Explore every episode of the podcast Steve’s Mix Tapes

My guest this week is Steve Hodgkins

If you listened to the John Doran episode, you may remember Steve being mentioned, as he curated a Scott Walker playlist for me (of which John heartily approved).

Anyone who takes the time to do such a thing is obviously due an invitation to come and choose a mix of their own...

My guest this week is Astrid Williamson

Astrid was the singer and guitarist in Goya Dress (which also featured previous guest Terry de Castro on bass) whose 1996 album Rooms was produced by John Cale. 

Since then, she has released nine solo albums, as well as collaborating with artists such as Arthur Baker, Dead Can Dance, Electronic and The Stereophonics. 

Astrid was - as Terry suggested she would be - a hoot, and we had tremendous fun recording this!

My guest this week is John Doran

John  is a writer, journalist and occasional DJ who, in 2008, along with Luke Turner founded the online music and culture magazine The Quietus. He has also published a (highly recommended) book about his life, career and struggles with alcoholism, Jolly Lad.

John, like me, likes an expansive tune, so because his was a lengthy playlist (over an hour and a half), several of the songs had to be truncated to make the episode a manageable length. Make sure you check out all of the full-length versions via the Spotify playlist on the website!

My guest this week is Rob Pursey

In a 2023 Guardian article, Rob (along with his wife Amelia Fletcher) were described as ‘British indie royalty’.

A founder member of indie legends Talulah Gosh and Heavenly, he has gone on to form several other bands, including The Catenary Wires, who released a 2025 album called Sounds Made By Humans,  featured vocals from Brian Bilston, one of the UK’s most popular poets.

As well as co-founding the Skep Wax label with Amelia, he is also a TV producer, who founded a company called Touchpaper Television, responsible for series such as Being Human, Single-Handed and Murderland.

My guest this week is Martin Stephenson

I was particularly delighted to have Martin on the show, not least because Gladsome, Humour and Blue is one of my favourite albums of all time.

Martin is, like me, a native of Durham, and so you might find my accent a little more prominent than usual!

Martin's playlist is focused on artists that are up and coming / not yet well known, so make sure you check out the 'Buy Online' links on stevesmixtapes.com

Something a little different this week...

This week's show is dedicated to the memory of my most excellent friend Chris McAvoy (star of episode #035).

Regular listeners may recall me making frequent references to Chris in previous episodes as someone who provided me with a multitude of  mix tapes/CDs over the years.  Sadly, Chris died a couple of months ago, and this is a tribute to him. 

It ignores the usual parameters of the podcast - something of which he would doubtless have approved - and features contributions from several of his friends who, like me, are completely devastated that he is no longer with us.

And for those of you who didn't know him, I hope you'll still appreciate a fine set of tunes.

Goodbye friend, RIP.

My guest this week is Craig Walker

Craig is the singer, guitarist and songwriter of Dublin band Power of Dreams, whose 1989 debut release ‘A Little Piece of God’ was single of the week in both Melody Maker and Sounds and in the same year were named by the NME as one of their ‘stars of tomorrow’.

He has released a single under the name Pharmacy, played with avant-garde/electronica group Archive and released a solo album called Siamese. His latest project, Spoon Speaker Man, is a duo featuring Dan Worton of Ned's Atomic Dustbin.

He was also once ejected from a party for throwing up on Simon Cowell's shoes!

My guest this week is Stephin Merritt

Stephin  is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has, over the last 35 years, produced some truly remarkable music; in particular, he was the man behind what is, in my estimation, one of the greatest albums of the 20th century, 69 Love Songs.

He has also recorded soundtracks under his own name, as well as producing music as the 6ths, the Gothic Archies and Future Bible Heroes.

My guest this week is Niall Quinn

Niall was the drummer and main songwriter in The Hitchers - whose 1997 song ‘Strachan’ was a John Peel favourite and has regularly been voted as one of the best football-related songs of all time. You may also have heard it quite recently on this podcast, as Steve Hill chose it for his mix in episode #76.

