Blog: The UK's Best Music Podcasts

Blog: The UK's Best Music Podcasts

With the recent podcast renaissance, we decided to pull together our favourite shows that we love to pop on. Grab an ice cold Studio Lager, stick an episode on, and join us...  

Riot Act

Hosted by our friends Remfry Dedman and Stephen Hill, Riot Act provides your weekly digest of new alternative music releases, retrospectives on classic albums in the scene, and interviews with some of rock’s biggest icons. Most recently, and most notably, Remfry caught up with Biffy Clyro’s Simon Neil to chat through their 8th studio album ‘A Celebration Of Endings’, so give it a listen to get the lowdown on all things Biffy… Oh, and we’re proud to be partnered with them! 

iTunes / Spotify / Soundcloud

 

James Acaster’s Perfect Sounds 

Following the release of his part-bio, part-long form music essay, ‘Perfect Sound Whatever’ which details a plethora of album releases in 2016, James Acaster is still on his crusade to convince us it’s undeniably the best year for music. Calling upon his comedian guest list from a Zoom phonebook, Acaster covers all sorts of ground ranging from Beyonce, to Death Grips, to metal’s very own Zeal & Ardor. These come in nice 25 minute chunks too, so perfect for the commute to your local pub or brewery. 

iTunes / Spotify / BBC Sounds

Hip Hop Saved My Life with Romesh Ranganathan 

Another national treasure in UK comedy, Romesh Ranganathan dedicates his podcast to chit chat around hip-hop music, often inviting on a star studded guest list including the likes of Frankie Boyle and BBC Radio’s Annie Mac, but also different musicians including Murkage Dave, Jimothy Lacoste, Kano and Mercury Prize winner Michael Kiwanuka. Ranganathan and his guests take a dive into their first and favourite hip-hop records, memories of their favourite gigs (remember those?), and more. 

iTunes / Spotify / aCast

 

101 Part Time Jobs hosted by Giles Bidder

Headed up by Soho Radio’s Giles Bidder, 101 Part Time Jobs takes an alternative approach to an equally alternative scene, bringing on band members to chat about their history with part time employment. Stand out guests and jobs include Creeper’s Will Gould, who once had a brief encounter with LoveFilm, and IDLES guitarist Mark Bowen, who hung up his dentistry gown to pursue a career with Bristol’s biggest punk band. Musicians, eh? They’re actually just like us…

iTunes / Spotify / aCast

 

Sappenin’ Podcast With Sean Smith 

You might remember him from Merthyr’s favourite pop punk and post-hardcore outfit The Blackout, but since then co-vocalist Sean Smith has teamed up with experienced journalist Morgan Richards to deliver a music podcast covering everything from a behind the scenes look at band life, to sharing real and shocking stories with guests from all walks of life. Featuring band members, producers, authors, and even other podcasts hosts, it’s all happening on Sappenin’. Have a listen for the guests, stick around for the accents. 

iTunes / Spotify / aCast

Someone Who Isn’t Me (SWIM)

Alongside his duties as chief host of Radio One’s Rock Show, Daniel P. Carter also finds time to sit down with someone who isn’t him… in Someone Who Isn’t Me. This one features the true heavyweights of the alternative, such as Corey Taylor, Tom DeLonge, Kat Von D, Billy Corgan... honestly the list goes on. These episodes come few and far between, but there’s plenty to keep you busy all weekend with an ice cold glass of Signature Brew. 

iTunes / Spotify / aCast

 

Fuzzy AF 

If you like your podcasts a little more DIY and off the beaten track, then do check out East London’s Fuzzy AF, a podcast dedicated to emerging alternative, garage, noise and punk music, all in a boisterous and laid back way. Originally known for organised gigs in Bow’s very own Engine Rooms music studio, Signature Brew proudly support this podcast hosted by Jordan and Flora. 

Mixcloud


We Are The Road Crew

Another partner podcast of the brewery, Stephen Hill’s We Are The Road Crew offers a fascinating insight into backstage music production, as Hill sits down with a range of road crew & technicians who have looked after the likes of Metallica and Black Sabbath, but also anything ranging from Stormzy to Slowthai, and Gwen Stefani to Queen. 

iTunes / Spotify / Spreaker / iHeart Radio

Punks In Pubs

A podcast not just for punks, and not always necessarily in a pub, but right up Signature Brew’s alley all the same! Punks In Pubs features former punk radio producer Liam Bird, as he chats with the likes of Laura Jane Grace, Jason Aalon Butler of The Fever 333, Andy Davis of Manchester Punk Festival, and so much more. Dig back a couple of years and you might even find an episode with Signature Brew’s very own Sam McGregor, so definitely give this one a look in! 

iTunes / Spotify / aCast


Tape Notes 

One for the songwriters and musical connoisseurs amongst you, Tape Notes reunites an artist and producer to talk about the highlights of their collaboration in the studio, lifting the lid on every stage of the creative process. Join John Kennedy (of Radio X fame) as he takes us on a journey through songwriting anecdotes, early demos of album tracks and stems from original session recordings. Recent guests have included Sports Team, Enter Shikari, Paul Epworth, Rina Sawayama and Ghostpoet. 

iTunes / Spotify / aCast

 

The Downbeat

And last but not least, we strongly recommend checking out Craig Reynold’s The Downbeat podcast. When he’s not blast-beating drum kits in Stray From The Path, Craig is catching up with absolutely all sorts. Jordan Fish from Bring Me The Horizon, Trivium’s Matthew Heafy, Alessandro Venturella (AKA V-Man) from Slipknot (heard of ‘em?), and more recently Mat Welsh from Sheffield’s metalcore heroes While She Sleeps. There’s really something for everyone here, but we recommend keeping your eyes peeled on this one… exciting things to come.

iTunes / Spotify / aCast

Honourable Mention: Broken Record

We've done our best to keep this list UK-centric, but we had to include a favourite from over in the states: Broken Record with Rick Ruben, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond. I mean, just from the host line-up alone this should be enough to get you interested. Give it a listen to hear a deep dive into the lives of Arcade Fire's Win Butler, Run The Jewels, Huey Lewis, Beastie Boys and Spike Jonze, and much, much more. 

iTunes / Spotify / aCast

Don't forget to check these out and give them a listen with a cold can of Signature Brew beer. Order some now here.