"They associate it with twangy, hillbilly music and don't realise there are many different styles within the genre, " he said.

BBC: NEWS | Entertainment | Australia teaches country music

Mr. COLEMAN: Well, I happen to be (unintelligible) and it has all kinds of qualities I deal with human emotion like hillbilly music, blues, country and western, classical, oh, I grew up in all those kinds of environments.

NPR: Ornette Coleman on Sound Innovations

Many bands and performers who were to become musical legends passed through the show including U2, REM, The Smiths, Depeche Mode and Joy Division - but of late On the Wire has taken a more relaxed view of the music scene and is as likely to play pre-war hillbilly music as much as experimental dance or dub.

BBC: Presenter profile: Steve Barker