Anyone Can Play Guitar

Hello and welcome to episode 177 of the ACPG Podcast. This week Ben is in Newcastle and zooming with Matthew Murphy of The Wombats and Love Fame Tragedy who is in LA. Ben and Murph talk about his second album from his side project Love, Fame, Tragedy. We talk about writing for this project and The Wombats, talk about the heritage of great scouse bands (there's a few), playing live, living in LA, a...

Hello and welcome to episode 176 of the ACPG podcast. This episode is the last interview of the series. But don't worry we will be back for a new series and our much loved outro episode. In this episode Ben is zooming with J Willgoose, Esq of the fantastic Public Service Broadcasting. The talk about PSB's new live album, approaching playing live, writing new albums, and more. A celebration of the...

Hello and welcome to episode 175 of the ACPG Podcast. This week Ben is zooming with Poppy from the wonderful Girl Ray. We talk about their new album Prestige (the non concept, concept album, my words not theirs). Prestige is a fictional night club where we follow the band on a night out. And a good time is had by all. We speak about the new album, touring, and watching the crowds get bigger. Thank...

Hello and welcome to episode 174 of the ACPG Podcast. This week Ben is zooming with Finnish Musician Jaakko Eino Kalevi who was in Athens, Greece at the time of speaking. They had a great conversation about Jaakko's ninth album, Chaos Magic. They also spoke about the writing process, playing live and having a career in music. Thank you to Jaako for his time and Stasi for setting up the interview....

Hello and welcome to episode 173 of the ACPG Podcast. This week Ben is zooming with the delightful Willie J Healey. They talk about his new album Bunny, touring with the Arctic Monkeys and Jamie T, working with Yala records and more. Thank you to Jay for setting up the interview. And thank you to Willie for his time and rearranging time for a clash in Ben's diary. We have a special artist in Willi...

Hello and welcome to episode 172 of the ACPG Podcast. After a little mid season break we are back with a short run of episodes to finish off season five. This week Ben is zooming with Becca Mancari (they/them) who is based Nashville. We talk about Becca's third album 'Let Hand'. Which we discover has a lot of sonic hugs. A new phrase for both of us but we like it. We also cover playing live, song...

Hello and welcome to episode 171 of the ACPG podcast. This week Ben is zooming with Los Angeles where he spoke with Nick and Kelsey of the fantastic Local Natives. Now, I (Ben) have been a massive fan of Local Natives since their debut album Gorilla Manor and especially the songs Sun Hands and Airplanes. So it was great to talk to them about that but also the release of their new album Time Waits...

Hello and welcome to episode 170 of the ACPG podcast. This week Ben zooms with Hugh and Danny of the band Gengahr. Ben caught them in the middle of an instore tour. Or Instoring if you will. Just after the release of their fourth album Red Sun Titans. They spoke about the new album, the production, touring and so much more. 'Red Sun Titans' is an album that sets Gengahr on an exciting new trajecto...

Hello and welcome to episode 169 of the ACPG Podcast. This week Ben is zooming, and nearly getting locked in work, with Freddie Cowan from Freddie and the Scenarios, and formally of The Vaccines. Ben and Freddie spoke about his debut solo album Answer Machine, touring, new directions, and a bit about The Vaccines. Freddie Cowan created Freddie & The Scenarios with the help of some of the best in M...

Hello and welcome to episode 168 of the ACPG Podcast. This week Ben is zooming with the one of the most relaxed men in music, JW Francis. Ben in Newcastle and JW in Paris, they spoke about this new album, touring, walking, and self-created tours. Which sounds amazing. Indie-rock, jangle, slacker, bedroom pop and softly-whirring psych combine to build his 'Dream House' - the foundations held in ear...

Hello and welcome to episode 167 of the ACPG podcast. This week Ben is zooming with too proper geezers, Bruce and Simon of the fantastic Good Health Good Wealth. With a mix of Streetesqe spoken word vocals and dirty dirty beats. GHGW are a heading mix of Queens market and a eastern European club. And I love it (to quote them). Ben, Bruce, and Simon discuss how they good started, their approach to...

Hello and welcome to episode 166 of the ACPG Podcast. This week Ben has 'the look of love' as he zooms with one of his musical idols, Martin Fry of ABC. Similar to Chris Difford a couple of week ago. ABC and Martin Fry hold a special place in Ben's musical life. No 'poison arrows' with this one, and we can definitely hear 'Smokey Sing', ok I'll stop dropping ABC songs in here. As you can imagine t...