My guest this week is David Rose

I was introduced to David via previous guest Paul Garrett. David describes himself as 'a punk/ post-punk/ indie music fan and inveterate gig-goer of 45 years standing, currently with over 1,400 gigs under my belt' and has blogged about his experiences at http://www.gigbook.blogspot.com/

My guest this week is Graeme Ramsey

Graeme is not only an ex-member of The Wedding Present, but has been both the drummer (2006-09) and the guitarist (2009-12). He also, as we discussed, once told Steve Albini how to mic a drum kit!

My guest this week is Liam Fitzpatrick

Liam hails from Birmingham, but now resides in Whitby and runs his own cafe, Beckett's. Like me, he has a background in education, and also like me is a fan of The Wedding Present and The Fall.

He emailed me to say, “if ever you fancy another ordinary 'Joe Soap' on the show - just let me know”.  Well, I'm always delighted to have a music enthusiast on the show...

My guest mixer this week is Steve Hill

Steve is a journalist and author whose debut book, The Card, was nominated for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award.  His third book - out later this year - is called Friday Night Fever: Inside The Cult Of Half Man Half Biscuit.

My guest this week is Mark Hex

Mark is an author and musician who describes himself as “Scottish bred, London exiled. Deep fried in Glasgow” who writes, according to his Amazon page, “stories for people who don't like books.”

He has written a series of books about growing up in Ayrshire in the 90s, including Nae Burds, Here We Go, Decks of Ten and Exploding Cans and Utter Bams.

He has also released several albums on Bandcamp, including Edgelore of the Land of Nihilists, People Hate Glasgow and, most recently, Unique Results (New Adventures in Lo-fi) - an album that one website said “spits, seethes, and struts with unruly charm.”

My guest this week is Pinko Fowler

Pinko, a fellow friend of Sombrero Fallout, was - along with Brenda Kelly - the founder of Snub TV, a no-frills cable show captured 80s and 90s bands at their most bonkers.

He was also a photographer / cameraman who worked on  live gigs and promos for Rough Trade bands such as the Smiths and the Go-Betweens.

Apologies for the occasionally dubious sound quality - it's a long way from Powys to Sydney!

My guest this week is Joanna Burnett

Long-time listeners may recall that my very first episode was a mix of my own devising, and whilst many people were very kindly positive about my choice of tracks, one correspondent did point out that my mix was made up entirely of male artists. Suitably chastised, my next solo episode (show #006) was a female-only list named after my critic - and I’m delighted to say that that very person is this week’s guest.

My guest this week is Emma Pollock

Emma was a founder member of The Delgados, who were simply one of the very best bands of the late 90s / early 00s. As part of the band, she set up the label Chemikal Underground, which has released music by Mogwai and Arab Strap. She has also enjoyed a successful solo career, her latest album being Begging The Night To Take Hold.

I met Emma in Cardiff last year when she was supporting The Wedding Present which gave me the very welcome opportunity to set this up. Harry, a good friend of mine who is a big fan of her music told me that, "as well as being a supremely talented musician, she's just a genuinely lovely person", and he wasn't wrong.

This episode is dedicated to Harry.

My guest this week is Lindsay Boothman

Lindsay is the first guest to compile a mix tape entirely based on one genre (reggae/dub), and whilst she did cheat a little with the 'something new' category (just as my wife did) I thought her selections made for a fantastic mix.

There was no way I was going to be able to make a Spotify playlist, and even a YouTube playlist was going to be a challenge - so at the bottom of the page you will find my mix of the whole thing.

Lindsay has popped up on the show before (on episode #060) with her partner Angus, but it was a real pleasure to have the time to explore her love of reggae.

My guest this week is Jon Sutton

It's a small world... Jon originally contacted me with a “nerdy Wedding Present request” after seeing some of the TWP videos I'd uploaded to YouTube - and then it turned out he is acquainted professionally with star of episode #033 Gavin Morgan.

