Over a career spanning almost five full decades, Sir Richard Bishop has carved out a lasting legacy for himself as a singular, prolific voice. In the early 1980’s he founded Sun City Girls with his brother, Alan, and subsequently released 50 full length albums, 20 hour-long cassettes and 12 7” records. He’s also a co-founder of the far-reaching Sublime Frequencies label. Hear how songs by Hoyt Curtin, Farid Al-Atrash, and Sandy Bull guided him creatively. His newest record, Hillbilly Ragas, was released by Drag City in 2025.

Over a career spanning almost five full decades, Sir Richard Bishop has carved out a lasting legacy for himself as a singular, prolific voice. In the early 1980&rsquo;s he founded Sun City Girls with his brother, Alan, and subsequently released 50 full length albums, 20 hour-long cassettes and 12 7&rdquo; records. He&rsquo;s also a co-founder of the far-reaching Sublime Frequencies label. Hear how songs by Hoyt Curtin, Farid Al-Atrash, and Sandy Bull guided him creatively. His newest record,&nbsp;Hillbilly Ragas, was released by Drag City in 2025.

A show in which musicians and other creators talk about the songs that shaped who they are. Produced by Matt Byars and Lee Gardner.

A show in which musicians and other creators talk about the songs that shaped who they are. Produced by Matt Byars and Lee Gardner.

Essential Tremors

A show in which musicians and other creators talk about the songs that shaped who they are.

Sir Richard Bishop (Sun City Girls)

In his work with Sons of Kemet, and then in The Smile with Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, and as a sought after jazz and session drummer, Tom Skinner is very much a known quantity in music circles in the UK and internationally. Also a solo artist, his newest album, Kaleidoscopic Visions, was released by International Anthem in September 2025. Hear how songs by Ornette Coleman, Federico Mompou, and Sam Gendel shaped him. We spoke to him live at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN in March of 2026.

In his work with Sons of Kemet, and then in The Smile with Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, and as a sought after jazz and session drummer, Tom Skinner is very much a known quantity in music circles in the UK and internationally. Also a solo artist, his newest album,&nbsp;Kaleidoscopic Visions, was released by International Anthem in September 2025. Hear how songs by Ornette Coleman, Federico Mompou, and Sam Gendel shaped him. We spoke to him live at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN in March of 2026.

Tom Skinner (The Smile, Sons of Kemet) (Live at Big Ears 2026)

To try to list all the projects, both solo and group, that Shahzad Ismaily has been a part of would take much more time than we have available, even in this notoriously long-winded medium. Instead, it might be better to offer a small sampling of those with whom he’s collaborated (Sam Smith, Mike Doughty; Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, and Marc Ribot), and then offer the description of him as a bass player and multi-instrumentalist who’s equally comfortable in the jazz, pop, and experimental idioms, as well as a soulful, generous player and collaborator. Hear him discuss how pieces by U2, Thomas Koner, and Ida change his creative course. Special guest host and previous guest Fred Frith conducted this interview of Ismaily at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN in March of 2026.

More on Seventh Stanine here.

More on festival sponsor Art Sound Language here.

To try to list all the projects, both solo and group, that Shahzad Ismaily has been a part of would take much more time than we have available, even in this notoriously long-winded medium. Instead, it might be better to offer a small sampling of those with whom he&rsquo;s collaborated (Sam Smith, Mike Doughty; Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, and Marc Ribot), and then offer the description of him as a bass player and multi-instrumentalist who&rsquo;s equally comfortable in the jazz, pop, and experimental idioms, as well as a soulful, generous player and collaborator. Hear him discuss how pieces by U2, Thomas Koner, and Ida change his creative course. Special guest host and previous guest Fred Frith conducted this interview of Ismaily at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN in March of 2026.
More on Seventh Stanine <a href="https://www.seventhstanine.com">here</a>.
More on festival sponsor Art Sound Language <a href="https://artsoundlanguage.com/">here</a>.

Shahzad Ismaily (w/guest host Fred Frith) (Live at Big Ears 2026)

For most of his career, Bonner Kramer has been known in underground music circles by only his surname, as his imprint has been deep and wide enough that only that sobriquet has been necessary. Starting in New York City in the late 70’s and into the 80’s, he was a member of several seminal bands of the era including New York Gong and Bongwater, and played in the Butthole Surfers, Ween, Half Japanese, The Fugs, and with John Zorn. As a producer, he has worked with Galaxie 500 (whose entire catalog he produced), Low, Half Japanese, Gwar, Will Oldham, Daniel Johnston, and Urge Overkill, and founded the Shimmy Disc label. He’ll perform at this year’s Big Ears Festival both by himself, as well as with Thurston Moore and Mark Nelson of Pan-American, respectively, in March of 2026. On this episode, hear how songs sung by Billie Holliday, Gavin Bryars, and Robert Wyatt informed his work.

For most of his career, Bonner Kramer has been known in underground music circles by only his surname, as his imprint has been deep and wide enough that only that sobriquet has been necessary. Starting in New York City in the late 70&rsquo;s and into the 80&rsquo;s, he was a member of several seminal bands of the era including New York Gong and Bongwater, and played in the Butthole Surfers, Ween, Half Japanese, The Fugs, and with John Zorn. As a producer, he has worked with Galaxie 500 (whose entire catalog he produced), Low, Half Japanese, Gwar, Will Oldham, Daniel Johnston, and Urge Overkill, and founded the Shimmy Disc label. He&rsquo;ll perform at this year&rsquo;s Big Ears Festival both by himself, as well as with Thurston Moore and Mark Nelson of Pan-American, respectively, in March of 2026. On this episode, hear how songs sung by Billie Holliday, Gavin Bryars, and Robert Wyatt informed his work.

Sir Richard Bishop (Sun City Girls)

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