The Drawing Room

Mis and disinformation or 'alternative facts' have become a mainstay of our modern world.As trust in journalism is eroded, how do we protect the truth?

He hails from Sweden, sings mostly in English but has been described as having ‘the soul of an Argentine troubadour’.

José González is a singer-songwriter whose vocals and intricate guitar melodies simultaneously blend of folk, indie rock, and classical influences. González first captured the hearts of listeners worldwide with his debut album ‘Veneer’.

Weyes Blood, the musical persona of Natalie Mering, filters the best of pop’s history into a sound that’s timeless and uniquely her own.

The latest album, And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow, is the second in a trilogy of sorts…  following on from the critically acclaimed Titanic Risen.

Sony music gave him his first record deal when he was 16. He wasn't a pop star or the lead in a boy band. He's a classical guitarist and according to some ‘The King of Strings’.   You might think he might have a big head after all that but Slava Grigoryan's new album is all about gratitude.

If the past couple of years have taught us anything it’s that what we previously thought was rock solid (our health, our jobs, relationships… the economy) might actually crumble at any moment.

And with live music, we certainly didn’t know what we had until it was gone. 

Lead singer of The Last Drinks,  Cash Savage talks about her experience of performing without an audience at Hamer Hall and her new appreciation for the fragility of mental health. 

The Venetian opera Giustino by Giovanni Legrenzi was THEE smash hit of the 1680’s’.

It tells the story of a shepherd who, through a series of quests and magical interventions, ultimately becomes the Emperor of Rome.

Giustino is notoriously action packed for a baroque opera, involving sea monsters, elephants, ghosts, bear fights, damsels - you name it, Giustino pretty much has it. 

Pinchgut Opera is preparing this production directed by Dean Bryant with Guistino played by Nicholas Tamagna.

Everyone's life could benefit from a soundtrack sometimes. A swelling score to emphasise the highs and the lows. 

One of Australia's best loved artists Kate Ceberano has been able to do just this. She joins us to talk about her 30th album My Life Is A Symphony, which re-imagines some of her biggest hits and her personal favourites with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

She'll be touring nationally with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra from May 27th, you can find more info on her website here

When Tanya Lee was nine, she was sexually abused by her father in secret, that would go on for five years. She’s now turning this taboo inside out in her podcast, No Laughing Matter.

Dan Sultan has captivated audiences since his debut album in 2006, been an ARIA musician of the year and has a string of other awards and nominations hanging from his belt. But his life hasn’t been without its challenges…and through some of the darkest times has come hope, bound together with the love and support from those around him. This journey has set the tone for his latest studio album, self titled Dan Sultan

The National Herbarium of New South Wales, houses a growing collection of over 1 point 4 million plant specimens… It's here that author and research academic Dr Prue Gibson learnt about the plant naming wars, and the fascinating keepers of this knowledge for her book The Plant Thieves: Secrets of the herbarium.