Jon is a Chartered Psychologist and Head of Science Communication. In his spare time he has contributed live reviews, interviews and photography to music fanzines including In The April Sun and Zine Things Happen.

Get ready for a bit of shoegaze; and - it had to happen sometime - the first appearance of New Order.

My guest this week is Tony Harris

My guest back in episode #055 was Paul Howarth, one half of the duo that produce the estimable Twilight Turntable podcast (on which I appeared recently) and I'm delighted to complete my TT set this week.

Tony, who currently resides in Manila, has a background in advertising and has published a book about his experiences: Advertising: More Fun in the Philippines.

My guest this week is David Pisker

I was introduced to David by previous guest Ian Forth of Sombrero Fallout fame, who recommended him as an 'absolute authority on underground Melbourne music.' 

David - who describes himself as 'a music and film tragic' - is a DJ on Melbourne's PBS FM and has also had his photography featured in Clinton Walker’s seminal history of Australian Independent Music, Stranded.

My guest this week is Geoff Cox

Geoff is a music lecturer and musician/composer himself, who you might remember was one of the multitude of Fall Online Forum guests on show #060. 

There was quite a lot of our chat for show #060 that I didn't get to use, so it was a pleasure to meet up again and discuss, amongst other things, what actually constitutes music, the art of dub, and the insidious effects of AI...

My guest this week is Kilynn Lunsford

Kilynn is a New Jersey based artist who has been recording experimental music and producing art that has been exhibited internationally for 25 years. A review of her most recent album, Promiscuous Genes, described it as “a mix of DIAMANDA GALAS, KATE BUSH, and The Munsters in the best way… as melodic and catchy as it is sinister and disturbing”

I was put in touch with her by previous guest Brian Turner of East Village Radio, who recommended her "exquisite multifaceted music taste."

My guest this week is Bryan Thomas aka Buggy Jive

A 'somewhat reclusive soul rock singer-songwriter', Bryan has been producing music under the Buggy Jive name since 2018. He has released seven albums, the latest of which is 2025's Icarus Ascending.

I was introduced to Bryan's music by my good friend (and previous guest) Eric Smith, and so it seemed fitting that he should provide the intro to this show...

My guest this week is Mat Riches

Mat is another one of those people that I’ve known forever on music forums, etc. but have only met in person once (possibly twice) and that was a long time ago… so it’s a real pleasure to reconnect with him.

He currently works in market research and as ITV’s (unofficial) poet-in-residence, blogs about poetry at Wear The Fox Hat and has published a collection of poetry called Collecting the Data.

My guest this week is Joe Rolls

Joe - who I was put in touch with by previous guest mixer Paul Howarth - is a drummer who currently plays in a pub rock covers band called Southside Five.

My guest mixer this week is Rachael Wood.

A guitarist and composer with 20 years of live and recording experience. She has played with Sinead O’Connor and Skunk Anansie as well as being the musical director for Cirque du Soleil for 8 years.

Most importantly - for me anyway, and I suspect most of my listeners - she is currently the guitarist in The Wedding Present.

My guest this week is Iain Key

Iain is a music writer who’s written extensively for the website Louder Than War and has published a book about The Clash called All The Young Punks which Record Collector called ‘the perfect almanac for any Clash fan’. He also used to present the Saturday morning show Indie Brunch.

A compilation of ten different guest mixers this week...

Something a bit different this week.  Once or twice every year, some of the members of the Fall Online Forum take part in 'Mix It Up',  where they swap anonymised playlists. One person hosts, distributing the mixes to the others; basically, you receive a mix for review where you don't know who the songs are by, what they're called, or who selected them.

A couple of months ago, I was the host, and set the participants the challenge of adhering to the SMT criteria. I asked each reviewer to nominate a favourite track, and concocted a playlist out of their choices. This episode features each of them telling me about their selections.

