The Scratch Cast: The Alternative Music Podcast

Season 02 Episode 01: “We’re Back! (did you clap!?)” - The Scratch Cast: The Alternative Music Podcast 10th May 2026 Wow. It’s been well over a year since we recorded an episode. But we’re back! And better than ever! Sort of. We had a few technical difficulties recording this episode: shite internet connection, headphone batteries dying - so expect some rough audio moments here and there. We’re pr...

It’s been ages since our last interview, but we’re back and it’s a banger. On Episode 07 we’re graced by the presence of the inimitable Becca Starr (  @beccathebiznitch  ) who somehow squeezed u s into her busy schedule, just ahead of the launch of her new album Defixio (spoiler alert: Defixio is out now and it’s brilliant - go listen to it). We start with an extended Q&A followed by...

It's been another long wait but we're back with a new episode of The Scratch Cast. Since we last met, Grant laid some slabs and became a Swifty, while Snedds witnessed a man's descent into madness during Dune: The Musical. On our singles swap we’re discussing The Sink by indie folk duo hey, nothing and Danzig With Myself by your favourite specialists in car advert music The Dandy Warhols, featurin...

We're finally back with another new episode of The Scratch Cast: The Alternative Music Podcast. Did you miss us? On this episode Grant talks a lot about Blackpool, we try to find Keanu Reeves, and we discuss the phenomenon of people our age looking a lot older in the 80s... On our singles swap we discuss: "10 Mile Smile" by Elgin solo artist Jay Taulier and "Stand Up or Sit Down" by Glasgow's The...

This episode should have come out in August 2023. We had planned to record it, but I got sick and it was postponed. Then, life got busy with staggers, weddings (both hosts included), and honeymoons. It’s been over six months since our last episode - which is absolutely mental - but we’re finally back with loads of great new (ish) music to talk about! On our singles swap we’re discussing: Post-punk...

Episode 25: “A Lot Of Intense Frottage” - The Scratch Cast: The Alternative Music Podcast - 17th June 2023 There’s a lot of intense frottage on Episode 25 of The Scratch Cast! As usual, we’re a bit behind and this was recorded months ago, so a lot of our references to dates and times will be out of date. On this jam-packed episode, Snedds talks about Garth Marenghi’s Terrortome, the Chuun Spring F...

The Scratch Cast - The Alternative Music Podcast - Episode 24: “A Ten Out Of Ten Bonanza” 12th March 2023 It's a ten-out-of-ten bonanza on Episode 24 of The Scratch Cast! On our latest episode we give out our highest rating no less than four times - have we gone mental? Listen in to find out! First, we run through our ratings from 2022 to establish The Scratch Cast's Top 5 (ish) singles and albums...

The Scratch Cast - The Alternative Music Podcast Episode 23 - “The Biannual Music Podcast” 13th January 2022 Our first podcast of 2023 is finally here! Full disclosure though, this episode was recorded way back in November, even before the WACO interview (which it took a back seat to). So… expect the digital corkboard and some of our references to specific days, weeks and months to be totally out...

The Scratch Cast - The Interviews Episode 06 - ""Well, well" Said The WACO Lads" 22nd December 2022 A couple of weeks ago we had the pleasure of catching up with Jak and James from WACO. We asked them what they'd been up to since we last spoke and talked about their brilliant new album "Rock Spirit Absolute Joy" - out now on Venn Records! We also asked the lads to each pick an album for us to talk...

It's been another long wait since the last episode of The Scratch Cast, we’re practically a quarterly podcast at this point, but we're finally back to discuss a load of great music released over the last few months! On this episode, we discuss weak bladders, George Jetson’s birthday, broken foot gig cancellations, how George Clooney looks like a tortoise and oh yeah, music. Snedds recants his expe...

The Scratch Cast - The Alternative Music Podcast - Episode 21 “The Spirit Of Lady Parts” 10th June 2022 It's been a long wait since the last episode of The Scratch Cast but we're finally back to discuss loads of new music released over the last few months! On this episode, we reveal the truth behind the last episode's cover art and the 90s craze of Children's Tea Towel Art that inspired it. Snedds...

The Scratch Cast - The Alternative Music Podcast - Episode 20 “Smell Ya Later” 18th March 2022 Perhaps we’re pushing it calling this a monthly podcast now, but after what feels like ages (time for Snedds to watch all five seasons of The Wire), Episode 20 of The Scratch Cast - The Alternative Music Podcast is finally here. Grant and Snedds discuss their drunken experience of Kneecap live at The Bar...

