The Sound Barrier - 18 January 2026

Presented by Ian Parsons

The Sound Barrier is all about showcasing and celebrating new music. Music of the avant-garde. Art music. Music that breaks barriers. Music that makes you question and explore.

The Sound Barrier pays tribute to what's happening now, locally, in Melbourne and nearby as well as to the great innovators of the avant-garde from both the 20th and 21st centuries. The big known world names, like Karlheinz Stockhausen, John Cage, Iannis Xenakis, Pierre Boulez, Edgard Varèse, Pauline Oliveros, Morton Feldman, are all part of the staple diet of The Sound Barrier, along with the huge stack of equally big named composers from our own shores, such as Liza Lim, Michael Kieran Harvey, Cat Hope, Chris Dench, Helen Gifford, and Anthony Pateras.

The avant-garde's new and the established are presented each week on The Sound Barrier, with music and interviews.

The first half of most shows will focus on interviews and music from people currently active in the new music scene, especially locally to Melbourne, or nearby. The second half will bring major and important works, especially long-form works that rarely get played on radio, that have helped shape, and continue to shape, the story of 20th and 21st century music.

A show that breaks all the barriers and opens up a whole universe of musical possibilities and ideas, I am proud to be able to bring The Sound Barrier into Melbourne’s home of little heard music.

Contact: pbs.sound.barrier@gmail.com

Presented by Ian Parsons
The Sound Barrier&nbsp;is all about showcasing and celebrating new music. Music of the avant-garde. Art music. Music that breaks barriers. Music that makes you question and explore.
The Sound Barrier&nbsp;pays tribute to what's happening now, locally, in Melbourne and nearby as well as to the great innovators of the avant-garde from both the 20th and 21st centuries. The big known world names, like Karlheinz Stockhausen, John Cage, Iannis Xenakis, Pierre Boulez, Edgard Var&egrave;se, Pauline Oliveros, Morton Feldman, are all part of the staple diet of&nbsp;The Sound Barrier, along with the huge stack of equally big named composers from our own shores, such as Liza Lim, Michael Kieran Harvey, Cat Hope, Chris Dench, Helen Gifford, and Anthony Pateras.
The avant-garde's new and the established are presented each week on&nbsp;The Sound Barrier, with music and interviews.
The first half of most shows will focus on interviews and music from people currently active in the new music scene, especially locally to Melbourne, or nearby. The second half will bring major and important works, especially long-form works that rarely get played on radio, that have helped shape, and continue to shape, the story of 20th and 21st century music.
A show that breaks all the barriers and opens up a whole universe of musical possibilities and ideas, I am proud to be able to bring&nbsp;The Sound Barrier&nbsp;into Melbourne&rsquo;s home of little heard music.
Contact: <a href="mailto:pbs.sound.barrier@gmail.com">pbs.sound.barrier@gmail.com</a>