SHORTIS & Simpson are at it again with the next episode in their “Under the Influence” series.

They’ve already had Keith Potger, Karen Middleton and DJ Gosper under the spotlight to talk about and perform their musical influences.

Now it’s the turn of Nigel McRae and Beth Tully, the owners of Smith’s Alternative, where “Under the Influence” has usually been staged.

Many readers used to seeing McRae and Tully and Beth behind the bar and checking tickets may not know, however, that they are musicians themselves and leading advocates of live and local music.

Here’s a chance to hear the pair sing songs and tell tales of yodelling vaudevillians, buskers, school punk bands, family singalongs in cars and around pianolas, culminating in the rarely told adventures of the Canberra music scene of the last 30 years – with a bit of intervention from Shortis and Simpson.

Smith’s Alternative, which is marking 10 years since it changed from an independent bookshop with occasional gigs to a regular live venue under the management of Domenic Mico and Jorian Gardner, has become home to gigs by local musos, music legends, and lesser-known touring acts, as well as jam sessions, arts and crafts gatherings, cabaret, political conversations, poetry, belly dancing and more.

Since 2015 it’s been in the hands of McRae and Tully.

You’d expect Shortis and Simpson to say this, but they assure us that the show will be “informative, entertaining, surprising, delightfully subversive, and chock-a-block with great music.”

“Under the Influence”, Smith’s Alternative, 76 Alinga Street, Civic, 6pm, Saturday May 13.