The Music Show

The Veils frontman Finn Andrews joins Andy to talk about love, death, and Sinead O'Connor, all features of their latest and aptly named album Fragile World.

Married couple Anna Maria Friman and Arve Henriksen are both Norwegian musicians who've benefited from Norway's remarkably genre-blind attitude to making music. She's a classical vocalist (one third of Trio Mediæval), he's a jazz trumpeter, and together they're teaming up with the Australian Chamber Orchestra for a program of Nordic music.

The Veils are in Melbourne and Sydney 20 & 21 August, the new album Fragile World is out now.

From Winter's Stillness with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Trio Mediæval and Arve Henrikson is on tour around Australia 25 July - 9 August.

Music heard in the show:

Title: Lungs, Aurora, Little White Bird, High HopesArtist: The VeilsComposer: Andrews, FinnAlbum: Fragile WorldLabel: V2 Records

Title: Det lisle bånetArtist: Trio MediævalComposer: Trad.Album: Folk SongsLabel: ECM Records

Title: AcceptanceArtist: Arve HenriksenComposer: Henriksen, ArveAlbum: Mental FatigueLabel: Arve Maria Music

Title: St Magnus Hymn (Nobilis Humilis)Artist: Arve Henriksen, Trio MediævalComposer: Trad.Album: RímurLabel: ECM Records

The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country

Technical production by Harvey O’Sullivan, Mickey Grossman and Ann-Marie Debettencor

Ziggy Ramo, Leah Senior, and Kate Fagan join Andy to talk about the art of turning poetry into song.

Recorded live at the 2026 Sydney Writers' Festival, in partnership with Red Room Poetry.

Songs performed live:

• Ziggy Ramo: Little Things (after Kev Carmody and Paul Kelly)
• Leah Senior: The Arbour (text by Giles Watson)
• Kate Fagan: Child Upon the Road (Kate Fagan, based on Child Ballad #3, The False Knight Upon the Road)

The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country

Technical production by Antonia Gauci and Harvey O'Sullivan

Electropop singer, songwriter and producer Montaigne took the plunge into the world of independent music after over a decade with a big label a couple of years back. Their first offering in the indie era is an album called it's hard to be a fish. But they've not left their earlier music behind entirely: Montaigne joins Andy to talk about taking their 2016 album Glorious Heights on the road in August.

Elissa Goodrich is a composer and percussionist whose album Gene Tree is the result of her long-term engagement with climate science and genetics. She and her guitarist Elliot Folvig join Andy to explain how the DNA of moths and butterflies, the patterns of cells dividing and multiplying, and transcriptions of mRNA all part of the creative process.

Gin Wigmore's last album was eight years ago. Since then she's got divorced, picked up sticks with her kids and moved from LA to her native Aotearoa New Zealand where she's been writing and recording music and running a deli. The new album is called Beautiful Mess and she performs it live in The Music Show studio. 

Music heard in the show:

Title: Replication SlippageArtist: Elissa Goodrich, Gideon Brazil, Elliott Folvig, Miranda HillComposer: Goodrich, ElissaAlbum: Gene TreeLabel: Independent release

Title: Glorious HeightsArtist: MontaigneComposer: Cerro, JessAlbum: Glorious HeightsLabel: Sony

Title: so fast in the waterArtist: MontaigneComposer: Cerro, JessAlbum: It’s hard to be a fishLabel: Independent

Title: Moth Returns to Mountain Ash I, The Other Moth, Moth Returns to Mountain Ash IIArtist: Elissa Goodrich, Gideon Brazil, Elliott Folvig, Miranda HillComposer: Goodrich, ElissaAlbum: Gene TreeLabel: Independent release

Title: Country Diamond, Tip of My TongueArtist: Gin WigmoreComposer: Wigmore, GinAlbum: Beautiful MessLabel: Universal

The Music Show is produced on Gadigal, Gundungurra and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country

Technical production by Antonia Gauci and Harvey O’Sullivan

ELISION Ensemble began as a Melbourne new music ensemble, but have gone on to become international in both focus and reputation, building enduring collaborations with some of the world's best modern composers. Elision turns 40 this year and the artistic director Daryl Buckley reflects on the ensemble's history and their birthday celebrations.

The Go Twos began as a collaboration between Rosie McDonald and Nigel Lever - a blend of traditional Celtic and more contemporary folk, along with bluegrass. They recorded a new album - Kurrawarra -  last year and released a few early singles, but Nigel passed away late in 2025, before the full record was released. Rosie talks about the album and about Nigel.

Elision Ensemble performance dates available here.

Music heard in this program:

Title: HejiraArtist: The Go TwosComposer: Joni MitchellAlbum: KurrawarraLabel: Independent release

Title: Negatives I; DeltaArtist: Elision EnsembleComposer: Richard BarrettAlbum: Richard Barrett: Chamber WorksLabel: Etcetera

Title: Athena’s TrumpetArtist: Elision Ensemble & Jeannie van de Velde Composer: Liza Lim & Barrie KoskyAlbum: Singing in TonguesLabel: NMC

Title: Lay Down Your Weary TuneArtist: The Go TwosComposer: Bob DylanAlbum: KurrawarraLabel: Independent release

Title: Days Warm BreezeArtist: The Go TwosComposer: The Go TwosAlbum: KurrawarraLabel: Independent release

The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Country

Technical production by Tim Jenkins

Guringai writer and creator Kaylene Langford is behind the mic for NAIDOC Week, with a celebration of Koori Radio for its 25th anniversary.

