barbican

As a new year of music is about to begin, Ben Eshmade talks to Olafur Arnalds about his special concert with Britten Sinfonia on 11 March, Cowboy Junkies' vocalist Margo Timmins and journalist Andy Morgan about the current conflict in Northern Mali and what this means for Mali's people and its heritage.

Soul/r+ &b star Macy Gray introduces her new blues and soul-drenched project with the David Murray Big Band, whilst Neil Cowley talks about the collaboration between his trio and the Goldsmith (big) Strings. Plus Indian sitar star Anoushka Shankar on winning the "raga flamenco journey" in her latest album, Traveller.

Ben Eshmade (@poplarpenguin) chats with Rasmus Stolberg from Efterklang about their new album on 4AD, Piramida and their expedition to the Arctic Circle; plus American pop pioneers Sparks and contemporary composer Max Richter on his latest project, Vivaldi's The Four seasons re-imagined for Deutsche Grammophon.

Sonic Youth’s singer and guitarist Thurston Moore and writer Brian Morton unveil the truth about Sun Ra (he was from Saturn, not Alabama), whilst filmmakers Marsha Emerman and Majid Shokor introduce their documentary about the music of the Iraqi Diaspora and its Jewish roots. Plus Oneohtrix Point Never and Nate Boyce about their multimedia performance, Reliquary House.

For this rare interview, the great American composer chats to Ben Eshmade in a London cab, ahead of the celebrations for his 75th birthday at the Barbican Centre in London. Featuring plenty of Philip Glass’s music and insights into his work, his legendary collaborations, his beginnings, the “music world” and the “music business” and some Schoenberg records which took five years to sell in his father’s record store…

Roots Manuva, Mulatu Astatke, Brazil's singer-songwriter Baia, DJ Joao Brasil and Mais Um Gringo from Mais Um Records introduce this weekend's festival

Goran Bregovic on 16th century France and wartorn Sarajevo, plus Van Dyke Parks and Rokia Traore in an exclusive interview from Mali

A special podcast dedicated to Big Star Third in London on May 28th 2012. A fully-orchestrated performance of Big Star's legendary album Sister Lovers and other gems from the band’s timeless catalogue, featuring Mitch Easter, Jody Stephens, Chris Stamey, Ken Stringfellow and special guests Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Alexis Taylor (Hot Chip), Jon Auer (The Posies), Brendan Benson (The Raconteurs), Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub), John Bramwell (I Am Kloot), Ira Kaplan (Yo La Tengo), Sondre Lerche, Sharon Van Etten

Juan de Marcos, the man who brought together the artists who became Buena Vista Social Club, talks to Ben Eshmade about his Barbican concert with the Afro-Cuba All-Stars on 25 April, and the past and future of Cuban music. Then we jump genres, into a new musical zone where post-classical, electronica and song meet, with FatCat Records and Dustin O’Halloran; plus a touch of world-class classical music, with the new Barbican Associate Orchestra, the Britten Sinfonia.

British minimalist composer Gavin Bryars and sound artist Philip Jeck introduce The Sinking of the Titanic, an extraordinarily immersive video and music experience on the 100th anniversary of the RMS Titanic disaster - April 15th 2012. Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang talks about Bang on a Can's 25th anniversary concert, titled Field Recordings, and how found sounds and video bites inspired the artists involved to come up with this unusual musical project. English poet and rapper Akala and producer Paul Gladstone Reid chat to Ben Eshmade about what their Hip Hop Shakespeare Company have in store for the Barbican Weekender on 3rd & 4th March.

This month we meet with Aaron Dessner – founding member of acclaimed rock band The National - to chat about his multimedia project, The Long Count. Plus a special live session with renowned English eccentric Robyn Hitchcock, introducing The Floating Palace on Wed 8 Feb (also featuring KT Tunstall, Eliza & Martin Carthy, Howe Gelb and Krystle Warren), and critically-acclaimed composer Michael Gordon on his 9/11-inspired piece The Sad Park and the upcoming Kronos Quartet residency from Sat 21 Jan.

