What a career Monty Oxymoron has had, and continues to have. We cover everything from the early days of Dr Spacetoad and Punk Floyd, his longstanding collaboration and friendship with Captain Sensible and his near 30-year stint with The Damned. And then there’s Monty’s parallel career as a psychiatric nurse. Strap in for a super interesting chat.
To listen / watch:

* Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or:
* Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previous episodes out on our YouTube Channel


Discussion topics covered during the show (links will open in new tab):  
Monty’s musical upbringing
For non-UK people: this is pirate radio
Slade in action, 1975
Soft Machine live, 1971
An encouraging letter from Kate Bush
Training as a psychiatric nurse
Monty’s amazing solo work and collaborations in full on Bandcamp
Joining Captain Sensible in Dr Space Toad Experience.
Monty’s Dr Space Toad Experience Keyboard Rig
Joining The Damned via Punk Floyd
Learning The Damned’s music
First gigs with The Damned
Tips for keeping things fresh and civil after nearly 30 years.
The Damned – Lovely Money
The Damned – Smash it Up at Wembley Arena 2018
Monty’s keyboard rig with The Damned
The Sumerian Kyngs in action
The Real Music Club in Brighton
Robert Rankin, Necrophenia and The Sumerian Kyngs
Recording process with The Damned
Monty nailing Is It A Dream with The Damned
Motorhead’s Lemmy and his view on keyboard players
Thoughts for younger players entering the industry
The influence of Monty’s parallel career in psychiatric nursing
On Kevin Ayers
The Sid Barrett Tribute at the Barbican – Bike
Safehouse Brighton – improvisation collective
Check out Monty’s album – Monty Oxymoron Plays The Songs of the Damned
Monty’s Substack (and don’t forget we have our very own!)
Desert Island Discs: The Piper at the Gates of Dawn – Pink Floyd,

Freyja Garbett strides across genres as easily she does the keyboards she plays. That makes for an interesting chat as we move between rock, soul, Afrobeat, funk, jazz and a lot more. Lots to enjoy here!
To listen / watch:

* Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or:
* Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previous episodes out on our YouTube Channel


Discussion topics covered during the show (links will open in new tab):  
Check out Freyja’s solo album – Music from the Waves
Freyja’s musical upbringing
Auditioning and attending Berklee College of Music
The Berklee approach to music education and early influences and being taught by Alain Mallet
Freyja Garbett Septet – Bulga
A piano lesson with Larry Goldings
Working with Ian Moss
Freyja in action with Ian Moss at the Big Red Bash
Freyja in action with Touch Sensitive
Motion sensors, surfing and music creation (Elk Elektronik)
Freyja’s preferred synths
Working on, and MD’ing  A Kind of Hush – The Magic of Karen Carpenter
Working with Stella Donnelly
Working and recording with Matt Keegan
Blissing Parts 1 and 2 – Freyja Garbett
Tag a Keyboard Player: Danny Pliner
Desert Island Discs: Self-Titled – Sam Wilkes, Craig Weinrib and Dylan Day, Esja – Hania Rani, Forest Floor – Fergus McCreadie, Mother of Dreams and Secrets – Barney McAll, Live at Yoshi’s Vol 1 – Mulgrew Miller.
Key links:
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We catch up with John Maul, who aside from an impressive and ongoing career as musical director and keyboard player, is also still working in the musicial instrument industry itself. We cover both aspects of John’s work, alongside guest co-host Damon McMahon. Lots of fun in this one!
To listen / watch:

* Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or:
* Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previous episodes out on our YouTube Channel


Discussion topics covered during the show (links will open in new tab):  
John’s website
Touring with Dire Straits Experience
Recreating the Dire Straits sounds – direct recreation or interpretation 
The most challenging Dire Straits songs from a playing perspective
A taste of Dire Straits Experience
John’s favourite keyboards to cover Dire Straits material
John’s musical upbringing, attending the Royal Academy of Music
Joining Roland UK as an employee
Perspectives on the ‘industry’ after 27 years
Challenges faced by today’s retail music industry
Consumer feedback and influence on new keyboard development, and the challenges of implementing changes
The perceptual divide between arranger keyboards and the synth / keyboard ranges manufacturers release
John’s decade or so with Rick Astley as keyboard player and MD.
John in action with Rick Astley in 2013
John in action with Rick Astley in 2016
Working with Pete Waterman, Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan
Working with Howard Jones
Working with Nik Kershaw
Learning from the diverse range of collaborations
Playing for Musical Theatre
John’s musical train wreck story
Tag a Keyboard Player: Bruce Hornsby, Dave Arch
Desert Island Discs: Here Come The Noise Makers – Bruce Hornsby, Wind & Wuthering – Genesis, 17-11-70 – Elton John, Both Sides Now – Joni Mitchell, Here’s To Life – Shirley Horn, The Montreux Years (Live) – Monty Alexander.
Key links:
Buy some keyboard related merchandise



Drop us a line via the website, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, BlueSky, TikTok or LinkedIn
Complete our listener survey to help us improve the show, it only takes 90 seconds.
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