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Join Cheryl Lee - That Radio Chick on STILL ROCKIN' IT for news, reviews, music and interviews with some of our favourite Australian musicians

The equipment in the background tell part of the story—but the rest comes from grit, range, and an instinct for what makes a song fit like your favorite jeans.

We sit with Michael Paynter to chart the path from a kid at the piano to a singer-guitarist trusted by Jimmy Barnes, performing on the AFL Grand Final stage with Robbie Williams, and now the lead stepping into John Farnham’s legacy with Whispering Jack - The John Farnham Musical.

Michael opens up about the voice behind the accolades—why big notes are less important than honest phrasing, how Jesus Christ Superstar pushed him to the edge in the best way, and why he rates Miley Cyrus among the great modern vocalists. We talk shop, but also about the quiet work: mixing on a laptop until time to take the stage, dialing back the studio grind when the road gets heavy, and protecting the joy that fuels a long career.

The Great Australian Songbook national tour is built for discovery. No fixed setlist. Different guests each show. Beloved classics chosen for feel, not obligation—yes, that means he’s happy to skip Khe Sanh and Great Southern Land when the moment calls for a different mood.

Away from the lights, Michael talks about parenting three young daughters, learning piano for the mind as much as the music, and modeling what it takes to turn a wild passion into real work.

Join us for a warm conversation that blends behind-the-scenes stories with practical wisdom for musicians and fans.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves Aussie music, and leave a quick review to help others discover it.

What has Michael Paynter been up to lately? Let's find out!

Get out when you can, support local music and I'll see you down the front!!

Visit: ThatRadioChick.com.au

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Join Cheryl Lee - That Radio Chick on STILL ROCKIN' IT for news, reviews, music and interviews with some of our favourite Australian musicians

Sinatra’s swagger meets a mic‑drop freestyle and the result is pure delight. We sit down with Adelaide’s own Hugh Sheridan to trace the spark that began on a kitchen‑table “stage” at age five and follow it all the way to a sharpened, joy‑driven career across theater, TV, and a beloved live act: the California Crooners Club. Hugh opens up about growing up in a creative family of seven children, a jazz‑playing dad, and the tough‑love push that turned dance from weakness into strength—proof that triple‑threat isn’t a label, it’s a work ethic.

Then we dig into the California Crooners Club itself: the Rat Pack look, tight harmonies, and bold arrangements that splice classics with modern edge. The signature twist arrives when Gabe steps forward to rap over standards, a move that wakes up nostalgia and makes new fans out of skeptics. With the show returning to the Adelaide Fringe, Hugh teases a fresh setlist full of old‑school gems, a Supremes tribute (sshhhhh), and a few timely surprises, all built to make the room light up. Along the way, we touch the tender stuff—releasing jazz recordings with his late father, crafting a Christmas album rooted in Adelaide, and writing a holiday track that’s joyful and honest.

Hugh also shares the real calculus behind career choices, from a left‑field run on The Masked Singer to the screen roles that many still cherish, including Pack to the Rafters and the INXS mini‑series. What ties it all together is a simple aim: entertain well, tell the truth in song, and send people home feeling better than they arrived. If you love live music, swing, Motown, clever mashups, or just a good origin story, this one’s for you.

If you enjoy the show, follow the podcast, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review—what classic would you love to hear remixed at the next California Crooners Club night?

What has Hugh Sheridan and The California Crooners Club been up to lately? Let's find out!

Get out when you can, support local music and I'll see you down the front!!

Visit: ThatRadioChick.com.au

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Join Cheryl Lee - That Radio Chick on STILL ROCKIN' IT for news, reviews, music and interviews with some of our favourite Australian musicians

What happens when four road‑tested artists put ego aside, pick up acoustics, and chase the pure heart of a song? We sat down with Monstr—a supergroup featuring members from The Superjesus, The Screaming Jets, TaxiRide and Dragon—to unpack how they’re reviving the spirit of MTV Unplugged while keeping it fiercely alive for today’s crowds. From their first studio step with Tears in Heaven to bold turns on Mariah Carey and Rod Stewart, the band shows why a strong melody and a truthful lyric can survive any arrangement.

We dig into the art of curation: balancing Seattle-era grit with pop brilliance, threading Bryan Adams’ emotional punch through Live’s cathartic anthems, and slipping mandolin and 12‑string textures into places you don’t expect. Each choice serves the room, not the playlist. That means rotating setlists, key changes that respect the singer, and arrangements that let the chorus breathe. Along the way, we swap stories about the moments these songs scored in our lives—because music is a time machine—and how that memory shapes performance. When Jimi lights up recalling Bryan Adams, or Pete leans into Emotions with a grin, you can feel the crowd lean closer.

Another spark here is community. Monstr brings together fanbases that rarely overlap, and that chemistry is electric. Screaming Jets shirts stand next to TaxiRide diehards, and by the end of the night, new favorites have been made on all sides. We talk Adelaide Fringe excitement, the thrill of sold‑out rooms, and why recording select cuts from the live list is the next smart move—capturing the unguarded takes that turned skeptics into believers. If you love acoustic performances, 90s rock, classic pop, Aussie music, or just want to hear great songs stripped to the bone and rebuilt with care, this one is for you.

Listen now, share it with a friend who lived through the MTV Unplugged era, and leave a quick review to help more music lovers find the show. Got a must-hear acoustic classic we should cover? Tell us—your pick might make the next set.

What have Stu Rudd, Jimi Hocking, Jason Singh and Peter Drummond been up to lately? Let's find out!

Get out when you can, support local music and I'll see you down the front!!

Visit: ThatRadioChick.com.au