“We were invited to play at The World Beard and Mustache Championships... On that weekend, in that city, in Anchorage of Alaska, the best beards in the world were there. It was as if for one weekend we were living in the utopian society that we hope to one day create. Where bearded men can walk down the street and get the respect that they deserve. It was just great.”

“Oh, I actually had a dream about a certain celebrity. She came to me and she was wearing a yellow blouse, and I was in love with her in my dream. I woke up and um, yeah! That went in the song.”

"We’re pretty chilled about the fact that there’s a lot of bands out there, and I don’t really feel a competitive nature at all. I think it’s because we’re not trying to compete with any band, we’re just doing our own thing - and it seems to be going okay.”

"I remember one night backstage though, Sam started having a rap battle with Josh Pyke. Josh was saying all this stuff about Sam’s mum and Sam came back and just destroyed him. It was the whitest rap battle of all time."

"We’re not the kind of band that really fits on a major label... We’re just these crazy dudes who have a lot of fun. We don’t have the perfect haircuts that the majors seem to go with."

"If anything, we’re probably trying to avoid sounding like more bands or genres than we are trying to sound like ones."

“For us it was always a bit of a haven out the front of the Flinders Street Station, where you couldn’t get kicked out, really... But I think they’ve stopped that now, so I guess you need the [busking] licence.”

"It’s funny, the rest of us always laugh because even when they’re talking they’ll just break out into harmony... It’s like they can read each others’ minds."

“I wrote the lyrics about my great aunt, who is quite ill and is a very inspiring figure. The song still has drive, particularly when performed live.”

“Really, I just want a copy of the album to give to my mum and I want a copy of the album to sit in my bedroom. Anything beyond that will be just a bonus, really.”

"At Harvest I will enjoy it [playing outdoors] because the whole crowd aesthetic is a different kettle of fish."

For nigh on 40 years Steve Earle has forged an incredible career in music and done it all in his own inimitable style. Ahead of his BIGSOUND 2012 keynote speech, he tells Steve Bell about the ever-changing musical landscape and a few home truths about Australia in the process.

Melbourne-based garage pop duo Super Wild Horses have kept their cards close to their chest recently. Amy Franz shares the band’s secrets with Brendan Telford.

Melbourne outfit THE DC3 are heading north to BIGSOUND, and frontman Damian Cowell tells Steve Bell how he’s come to terms with forever carrying the baggage of his mysterious past.

BIGSOUND Executive Programmer Graham “Asho” Ashton tells Steve Bell about his vision for the annual industry showcase, and why he’s bored to death hearing about current trends and developments.

If you haven’t seen Straight Arrows, you are missing out on one of the greatest live performances of your life. Owen Penglis wanders around a Dan Murphy’s carpark explaining to Brendan Telford the fruits of their labour.

Five minutes with Big Day Out Creator/Producer/Director, Ken West.

Sydney garage punks Step-Panther are back from their first stab at international notoriety, something that Stevesie tells Brendan Telford is mightily addictive.

Five minutes with triple j Assistant Music Director, Nick Findlay.

"The scene is really healthy; we are all feeding off each other. Most of our music is tongue-in-cheek and never meant to be taken too seriously."