Irish music journalist documentary maker Ken Sweeney, (REM Out Of Athens and In Search Of The Blue Nile) has turned his gaze to Australian group The Go-Betweens in a labour of love documentary 20-years in the making.

‘The Go-Betweens & The Irish Writers’ examines the influence of Joyce and other Irish writers on the band’s output. Founding members Robert Forster and bandmate, the late Grant McLennan were hailed as ‘the Lennon & McCartney of indie’ and are regarded alongside REM and The Smiths as the most influential indie songwriters of the ’80s.

‘The Go-Betweens & The Irish Writers’ traces the band’s journey from studying Joyce in Queensland University to moving to London with insufficient jumpers and navigating their idealistic way through the indie label scene until they hit gold.

The documentary features previously unreleased audio of Grant McLennan in interview in August 2000, prior to his death in May 2006.

“I asked Grant in 1999 if he was aware how many Go-Betweens fans ended up as music journalists.” explains Sweeney.

“Grant replied: “I have heard that story that the people who listened to the Velvet Underground formed bands, and people who listened to The Go-Betweens became music journalists. If that is the case, …I apologise to the world..”

Listen to ‘The Go-Betweens & The Irish Writers’  which premiered on Radio Nova on New Year’s Day below.

Robert Forster plays The Button Factory, Dublin on March 24. Tickets here