What happens when Mouse on Mars’ music is played by real humans? Jan St Werner from Mouse on Mars chats about their new orchestral piece which is having its UK premiere at the Barbican on 25 November. Counter-cultural visionary Iain Sinclair shares his critical views on the management of the Olympics in East London. Texan singer-songwriter Josh T Pearson talks about the success of his debut album Last of the Country Gentlemen; whilst The Leisure Society introduce their exciting collaboration with the Heritage Orchestra at the Barbican in December (and they are excited!)

We travelled to Angel in London to meet David Hepworth – the man responsible for editing, launching or directing magazines such as Smash Hits, Q, Mojo and Word magazine – to talk about the transformation of music media since the 1970s. Plus Neil Brand gives us a sneak preview of his new score for the silent classic Underground, and guitarist and producer Justin Adams (Tinariwen, Robert Plant, Sinead O’Connor) talks about his new desert rock project with Juldeh Camara – JuJu.

UK rapper Mikill Pane talks about East London, making new music and the spectacular urban music showcase headlined by Kano on Thu 7 Jul, Re:Definition 2011. Plus Belgian/Congolese hip-hop sensation Baloji, performing at Rich Mix Arts Centre on Mon 18 Jul in a double bill with gorgeous Malian singer Fatoumata Diawara.

Featuring Canadian electro-pop pioneer, singer-songwriter and producer Chilly Gonzales and Rene Perez Joglar aka Residente from Latin music powerhouse Calle 13.

Felix Buxton from Basement Jaxx talks about their collaboration with the Metropole Orkest on 14 & 15 Jul 2011 in the Barbican Hall, whilst Nozinja aka 'Dog' tells us a bit more about the 180bpm street dance phenomenon from South Africa which is about to strike Europe this summer, Shangaan Electro. This podcast also features music from La Notte della Taranta Orchestra, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings and Afrobeat legend Ebo Taylor.

World Circuit producer Nick Gold on Afrocubism - the original idea which became Buena Vista Social Club in a first instance. Plus Paloma Faith and Guy Barker (courtesy of BBC Radio 2 and Cheltenham Jazz Festival) talk about their sold out concert in December, Down at the End of Lonely Street; and the incredibly talented China Moses talks about the opening gala concert of the 2011 London Jazz Festival.

Metronomy open the celebrations for the 10th Bicycle Film Festival on October 14th. Ben Eshmade chats with Jack Barnett from These New Puritans about their music influences, the making of their ambitious album Hidden, and their live performance @ the Barbican on 23 Oct with the Britten Sinfonia. Plus, Michael Rother from the legendary German group NEU!, which influenced and have been lauded by David Bowie, Hawkwind, Iggy Pop, Sonic Youth, Radiohead, U2, Wilco, Primal Scream, and many others. He explains how NEU!'s sound didn't actually involve any synthesizers at the beginning, and talks about their "action painting" approach to creating music.

Exclusive interview with Emory Douglas - the revolutionary artist who was Minister of Culture for the Black Panther Party from 1967 until the late 1970s - in this month's podcast. The iconic visuals of Emory Douglas feature in the tribute concert to the Black Panthers on Sat 11 Sep, which sees the legendary hip-hop band The Roots join forces with The Last Poets, members of Living Colour and Doctor L, directed by free jazz saxophonist David Murray. Plus a new feature about our Transcender festival (15-17 Sep), with Jeff Buckley collaborator, Grammy-nominated guitarist (and amateur magician...) Gary Lucas interviewed by Ben Eshmade together with Najma Akhtar about their new album and live set Rishte (17 Sep, LSO St Luke's); and producer/Iceland's Bedroom Community label boss Valgeir Sigurdsson talks about The Whale Watching Tour at the Barbican on 27 September.

In the last edition of this year's Blaze festival podcasts, we catch up with alt country troubadour Howe Gelb from Tucson, Arizona - performing in the Barbican Hall on 22 Jul with Giant Sand, featuring Kristin Hersh and Howe Gelb and A Band Of Gypsies. Plus a preview of our Autumn series of transcendental and spiritual music from across the globe, Transcender, with Songlines Magazine's Editor, Simon Broughton; and a short chat with New York based Asphalt Orchestra, who played at Dance Nations Dalston on 4 Jul.