Hello and welcome to episode 165 of the ACPG podcast. This week Ben is zooming with another Aussie Alex Lahey. Ben and Alex talk about her new album The Answer is Always Yes, touring, festivals, and building a community. Fresh from recently announcing her new album and debut for Liberation, The Answer is Always Yes, Aussie polymath Alex Lahey today returns with a fresh taster from the record, 'The...

Hello and welcome to episode 164 of the ACPG Podcast. This week Ben is zooming as James is holiday(ing). Not sure if that's a real word. Ben is on zoom this week with one of his favourite artists of all time. Chris Difford from the band Squeeze. This podcast has thrown up a few unreal scenarios but thankfully it's still fun and great to meet people that you've listened to for most of your life. Sq...

Hello and welcome to episode 163 of the ACPG Podcast. This week Ben is back at the Cluny with Beans on Toast (AKA Jay). They talk pre gig, post sound check about his life in music, songwriting, touring, festivals, community, and making friends with friend of the show Frank Turner. Since 2005, Beans on Toast has written simple songs about complicated subjects. Tackling the big issues of the day but...

Hello and welcome to episode 162 of the ACPG Podcast. This week Ben is zooming down under again with the lovely Gena Rose Bruce. Ben and Gena talk about her second album Deep Is The Way, touring, festivals, and moving to the UK (soon). Last year a suffocating black fog pursued Melbourne musician Gena Rose Bruce through the night's depths – a recurring dream wraith brought on by the passing of her...

Hello and welcome to episode 161 of the ACPG Podcast. This week Ben is zooming with North Shields alumni Schak. Ben and Schak talk about his life in music, from inline skating to signing to Ministry of Sound and everything, and there's a lot, in between. Schak has been involved in music for a long time but over the last few years has really developed his sound, released singles, played St James' P...

Hello and welcome to episode 160 of the ACPG Podcast. This week Ben is zoom with Charlie and Jake of Chappaqua Wrestling. They talk about Chappaqua Wrestling's debut album 'Plus Ultra' which is out this Friday (depending on when you read this), touring, getting start and a mutual love for Manchester music. For their debut album, Chappaqua Wrestling knew that they wanted to step above the noise of...

Hello and welcome to episode 159 of the ACPG Podcast. In this episode Ben is zooming with Tor AKA Billy Nomates. I (Ben) have been obsessed with Billy Nomates release earlier this year Cacti. And it was great to talk to Tor about this album in some detail. We also spoke about touring and festivals. Billy Nomates is just about to go on tour and you can catch shows from 17/04 in Cardiff until 29/04...

Hello and welcome to episode 158 of the ACPG Podcast. This week James is back from holiday, and Ben is talking to musician Hamish Hawk. Ben caught up in person with Hamish at the Cluny on the first night of his latest UK tour. They spoke about the wonderful of touring, his new album Angel Numbers, influences, and sticking at it. Nothing happens over night kids. We hope you enjoy this episode. Than...

Hello and welcome to episode 157 of the ACPG Podcast. In this episode Ben is zooming with Matt Corby. A solo artist from Australia. We're in the middle of a little run of Austrialian artists. Shame we couldn't record these in person in Australia. But you know, small details. Matt and Ben talk about his new album, Everything's Fine, playing live and Australian idol. The album was recorded at his ow...

Hello and welcome back to ACPG podcast. Welcome to SEASON FIVE. Five season and 156 episodes we've been doing this.. mad. This is the first episode in season five and we have a wonderful guest in Jonny Took from the awesome DMA'S. Ben and Jonny catch up over zoom to discuss DMA'S new album, coming out at the end of March, How Many Dreams?, touring, the DNA of DMA'S (try saying that ten times fast)...

Hello and welcome to the last episode of season four. This is just a quick outro and reflection on season four with Ben and James. We look back at season five and look forward to season five. Wow that was very corporate writing there. Apologies. Thank you to everyone who listened, downloaded, passed the podcast to their friends, guests, management companies, PR companies, and every last tour manag...

Hello and Welcome to the final interview of season five. This week Ben is zooming with solo artist Jackson Mico Milas. Ben and Jackson talk about his new album Blu Terra, writing with Tim Minchin, running and so much more. Having cut his teeth at New York's Nylon Studios, Jackson carved out a career with award-winning film and TV scores including a long-standing collaboration with Tim Minchin on t...

This week we speak to Tara Divina. If you visit her website, which you should, you'll be presented with this call to action - "You deserve to experience the greatest joy and fulfilment life has to offer. Create your work of art. Leave your legacy. Live free of regret.". Big statements. And she can help. An ex record label exec and current musician and coach shares a wealth of fantastic insights. H...