Inspired by Annie’s recent driving epiphanies, Nick details how CMAT made a journey to Manchester a spiritual experience. In other news, Beyoncé and Jay Z might be moving to the Cotswolds, Cardi B continues to be the funniest person in the world, and Sabrina Carpenter’s interview with Gayle King gave us more questions than answers. And after an overwhelming response to a Sidetracked social clip about invisible DJs, Annie and Nick present the most compelling arguments for and against.

SONGS

CMAT - Lord, Let That Tesla Crash

CMAT - Ready

CMAT – Iceberg

CMAT – Coronation St.

CMAT – Sports Car (Radio 1 Live Lounge)

Wolf Alice – The Sofa

Wolf Alice – Just Two Girls

Oliver Sim – Obsession

Blood Orange feat. Caroline Polachek, Lorde, & Mustafa – Mind Loaded

Mazzy Star – Fade Into You

Sabrina Carpenter – Tears

TSHA - Revolution

CMAT – Euro-Country

Wolf Alice – The Clearing

Blood Orange – Essex Honey

Sabrina Carpenter – Man's Best Friend

From Chappell Roan’s Reading Festival set to Notting Hill Carnival, Annie and Nick discuss the August bank holiday weekend – and how enjoyable it is to sit down. Plus, the music that inspired several epiphanies for Annie on her drive back from Forwards Festival in Bristol. Elsewhere, Beth Ditto thinks Nick CAN sing, Annie gives her analysis of Taylor Swift’s album announcement, and a listener describes how a Fat Dog gig helped her let go on the dancefloor.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp on 07970082700 or email [email protected]

SONGS

Chappell Roan – The Subway

The Who – Baba O’Riley

Oliver Sim - Obsession

Soul Wax - New Earth Time

Chappell Roan - Good Luck, Babe!

Wolf Alice - The Sofa

Wolf Alice - Just Two Girls

ALBUMS

Natalie Bergman - My Home Is Not In This World

Jim Legxacy - Black British Music

Taylor Swift - The Life of a Showgirl

CMAT - Euro-Country

Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme joins Nick to discuss the week in music. It's been a tough week for All Points East, the festival was the focus of some savage reviews after Sault’s much anticipated show and now Doechii has cancelled her upcoming headline slot. Nick and Josh ask: where has it all gone wrong? Plus, Taylor Swift isn’t the only one with a new album coming out in October, Florence + The Machine are returning, and Josh recalls the time he tried and failed to match Florence Welch’s ethereal energy. Elsewhere, Lana Del Rey and Ethel Cain are in a feud, the Hives are back and better than ever, and Liam Gallagher’s been banned from throwing his tambourine into the crowd at Oasis gigs.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp 07970082700 or email [email protected]

SONGS

The Hives – The Hives Forever Forever the Hives

Florence + The Machine – Everybody Scream

Big Freedia – Explode

Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash – Jackson  

Florence + The Machine & Josh Homme – Jackson (MTV Unplugged)

The Smiths – This Night Has Opened My Eyes

OutKast – Hey Ya!

Robyn – Dancing On My Own

New Order – Blue Monday

Radiohead – Let Down

Dean Martin – Mambo Italiano

ALBUMS/EPS

Queens of the Stone Age – Alive in the Catacombs

The Hives – The Hives Forever Forever the Hives

Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl

Oasis – Definitely Maybe

Florence + The Machine – Everybody Scream

A look back on the biggest musical lessons of 2025 so far with the help of Sidetracked’s guests, including Cynthia Erivo sharing her theory on why we’re created with the ability to sing, Stevie Wonder pondering the concept of retirement, and James Blake standing up for Coldplay. Plus, Michael Eavis’s approach to birthday parties, Alana Haim’s bad habits and Sir Rod Stewart’s Glastonbury budget.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16 WhatsApp 07970082700 or email [email protected]

Is it ever okay to talk during a gig? Do rock concerts have the friendliest crowds? And can one wear glasses in a mosh pit? Annie and Nick ponder all this and more in this listener curated special about gig culture in 2025 and share their own live music highs and lows.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16 WhatsApp 07970082700 or email [email protected].