Deb has played with Primal Scream, Tim Burgess and Thurston Moore, but is of course best known for playing bass in the legendary My Bloody Valentine.

My guest mixer this week is James Evans

James is a music blogger from Twickenham, London. He is also a very patient man, as he sent me this some considerable time ago and has waited, uncomplainingly, while I got around to recording it. You can find his blog here: Embrace The Margin

This is one of those where he sent the notes and I did the recording, so it's just my voice this week I'm afraid. I think it's a great mix: I hope you all enjoy it.

My guest mixer this week is Derek Peplau

Derek, who hails from Connecticut but currently lives in Boston, is another one of those people that I've known online for many years, but this was the first time we'd met (albeit via Zoom).  We first got to know each other via the Wedding Present online forum, and have always had a decent Venn diagram intersection, musically.

It was a pleasure to finally meet him, and he certainly didn't let me down with an interestingly varied mix...

My guest mixer this week is Chris Rand

Chris is the man behind the definitive Half Man Half Biscuit website: The Half Man Half Biscuit Lyrics Project. He is also a lover of  ‘event’ stadium rock, Ipswich Town, cinema and travel. He's pictured on the stevesmixtapes.com page with Nigel Blackwell, who he did try to get on the show; alas, to no avail, as you will hear...

My guest mixer this week is Paul Howarth

Paul, along with Tony Harris (who will also produce a mix at some point, hopefully) presents the Twilight Turntable podcast - a show dedicated to the lost art of listening to whole albums. But he's not averse to the odd mix tape too...

My guest mixer this week is Paul Garratt

Paul contacted me last September to say: "I realise that your podcast guests are becoming more well-known by the week but if you ever wanted a chat with someone you’ve never met who’s not a writer or a musician and has nothing to advertise then can I put my hand up?"

And, of course, I was delighted to have him on, especially as he selected a particularly thoughtful mix.

My guest mixer this week is Jen Ferguson

Jen, who lives in Somerville, Massachusetts, is one of those guests that I was meeting for the very first time when I interviewed her. The connection came about because I (and guest #035 Chris McAvoy) shared a house with her husband James back in our university days. 

It was my new year's resolution to get more female guests on the show, and Jen is only the first of several more on the way!

My guest mixer this week is Ian Gelling

Ian is a long-standing member of the Wedding Present forum, with whom I have stood down the front at many a TWP gig over the years.

A native of the Isle of Man, he is also a huge Cardiacs fan, as will soon become apparent when you listen to his selection...

My guest mixer this week is Ethan Miller

Ethan has played in Comets on Fire, Feral Ohms, Heron Oblivion and Howlin’ Rain. Last year, he teamed up with Bill Orcutt and Steve Shelley to record the Orcutt Shelley Miller album - my number 2 album of 2025 (the #1 being this).

And yes, he's yet another that Steve Shelley put me in touch with - so thanks once again to Steve for providing me another great guest!

My guest mixer this week is Susan Pringle

Given that Christmas is a time for family, it seemed fitting that this episode should feature my mum.

She turned 80 this year but you'd never know it. She was a little nervous about doing it - especially as we had to do the interview twice, my laptop having mangled the first attempt! But I think she did a fine job, and it was a great trip down memory lane for me...

My guest mixer this week is William Benton

William is yet another guest that Steve Shelley was kind enough to put me in touch with. He is the historian and tour guide for the infamous Chelsea Hotel, as well being the singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with Cat Casual & the Final Word.

My guest mixer this week is Cory Plump

Like Brian Turner last week, Cory is someone that Steve Shelley was kind enough to put me in touch with. He has played in bands such as When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth, Spray Paint and Winged Wheel and also owns the live music bar Tubby’s in Kingston NY.

It's becoming clear that Steve clearly has good taste in mixers, as Cory was a great guest and picked an excellent playlist.