It’s been ages since we last uploaded an episode of The Scratch Cast Podcast but this one’s a little bit special. To celebrate our second birthday (which rolled around back in September) we’re reviewing submissions from all the way back before the podcast was a thing, up until just a few months ago. We also discuss Snedds’ ongoing Sopranos obsession, what we thought of The Many Saints of Newark, H...

On this episode of The Scratch Cast Podcast, we have difficulty pronouncing the word “alchemical”, spoil the end of the Sopranos (SPOILER ALERT) and forget famous actors’ names from The Irishman. Generally, we just talk a lot of nonsense, intertwined with reviews of new music. On our singles swap this month we review “Good 4 U” by Olivia Rodrigo (not Olivio Rodriguez!) and “Do You Mind?” by Orla G...

On this episode of The Scratch Cast Podcast, Grant is denied a toilet break, your hosts awkwardly speak doric for two seconds and, as always, we review some (reasonably) new music… On our singles swap this month we discuss “Omega Water” by Antwerp underground rockers “Lonewolves in Paradise” and “Unsmrt Lady” by the effortlessly cool “Dry Cleaning”. On the next episode, we’ll be discussing “good 4...

The Scratch Cast - The Interviews Episode 05 - Fiona Liddell 12th June 2021 On the fifth Scratch Cast interview, Grant and Snedds have the absolute pleasure of talking to Edinburgh-based musician Fiona Liddell. Fiona talks about promoting Scottish music, explains how she manages to juggle her many, many musical endeavours, reveals the creative process behind her fantastic "Cover to Cover" compilat...

The Scratch Cast - The Alternative Music Podcast - Episode 16 “A Mixed Bag of Squits” 2nd June 2021 It's been a while since our last episode but Episode 16 of The Scratch Cast is finally here and with a slight re-brand. We’re now “The Alternative Music Podcast” which means we talk about nothing but music… a rule Snedds casually breaks before the episode is out. In this episode, Grant treats himsel...

On the fourth Scratch Cast interview, Grant and Snedds discuss all things IKITAN with band members Luca, Enrico & Frik Et. We ask about the concept behind their powerful new EP “Twenty Twenty”, the recording process, their influences, the music scene in Genoa and which bands they think we should be checking out. We had a great time chatting with these guys and hope you enjoy the interview as m...

A new episode of The Scratch Cast is here at last and we’ve got another jam-packed show for your listening pleasure. On our singles swap this month we investigate the most mysterious song on the internet “The Most Mysterious Song On The Internet” and discuss “Mam” the latest single from Irish hip-hop trio KNEECAP (feat. DYRT). On the next episode, we’ll be discussing “The Pale Horse” by Elliot Pul...

For the third Scratch Cast interview, Grant and Snedds have the pleasure of catching up with Jak and Welshy from the genre-bending punk band WACO. We ask about the band’s brilliant new album Hope Rituals and Jak and Welshy open up on their interstellar idiosyncrasies and a whole host of other topics including their charity singles, how positivity influences their music, what they miss about gigs a...

For the second Scratch Cast interview, Grant and Snedds are joined by the inimitable Van Tastik (aka Chris Fallon) ahead of the release of his excellent new single "Hangman" (available now). VT talks about his particular style of music, his nomadic lifestyle, his influences both inside and outside of music and much more besides. It was an absolute pleasure talking to such an interesting artist. Th...

Hurrah! Our first podcast of 2021 is finally here! Despite recording it back in January, issues with the audio and car troubles prevented us from getting it out any earlier… but now that we’ve got the lame excuses out of the way, you can finally enjoy a new episode of The Scratch Cast Podcast. On our singles swap this month we’re discussing the singles “LONELY MACHINES” by 3OH!3 (feat. 100 gecs) a...

The Scratch Cast - Episode 13 “Grant Gets Tongued” 29th December 2020 We recorded this one way back at the end of November but due to other commitments and technical difficulties, it took longer than usual to get it out into the world. But enough excuses, a new episode of The Scratch Cast is here at last! On our singles swap this month we’re discussing the singles “Manhattan Skyline” and “Ain’t No...

In an auspicious moment for The Scratch Cast, our first-ever interview, Grant and Snedds are joined by Chad Peck from Nova Scotia, Canada's Kestrels. Chad opens up about the recording of Kestrels' latest album "Dream or Don't Dream" and discusses his influences, working with his heroes and balancing being in a band with a full-time career. Thanks again to Chad for talking to us and we hope you enj...

It feels like ages since we posted an episode but Episode 12 of The Scratch Cast is finally here for your aural delight! On our singles swap this month we’re discussing the singles “Endarkenment” and “England’s Ending” from British extreme metal band Anaal Nathrakh and antagonistic grime-punk duo Bob Vylan respectively. Next time round we’ll be discussing “Manhattan Skyline” by Ihsahn and “Ain’t N...