Nick is joined by guest co-host and Fontaines D.C. guitarist, Carlos O’Connell, this week to analyse the concept of recession pop and the positivity rates of popular songs. What impact can the economy have on our listening habits? Elsewhere this week, fans say Justin Timberlake is ruining the tour (the world tour), Madonna’s released her much-anticipated remix album, and Nadia Lee Cohen has directed a music video for Aphex Twin. Plus, Carlos explains the complex themes of Disney’s Frozen to an enthralled Nick and reveals how an encounter with a scammer palm reader in San Francisco helped him get a part on Lena Dunham's Too Much.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16 WhatsApp 079700 82700 or email [email protected]

You can read Mark Savage’s story on music trends here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-052ab668-403d-416f-b5a6-c5692313b9b4

SONGS

Fontaines D.C. - It’s Amazing To Be Young

Aphex Twin – Korg Funk 5      

CMAT – Euro Country

Fontaines D.C. - Boys in the Better Land

Ed Sheeran – Shape of You

Chappell Roan – Hot To Go!

Pharell Williams – Happy

Idina Menzel – Let It Go

ALBUMS

Fontaines D.C. - Dogrel

Fontaines D.C. - Romance

The Cure – Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me

CMAT – Euro Country

Madonna – Veronica Electronica

Madonna – Ray of Light

Madonna – Erotica

Mên An Tol – The Country

Too Much, Netflix

Annie sits down with musician, author, and actor Jordan Stephens, whilst Nick is on holiday, to discuss some of the ‘globally gas’ headlines from the world of music: the Coldplay CEO scandal and Jess Glynne’s Jet2 jingle. Elsewhere, Jordan and Annie begin to unpick the complexities of AI and streaming platforms and discuss some more positive news about how the industry is (finally) recognising that artists should be paid. Plus, are people too worried to let go and dance at gigs? Tyler, The Creator has dropped a new album about body movement and connection – is it the antidote to the threats facing music culture?

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16 WhatsApp 079700 82700 or email [email protected]

Stevie Wonder is one of the best-selling music artists in the world, he's won 25 Grammy Awards and an Oscar, and his activism has played a pivotal role in historic world events. In this very special episode of Sidetracked, recorded in a makeshift studio in a hotel on the edge of Hyde Park, Stevie tells Annie Macmanus about his approach to song writing, his adventurous childhood and his feelings about the word 'retirement'.

Who had the more life affirming experience this week? From Oasis to Ian’s 40th Birthday Party, Annie and Nick compare notes on a series of events they never saw coming. Elsewhere, after Drake’s Wireless shows, Nick has a PSA for flying pop stars and Annie shares why she drank a cup of tea more expensive than a Heaton Park pint. Plus, Justin Bieber has dropped a surprise album to mixed reviews, and Annie and Nick ask the question: have you ever ditched a mate's birthday for a gig?

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16 WhatsApp 079700 82700 or email [email protected]

What are the key components of a good gig?Off the back of the Oasis tour starting and Fontaines D.C. performing to their biggest audience ever, Annie and Nick discuss the ways we can all create a fun concert atmosphere – and all the things we shouldn’t do. Elsewhere, as if performing at Glastonbury wasn’t enough, PinkPantheress recently won a Chess Grand Slam in Bromley and she’s not the only overachiever in the music world, all seven members of BTS are almost finished National Service and they’re coming straight back to K-pop. Plus, Annie and Nick are preparing for the event of the summer, Ian’s birthday party, and one story has Nick comparing the mystery of a 316-year-old violin to a Jane McDonald TV show.

SONGS

Danny L Harle and PinkPantheress – Starlight

PinkPantheress – Illegal

Underworld – Dark and Long

Oasis - Wonderwall

ALBUM

Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life

OTHER

Longitude Festival

Sidetracked Live from Glastonbury: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0lkz02p

Mary Anne Hobbs - Black Sabbath show: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002f7c8

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16 WhatsApp 079700 82700 or email [email protected]