Barbican Contemporary Podcast

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.

Mira Calix on Brainwaves (Fri 22 Jul, Wilton's Music Hall) and Zakaria Ibrahim from El Tanbura about the Egyptian uprising, the Suez crisis and much more

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.

'One of a handful of living composers who can legitimately claim to have altered the direction of musical history' (The Guardian), Steve Reich has been an influence for generations of musicians since the 1970s, and up to today's musical landscape - where the boundaries between rock and classical seem to have disappeared progressively. The Barbican celebrates this influence with six unique concerts on Sat 7 & Sun 8 May in London, featuring groundbreaking collaborations, four Reich premieres and new music. Visit http://www.barbican.org.uk/reverberations for more info and to book tickets.

Soothing singer-songwriter Jose Gonzalez on Chemistry, his influences and Heartbeats. Plus Canadian songsmith, Ron Sexsmith talks about the acclaimed documentary Love Shines and his collaboration with producer Bob Rock; and Barcelona's Ojos de Brujo preparing their best show for their 10th anniversary concert in London - which might also be their last...

The new sounds of Buenos Aires, soul-snapping retro grooves from Nigeria and hard-hitting political reggae infused with African instruments.