This week’s Sounds of Film radio show features an exciting conversation with independent director Jim McKay, known not only for his groundbreaking 1996 indie film “Girls Town,” but also for directing acclaimed television episodes of “The Wire,” “Treme,” “Better Call Saul,” “Big Love,” “Criminal Intent,” and “Mr. Robot.”

Jim joins the show to discuss the newly restored 4K release of “Girls Town,” a gritty and powerful classic that explores the lives of three teenage girls navigating the harsh realities of patriarchal violence while finding solidarity, strength, and empowerment in their friendship. With its bold, improvisational style and an unforgettable soundtrack featuring Queen Latifah, Salt-N-Pepa and PJ Harvey, the film remains as impactful and relevant today as it was when it premiered at Sundance nearly 30 years ago.

The show will dive into the making of “Girls Town,” the indie film scene of the 1990s, and Jim’s artistic journey across film and television.

This program airs Thursday, January 16 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Celebrate the late David Bowie's birthday on Davie Jones Locker on Wednesday January 8 at 8:00 PM. We'll feature classic Bowie tracks along with music from musicians appearing at The Sound and Vision of David Bowie shows at The Cutting Room, January 9–12.

The Sound and Vision of David Bowie – A Celebration is a band of latter-day Bowie collaborators and co-creators who gather annually to perform his music exclusively at The Cutting Room in New York City. These artists have been integral to Bowie’s work since the mid-1990s, from the Outside/Nine Inch Nails tour in 1995 to his theatrical masterpiece Lazarus in 2015. Members of the group have contributed to every Bowie recording and tour from 1997 onward, including Earthling, hours, Heathen, Reality, The Next Day, Blackstar, and the newly released Toy—Bowie’s long-lost 2000 album.

From Howard Margolin

This week, Destinies explores the multiverse through the lens of Beatles history.

Tune in Friday night at 11:15 PM as author Paul Levinson returns for his third appearance to discuss and read from his novel It's Real Life: An Alternate History of the Beatles. Set in 1996, the story imagines a world where the Beatles never disbanded. DJ Pete Fornatale walks through the tunnels beneath Fordham University, only to emerge into a music world that's vastly different from his own.

As Pete struggles to navigate alternate realities and ensure John Lennon’s survival in each of them, he meets the woman who inspired Leonard Cohen’s “Suzanne.” She reveals her ability to travel between realities at will, showing just how much the world changes when the history of the Beatles shifts.

Friday, December 27th, at 11:15 PM.

Hosted by Howard Margolin.

Destinies – The Voice of Science Fiction

The Melting World pays tribute to the recently departed Zakir Hussain, the legendary Indian tabla player and composer. The son of renowned tabla maestro Allah Rakha, Hussain played a pivotal role in bringing classical Indian music to a global audience alongside Ravi Shankar.

As a young virtuoso, he sought collaborations across musical boundaries, working with Indian, European, and American artists. He co-founded the groundbreaking fusion band Shakti with British guitarist John McLaughlin, and frequently collaborated with The Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart, jazz icon Charles Lloyd, and longtime partner Shiv Kumar Sharma, the master of the santur.

Join us this Sunday from 12:00–5:00 AM for a deep dive into the life and music of one of the greatest musicians of all time. Only on WUSB 90.1 FM and streaming at wusb.fm, where unique sounds begin.

This week, Destinies salutes the release of Kraven the Hunter and makes a final trip to the I-Con 31 Cabaret. Tune in Friday night as Peter Parker attends the funeral of his friend Ned Leeds, while Mary Jane Watson reflects on her relationship with Peter—and his confession that he is Spider-Man.

The Destinies Audiobook Sampler and Destinies Radio Theater join forces for part two of Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt, adapted by Graphic Audio from Neil Kleid's novelization.

Next, journey back to the Stony Brook Student Activities Center auditorium, where comedy rap artist Devo Spice delivers his songs "Half-Assed Rapper" and "Earworm" during the closing act of the I-Con 31 Cabaret.

Catch it all on Friday, December 13th, at 11:30 PM.

Hosted by Howard Margolin. Destinies—The Voice of Science Fiction.

WUSB's Sunday Street Series presents a full band show with ‘Full Circle’ (Pete Mancini, Rich Lanahan, Gerry McKeveny, Mark Mancini, and Bill Herman) and special guests.

Sunday, December 15th, 5 P.M.

With their seminal 1968 ‘Sweetheart of the Rodeo’ album, The Byrds incorporated country sounds into their repertory, adding songs like ‘Drug Store Truck Drivin’ Man’ to the early Byrds classics like ‘Eight Miles High’ and ‘I’ll Feel A Whole Better’ and their versions of Dylan songs.

Advance sale* $21 at https://sundaystreet.org/ with tickets at the door for $25 (cash only)

*advance sale for each show includes a $ 1.00 service charge per ticket. Advance sale ends at midnight on the Friday before the show, unless sold out.

The Sunday Street Series is a not-for-profit collaboration with WUSB-FM, The Greater Port Jefferson Arts Council, and The Long Island Museum. These concerts take place in The Gillespie Room at The Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25 A, Stony Brook, New York

Tune in Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 8 p.m. as “Davie Jones Locker” host Steve Kreitzer interviews classical pianist Harriet Stubbs about the release of her new album, Living on Mars, produced by Mike Garson, a longtime band member for David Bowie.

The album features a repertoire ranging from Bach to Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and has reached nearly half a million streams.

Harriet began playing piano at the age of 3, and by 5, she earned a full scholarship to the prestigious Guildhall School of Music. She was voted one of Britain’s top three pianists by Julian Lloyd Webber on ITV’s Britain’s Brilliant Prodigies. Her debut album, Heaven and Hell: The Doors of Perception, was produced by multi-Grammy-winning producer Russ Titelman (known for working with Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, and Cyndi Lauper, among others) and features a spoken-word performance by Marianne Faithfull.

This Saturday night at midnight (Sunday, 12:00 AM), Melting World brings you an extended journey through sound, celebrating the legendary Soft Machine. We’ll spin tracks from their 1973 classic Third, the electrifying Live in Switzerland (1974), and their 2023 release, Open Door.

During the Cosmic Hour, experience the full soundtrack to Riddles of the Sphinx, a rare gem composed by Soft Machine keyboardist Mike Ratledge.

We’ll also honor the memory of Pete Sinfield—acclaimed poet, songwriter, and co-founder of King Crimson—with a set from the band’s historic first U.S. tour, recorded live at San Francisco’s Fillmore West in 1969.

Don’t miss this five-hour odyssey of music and remembrance. Tune in this Sunday (Saturday night) from Midnight to 5 AM, only on WUSB 90.1 FM or stream online at wusb.fm.