BBC Radio 6 Music has commissioned Shaun Keaveny to present Indie Icons Only, a new eight-part interview series launching on the network's Indie Forever extension for BBC Sounds. The programme will broadcast on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 12pm, with the first episode airing on 3 October. Keaveny returns to the 6 Music stable to host this dedicated slot, marking a significant addition to the channel's music coverage schedule for the autumn season.
The series features exclusive conversations between Keaveny and Johnny Marr, the co-founder of The Smiths and a prolific solo artist. Over the course of two-hour episodes, Marr will discuss his four decades in the music industry, covering his songwriting process and collaborations with figures including Hans Zimmer, Noel Gallagher, and The Pretenders. The sessions are designed to unpick the influences that have shaped Marr's career, from his early punk roots to his most recent album, The Age of Everything. Highlights from each broadcast will be made available on 6 Music's YouTube channel every Saturday at 10am, extending the reach of the interviews beyond the linear radio format.
The commission sits within Indie Forever, a 24-hour stream that launched in July and curates indie pop, rock, and classics from the 1980s to the 2010s. The playlist features UK artists in 70% of its content, distinguishing it from other music-focused streams. Samuel Moy, Head of BBC Radio 6 Music, oversaw the commissioning of this new block, which joins existing shows such as City Soundtracks and Indie Focus. The series represents a return for Keaveny, who previously presented The Big Breakfast and Shaun and Friends, to the 6 Music brand. The first eight episodes will run consecutively from 3 October, with the full archive available on BBC Sounds following the initial broadcast.