This time out, it's the unreal Girl and Girl.
Speaking with Luke is frontman Kai James and drummer, Aunt Liss.

They've just caught a breath after an 8-date whistle-stop tour around Australia, bringing the energy to cities up and down the country.

It's not every day an aunt ends up being the drummer for her nephew's band - you can hear how the hell that happened, how they operate as a family unit and the pride they feel in each other's contributions to the magic that is Girl and Girl.

Kai opens up on using "theatric" elements in the band's debut album Call a Doctor as a means of opening up on his personal battles with mental health, the "beast" that is his vocal range and....all eyes on America! What it means to be heading Stateside and flying the flag for Australian music, whilst supporting Naked Giants.

AND....their Dream Gig Venue. The corpse of David Bowie playing at The Armpit? Sure, why not.

Don't they say "never work with a partner"?

It might be a disaster for some, but Sydney duo Salarymen have found the magic formula...and we are here for it.

Thom Eagleton and Renee de la Motte sit down for a chat off the back of their latest EP release, Day By Day.

Why is being honest with each other so crucial to the way they operate as a couple and as artists?

PLUS - social media - love it or loathe it, it's something any musician has to have some kind of relationship with. Thom and Renee discuss their experiences of it and take some suggestions from Luke for future posts!

AND they look back on tours with Royel Otis and San Cisco as well as the time they learnt a Japanese song whilst touring the Land of The Rising Sun...all before putting together their Dream Gig Venue, The Extra-terrestrial Disco Club. Anyone for a slug-slime martini?

The fantastic Romanie is the guest artist for Episode 12 of Alt. Down Under.

After meeting her in his first week in Australia when she performed alongside Katy J Pearson, Luke finally sits down with the Belgian songwriter to chat through her experiences of moving down to Aus. Romanie explains how stepping out of her comfort zone has shaped her as a person as well as empowering her work as an artist.

Making the move has been huge in bringing the best out of Romanie's irresistible talents, with last year's debut album 'Are We There Yet' notching nominations for Australian Music Prize and winning the 2023 Upstart Award.

One year on, she opens up on her appetite to get album number two out into the big bad world, off the back of the rollercoaster that was a health scare and misdiagnosis.

It's been a one hell of a journey, and here, Romanie bravely opens up on every twist and turn.

PLUS - her Dream Gig Venue - how did Romanie end up with gems on her teeth at Coachella and why Bowie needs to come back to life....

A gig review this time out features a look at Confidence Man's fantastically absurd set at The Forum, Melbourne.

Lotte Gallagher is Episode 11’s featured artist for Alt. Down Under!

The rising star of Melbourne’s Indie & Alternative scene drops by for a chat all about her debut EP, A Better Feeling – which landed earlier this month.

The Naarm-based singer opens up on how she was able to find her feet as a songwriter in her early teens, why family has been so important to her journey so far and how music has been a huge help with her mental health. 

Plus….with Oasis coming to Australia next year – is Melbourne really big enough for THREE Gallaghers?! Lotte gives the lowdown, before building her Dream Gig Venue…The Blasé Vengeance.

All this plus gig reviews from Luke after recent shows watching Radio Free Alice & Gut Health.

BOOM!

Alt. Down Under podcast is back with another slice of Indie chatter!

The Paris 2024 Olympics might be in full swing, but Melbourne post-punk/new-wave outfit Radio Free Alice are this year’s real athletes...

Fresh from a mammoth 2-month, 24-date stint in the UK and Europe, front-man Noah Learmonth drops by to talk about life on the road and the British food that has fuelled the band. Find out if there have been any holiday romances with Gregg’s sausage rolls or cheap pints at Wetherspoons.

Plus, the music industry: hated and adored. It’s a tough nut for a lot of emerging bands, so what drives Radio Free Alice to keep taking a crack at it, as fans await the release of their second EP, Polyester?

AND....Noah's Dream Gig Venue... he explains why a shaman is running the front door security and why fellow Melbourne acts Sex Mask & Rain Dogs make the dream line-up.

Host Luke Scanlan returns from months in backpacking wilderness – a time when he has been able to catch Royel Otis – and send the Alt. Down Under team to catch The Last Dinner Party playing in Australia. This past year has been a whirlwind for the British band – a year that has seen them crack America. But how did they go down with the Aussie crowds?


Loads for ya – don’t miss it!

This week, a Melbourne Rock n Roller…. Jacob Fitzgerald!

He’s had a recent support slot with UK outfit Sea Girls and is opening for Pacific Avenue in Sydney next month.

Jacob takes us through his love of Bruce Springsteen, old school rock and his band, The Electric City. Find out about the labour of love that is living - and creating music - with lead guitarist, Rick Hollywood.

PLUS
His new track, Sophia, which drops on Valentine’s Day.

AND
Jacob’s Dream Gig Venue, The Heartbreaker Club. Find out why people will be breakin’ hearts and wearing PJs whilst having a boogie to Jacob and Huey Lewis. 

Lead guitarist. Vocalist. Master on the keys.

There's not much The Vanns' Cameron Little can't do.

Here, he drops in for a chat with Luke Scanlan to chat through his experience of the music biz and how The Vanns have developed such widespread appeal - all ahead of the band's huge regional tour across Australia across the next few months!

As for his Dream Gig Venue? Well...this week, we are heading to Cameron's Thunder Dome!

Plus - Luke explains the mad 5 minutes that led to him getting inked for the first time!

AND...
A review of Sea Girls and Jacob Fitzgerald at The Corner in Melbourne!

Masego.

The artist carving out a whole genre of his own.

TrapHouseJazz with splices of R&B, Soul and Rap. This guy isn’t afraid to express – isn’t afraid to experiment.

On this episode of Alt. Down Under, the US star runs us through the brilliance of his band Sax Fifth Avenue, the fluid jazz style in his live shows and why he is dead-set on pulling people together by being truly present whenever taking to the stage (all whilst killing it on his sax [AKA '"Thor's Hammer"])

Over 7 million streams per month on Spotify and Grammy nominations under his belt, Masego is a force to be reckoned with and this is where you can hear about his Dream Gig Venue. Fruit platters and Caipirinhas on tap? Yes please.

If you haven’t heard of Masego before….you’re welcome.

Time for an episode of Alt. Down Under with an artist with a real exciting future ahead of them…

It’s Melbourne’s Ruby Cannon!

Ruby drops by for a chat about her retro-inspired tunes that are based on her love of music that runs deep through both her life and her work as an artist.


She also opens up on the challenges facing artists that are trying to break through right now. In the age of streaming, social media and having to churn out content… do musicians have to jump on the bandwagon or get left behind?


Plus – how does London’s gig scene compare to Melbourne? Ruby shares her thoughts, having had a taste of the UK last year!