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Artwork for The Strange Brew

The Strange Brew - artist stories behind the greatest music ever recorded

Jason Barnard
The Beatles
David Bowie
Rock Music
Songwriting
Music Industry
John Lennon
Folk Music
Paul Mccartney
1960s Music Scene
Manfred Mann
Fairport Convention
Covid-19
Renaissance
Bob Dylan
Music Collaboration
The Jam
Rock and Roll
George Martin
Genesis
Badfinger

Rock music from the mid 60s onwards - podcasts, features and much more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes301Founded17 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music InterviewsMusicMusic History

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Artwork for The Strange Brew

Latest Episodes

Ten years on, Jeremy Clyde is back. Chad Stuart left behind decades of unfinished Chad & Jeremy recordings. Jeremy and guitarist Jo Meacham have now finished them off, and the results are being crowdfunded as When All Is Said and Done. Jeremy calls i... more

Devo co-founder Gerald V. Casale joins us for a career spanning conversation, starting with his new protest single “Just Do It” and moving through nearly every chapter of Devo’s story. Casale explains his view on the current American administration a... more

Arthur Brown joins Jason Barnard, alongside his partner and collaborator Claire Waller, to talk through his new album Nature and a life spent chasing fire, water, air and earth through sound and theatre. Arthur and Claire describe the return to North... more

Robin Scott’s career spans from acoustic songs on the 1960s folk circuit to the sequenced synth-pop of ‘Pop Muzik’ – the 1979 hit single that took him to number one under the moniker M. On this episode, he traces that journey: studying at Croydon Art... more

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Recent Guests

Robin Scott
Musician and producer, also known as M
Episode: Robin Scott – M
Michael Hampton
Guitarist, Parliament-Funkadelic (original member, Rock Hall of Fame)
Parliament-Funkadelic
Episode: Michael Hampton – Parliament/Funkadelic
Eric Barrett
Former Hendrix road manager, author of Experienced
Author and former road manager for Hendrix and others
Episode: Jimi Hendrix Didn’t Know He Was a Genius – Eric Barrett
Graham Parker
Singer-songwriter, Graham Parker and the Rumour
Graham Parker & The Rumour
Episode: Graham Parker – In Conversation
George Bunnell
Original bass player of Strawberry Alarm Clock
Strawberry Alarm Clock
Episode: Strawberry Alarm Clock
Mark Stephen Weitz
Original keyboard player of Strawberry Alarm Clock
Strawberry Alarm Clock
Episode: Strawberry Alarm Clock
Howie Anderson
Guitarist and vocalist
Strawberry Alarm Clock
Episode: Strawberry Alarm Clock
Gene Gunnels
Original drummer
Strawberry Alarm Clock
Episode: Strawberry Alarm Clock
Randy Seel
Vocalist and drummer (multi-instrumentalist)
Strawberry Alarm Clock
Episode: Strawberry Alarm Clock

Host

Jason Barnard
Host of the show, providing long-form, in-depth interviews with musicians and industry figures.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 185 ratings
  • Please more studio quality

    Unfortunately many interviews were done by VC or even telephone with rather questionable quality, sometimes hard to understand. But those that were not, are great!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Matiasmoulin
    Switzerland7 months ago
  • Another top Interview

    Congratulations Jason on your interview with Jeff Skunk Baxter. In all these interviews your knowledge of the subject and the person being interviewed shines through. One can tell that your knowledge and care for the subject impresses your interviewee. This makes the interviews immensely enjoyable. The Skunk Baxter interview is a case in point. Thank you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Joolsjm
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Beautiful and in-depth

    Came here in search of Peggy Seeger and found an inspirational conversation , loved the one with Neil Storey too, great interviewer really knows his stuff when it comes to music and the art of conversation - lots of sonic gems, Stories,and words of wisdom

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nina Miranda singer
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Top stuff for retro music buffs

    If you are into anything from beat bands to post punk outfits this is your podcast. Full tracks, in depth interviews, knowledgeable host - like listening to Mojo magazine!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mark Eggins
    Australia3 years ago
  • The peak of deep dive interview podcasts

    The combination of long form dialogue sessions with influential musicians and expertly curated (and often seldom heard/rare) accompanying tracks is unbeatable. Jason’s sensitive approach undergirded by passionate research drives insightful questions and results in revelatory interviews with many artists who rarely grant interviews. I particularly enjoyed the chats with Jim Lea, Gilbert O’Sullivan and Gerry McAvoy.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    nick moroney
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The show is a must for retro music fans who want behind-the-scenes stories and track-level context.
Listeners praise the host's calm, knowledgeable approach and the depth of archival detail.
Guests are often legends or near-forgotten figures, making for rare, valuable conversations.
A few listeners note occasional audio quality issues with remote interviews but consistently high-quality, thoughtful questions when the format works.
Feedback highlights the show's niche, but highly engaged audience and strong production of music history storytelling.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Michael Hampton – Parliament/Funkadelic
Q: Was the King Kong project pull together into the public domain similar to other King Kong adaptations, or was it a very different process?
The process was similar in its collaborative, ad-hoc studio approach, with changing personnel and varying time availability, and it evolved through ongoing jam sessions and collective input rather than a rigid, single-vision plan.
Ron Griffiths – The Iveys/Badfinger
Q: What was it like recording with Ray Davies and being associated with Apple in the early days?
Ray Davies recorded us in a proper studio and showed early belief in our material, helping validate the band's direction before Apple Records officially shaped our path.
Ron Griffiths – The Iveys/Badfinger
Q: I've got to ask you about Come and Get It then. How did the Beatles' circle influence your version and the final recording?
Paul McCartney read a Disco Music Echo interview and reached out; he brought a demo and insisted we perform it exactly as he heard it, which guided the studio takes until the final hit version.
Graham Parker – In Conversation
Q: What led to the Rumour splitting up and you going solo?
Parker explains it was driven by a need to hear music with other people and a desire to pursue a different artistic direction, signaling the end of that era and the start of his solo work.
John Leckie on Be Bop Deluxe and the Making of Sunburst Finish
Q: Did you intentionally bring in experimental techniques or sounds for Sunburst Finish, or did they evolve organically in the studio?
The production evolved organically through hands-on experimentation—tape-based effects, live studio work, and a willingness to push for distinctive textures like the pedal-driven guitar and orchestral elements.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Strange Brew

What is The Strange Brew about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show focuses on long-form conversations with influential musicians, producers, and industry insiders, centered on career trajectories, studio storytelling, and historical context from the 1960s onward. Episodes frequently blend technical insights about recording and performance with behind-the-scenes anecdotes, personal philosophy, and the evolving music landscape, often weaving in cross-cultural, archival, or narrative threads that illuminate a band's evolution and the broader scene. A notable strength is the host's calm, knowledgeable interviewing style, which tends to draw out rare stories and forgotten details, making it especially appealing to listeners who love deep dives into rock, pop, and the people behind iconic records.

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How many listeners does The Strange Brew get?

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How many subscribers and views does The Strange Brew have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Strange Brew has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Strange Brew?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Strange Brew:

1. Word In Your Ear
2. EggPod Express
3. Something About the Beatles
4. Sodajerker On Songwriting
5. A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs

How many episodes of The Strange Brew are there?

The Strange Brew launched 17 years ago and published 301 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Strange Brew?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Strange Brew?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Strange Brew from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on The Strange Brew?

Recent guests on The Strange Brew include:

1. Robin Scott
2. Michael Hampton
3. Eric Barrett
4. Graham Parker
5. George Bunnell
6. Mark Stephen Weitz
7. Howie Anderson
8. Gene Gunnels

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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