Our fifth episode takes us down south to beautiful Kentucky, home to Chris Robertson and hard-charging Southern rockers Black Stone Cherry. Chris tells us about his twin influences of rock and country, his unwavering belief in his band and his tour ritual of collecting Pokemon cards. Plus Mark and Paul discuss Christmas songs and Mark's year-round love for 'Fairytale Of New York'.

Get tickets for Black Stone Cherry's 2023 tour with The Darkness from Ticketmaster UK

Presented by Mark Grassick and Paul Bradshaw

Produced by Mark Grassick

Theme song: 'Waiting On A Change' by Deer Park

We’ve reached episode four, which makes Stage Times officially bigger than The Godfather and Austin Powers. Our guest this week is Robyn Hitchcock, a man with enough stories to fill an entire season. His rambly chat with Mark and Paul covers his friendship with R.E.M., having his young mind blown by Captain Beefheart (complete with 100% accurate Beefheart impression) and the international virtual collaborations that led to his new album Shufflemania! Plus, Mark revisits his pet topic of ridiculously expensive vintage band t-shirts.

LINKS Get Shufflemania! from Robyn's official store, along with some very nice t-shirts

Emma Swift's Bob Dylan covers album is also more than worth your time

Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of Captain Beefheart

Robyn's Patreon

Get tickets for Robyn's 2023 US tour

Presented by Mark Grassick and Paul Bradshaw

Produced by Mark Grassick

Theme song: 'Waiting On A Change' by Deer Park

Episode three! If this was a trilogy, this would be the divisive episode and then it’d all be over. Luckily, Stage Times is in it for the long haul. This week’s guest is Brent Smith from Floridian rockers Shinedown. Paul and John interview Brent about everything from losing his voice two songs into a huge show, his eternal love for King Tut’s in Glasgow and a run in with Eddie Van Halen and a tray of deli meat. Plus, Paul learns how to respond to his name and the team discuss World Cup songs and geographical double bills.

Links

Get tickets for Shinedown’s UK tour at Ticketmaster

Buy yourself and your loved ones copies of Planet Zero for Christmas

John’s article about World Cup songs

Presented by Mark Grassick, Paul Bradshaw and John Bell

Produced by Mark Grassick

Theme song: 'Waiting On A Change' by Deer Park

Stage Times is back! This time, Paul and Mark are chatting with the mighty Phil Collen of Def Leppard about everything from wardrobe malfunctions to Taylor Hawkins to playing (and slaying) with Miley Cyrus. We also chat about his life-changing encounter with Deep Purple as a teenager and what it takes to maintain Def Leppard’s mandatory levels of performance.

LINKS:

• Get Def Leppard's new album Diamond Star Halos
• Buy tickets for Def Leppard's massive 2023 UK tour with Mötley Crüe
• Buy Pyromania and fix the UK's shameful track record
• Find Phil on the back of Deep Purple's Made In Japan

Presented by Mark Grassick and Paul Bradshaw

Produced by Mark Grassick

Theme song: 'Waiting On A Change' by Deer Park

Paul and Mark’s guest for episode one is the wonderful Jon Wurster, drummer with The Mountain Goats, Superchunk and The Bob Mould Band, co-creator of The Best Show with Tom Scharpling and Rolling Stone’s “funniest drummer in indie rock”. Jon talks us through his debut live performance with his first band Hair Club For Men, fighting patrons in a lawless Danish town, playing ‘We Will Rock You’ with Katy Perry and Joe Perry (no relation), and his Instagram interactions with Minnie Driver. Plus, Mark and Paul discuss the recent Pavement residency at the Roundhouse.

LINKS:

• The New Pornographers – Moves
• Jon’s Instagram
• The Minnie Driver crystal phallus video
• Jon playing on the MTV awards
• The Mountain Goats tickets at Ticketmaster
• Buy The Mountain Goats – Bleed Out
• Buy Superchunk ­– Wild Loneliness

Presented by Mark Grassick and Paul Bradshaw Produced by Mark Grassick Theme song: ‘Waiting On A Change’ by Deer Park

Stage Times is a new music podcast from Ticketmaster.

Across each episode, our hosts Mark, Paul and John will chat with bands and musicians about their defining gig experiences, from the very first one that inspired them to pick up an instrument to their best, worst and weirdest experiences on tour.