My guest mixer this week is Brian Turner

Brian is one of several upcoming guests that Steve Shelley was kind enough to put me in touch with. He is the station manager of East Village Radio, was a regular on WMFU and is a good friend of previous guest Eleni Poulou (with whom he recently put out a show on Cashmere Radio). He's also been in the bands The Mad Scene, Äss, and Jowe Head & The Celestial Choir.

Not only is he a top bloke, he picked a cracking playlist...

My guest mixer this week is Vinny Peculiar

Vinny (aka Alan Wilkes) is a singer-songwriter who has put out fourteen albums of literate autobiographical pop music over a twenty-year career. Uncut described him as ‘an under sung national treasure’ and The Irish Times called him ‘the missing link between Jarvis Cocker and poet Roger McGough’. Tom Robinson of 6Music said that his ‘songs make you laugh and cry and think all at the same time.’

My guest mixer this week is Andy Gillespie

I have known Andy - a fellow Wedding Present fan - for the best part of 20 years, online. But this was the first time we'd ever met face to face (albeit via Zoom). 

Originally from Middleton, Manchester, Andy has for many years lived in Simi Valley, California. As well as being on good terms with previous guests David Gedge and Terry de Castro, we also get to hear about the time he played pool with Mark E Smith and Eleni...

My guest mixer this week is Terry de Castro

Terry is a bassist, vocalist and songwriter based in LA who has played in several bands (such as Goya Dress) as well releasing music under her own name. She is also, other than David Gedge,  the longest serving member of The Wedding Present, and was the bassist throughout the lifespan of Cinerama.

(Slightly dodgy internet connection in places, apologies!)

My guest mixer this week is Eleni Poulou

Eleni is a musician, composer, radio host and curator of musical events. She has released music as a solo artist and as part of a wide range of groups and collaborations. She is also the 7th ex-member of the Fall to appear on the show - her distinctive keyboard style and vocal sound having been an important feature of the last period of the group.

Eleni likes to do things her own way - an admirable quality - and so this show is different from the norm in several ways. She selected 14 tracks (and wanted add a 15th!), her mix was 2 ¾ hours long (!) and she only sent it to me the morning before our interview (she explains why in our discussion). 

My guest mixer this week is Ian McCulloch

No, not that one... Not yet anyway. This Ian (my third Ian in six weeks!) is another fellow Fall enthusiast. And he's been very patient, as we recorded this nearly three months ago - hence the rather dated reference to Donald Trump's golf skills!

My guest mixer this week is Alan Edwards

Alan is both a work colleague and a very good friend, who my wife describes as my 'work husband'. Initially, we talked about him coming on the podcast as a bit of a joke, as musically (and in many other ways) we inhabit very different universes. But when I mentioned  in episode #024 his offer to provide a playlist that would 'bring in the girls, gays and theys', the feedback was mostly on the lines of 'bring it on'.

So buckle up and be prepared for a rather different set of songs than you're used to...

Daryl is a music writer whose work has appeared in Mojo, Record Collector, Q, The Guardian and The Independent, and has published several books on subjects as diverse as Chic, Slade, Madonna, Peter Gabriel, Cher and Sparks.

In addition, if you have a few reissue or box set CDs in your collection, it’s fairly likely that at least one of them includes some sleeve notes written by him.

My guest mixer this week is Steve Shelley

Steve occupied the drum stool in Sonic Youth for 26 years and has played with musicians such as Michael Rother, Howe Gelb, Tom Verlaine, Ron Asheton and Mark Kozelek.

He also founded a label called Smells Like Records (now Vampire Blues), and has been instrumental in promoting the careers of artists such as Cat Power, Blonde Redhead and Lee Hazlewood.

Described on a Reddit thread as ‘the best drummer in rock history’, his most recent release is Orcutt Shelley Miller, with Bill Orcutt (Harry Pussy) and Ethan Miller (Comets on Fire/Howlin' Rain).