The Long Play is a weekly deep-dive into the grooves of history and sound — a radio show where music meets memory. From the soulful rhythms of Motown to the rebellious energy of British rock, this show explores how global sounds crossed oceans and decades to influence Australia’s unique musical identity. Each episode blends rich storytelling with iconic tracks, revealing how music doesn't just soundtrack history — it makes it.

Music is an ever-evolving conversation across time and place. As sounds travel—from the birthplaces of Jazz, Soul, Motown, R&B, Rock and Pop to cities and communities around the world—they gather new meanings, influences, and identities. The Long Play explores these journeys, tracing how global musical movements have been received, reshaped, and reimagined within Australia’s cultural landscape.

Each week, the program moves between eras and genres, pairing carefully selected tracks with stories that reveal the social, political, and cultural forces behind them. We feature both iconic recordings and lesser-known works, examining how they came to be made and how they continue to resonate. What histories do these songs carry? Which movements, migrations, technologies, and voices propelled them across borders and generations?

Through a blend of music, narrative, and conversation, The Long Play considers music as both a record and a driver of change—linking past and present through sound.

To contact send us an email at thelongplay@eastsidefm.org