"It's an ecosystem for song people" says Stiff Gins' Nardi Simpson, one of the acts championed by Sydney's Indigenous station.

From beginnings in a Redfern terrace with a knocked-through wall to a cornerstone of Indigenous culture, it's a story of local connection and global solidarity.

Kaylene is joined by co-founder Cathy Craigie, program manager Gavin Ivey, and musicians including Stiff Gins, Casey Donovan, and DOBBY who have championed and been championed by the station. 

Discover music and performances by our guests:

Stiff GinsCasey DonovanDOBBY (new album MARSHMALLOW out 31 July)Gina WilliamsSunny Luwe

Music heard in the show:

Title: Nutbush City LimitsArtist: Casey DonovanComposer: Tina TurnerAlbum: Countdown: Live at the Sydney Opera HouseLabel: ABC Music

Title: Whossat on the WassatArtist: Wire MCComposer: Wire MCAlbum: SingleLabel: Independent release

Title: Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, BabeArtist: Barry WhiteComposer: White, BarryAlbum: SingleLabel: Philips

Title: Mr. WendalArtist: Arrested DevelopmentComposer: Arrested DevelopmentAlbum: SingleLabel: Chrysalis

Title: Big MoodArtist: BARKAA feat. Kobie DeeComposer: Quayle, Chloe; Duncan, Kobie; Turier, JacobAlbum: Big TiddaLabel: Bad Apples

Title: Shake ItArtist: Casey DonovanComposer: Dimataga, Carl; Rollins, John BenjaminAlbum: SingleLabel: Cee Dee

Title: Same Old SongArtist: NokturnalComposer: NokturnalAlbum: Single releaseLabel: Sputnik Records

Title: Bindi BindiArtist: Gina Williams and Guy GhouseComposer: Gina Williams, Guy GhouseAlbum: Bindi BindiLabel: Independent release

Title: It Won’t Be Long Til I See You AgainArtist: Sunny LuweComposer: Luwe, SunnyAlbum: Feeling GoodLabel: Independent release

Title: Sabotage!Artist: DOBBY (feat. Josh Pyke)Composer: Clapham, RhyanAlbum: MARSHMALLOWLabel: ABC Music

Title: Something About A Cake ShopArtist: Stiff GinsComposer: Briggs, Kaleena; Simpson, NardiAlbum: CrossroadsLabel: Gadigal Music

Title: Close Your EyesArtist: Stiff GinsComposer: Briggs, Kaleena; Simpson, Nardi; Donovan, EmmaAlbum: OriginsLabel: Gadigal Music

Title: YadingjiArtist: CooeeComposer: Saunders, Kirli; Harding, Mark ChesterAlbum: MessengersLabel: Independent release

The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Country

Technical production by Tim Jenkins

It’s almost impossible to choose a Beatles song for Cover Story (we’ve been putting it off for three series). The band’s productivity in 1964 alone would give us ten good options. It was the year of their first - and second! - US tours, their one Australian tour, and the film A Hard Day’s Night. Can’t Buy Me Love inspired a wide and wild range of covers, so strap in with DOBBY and Vanessa Hughes for jazz, bossa nova, and raunchy madrigal takes on the classic. 

Every great song gets covered. Sometimes beautifully, sometimes badly, and sometimes by people who clearly should have known better.

Cover Story, returning for its third series, hunts down the best, the worst, and the downright strange versions of classic songs, and asks the question: why does this version give us goosebumps while that one makes our skin crawl?

Can’t Buy Me Love

By Paul McCartney, credited to Lennon/McCartney.

First performed by The Beatles

Released as a single 1964

Versions heard in the show:

• The Supremes - A Bit of Liverpool (Motown, 1964)
• Ella Fitzgerald - Hello, Dolly! (Universal, 1964)
• Stanley Turrentine - Mr. Natural (Blue Note, recorded 1964, released 1980)
• Peter Sellers - A Hard Day’s Night (recorded 1965, released 1993)
• Chet Atkins - Chet Atkins Picks on the Beatles (RCA Victor, 1966)
• The King’s Singers - New Day (Warner Music, 1980)
• Blackstreet - Another Level (Interscope, 1996)
• Tahta Menezes - Relaxing Bossa Lounge 3 (Charm Music, 2009)
• Leo Sayer - Northern Songs (Edsel Records, 2022)
• Paul McCartney - Tripping the Live Fantastic (Parlophone, 1990)

Technical production by Isabella Tropiano

The show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country. 

Stephen Foster's songs remain among the best known music to come out of the United States, with classics like Oh! Susannah, Hard Times (Come Again No More), and Old Folks At Home still covered to this day. He wrote with an ear to melody that saw his songs performed both in minstrel shows and in the parlour, and with an ambiguity that led to his lyrics being claimed by both sides prior to the civil war.

July 4 marks 200 years since Foster's birth and, on his bicentenary, Christopher Lynch, author of Formulating Foster,  will explore the music, the myths, and the man behind them.

Music heard in this program:

Title: Hard TimeArtist: Emmylou Harris and The Nash RamblersComposer: Stephen FosterAlbum: At The RymanLabel: Reprise Records

Title: Old Folks At HomeArtist: Paul RobesonComposer: Stephen FosterAlbum: A Lonesome RoadLabel: ASV

Title: Oh! SusannaArtist: 2nd South Carolina String BandComposer: Stephen FosterAlbum: Hard RoadLabel: Independent release

Title: Camptown RacesArtist: 2nd South Carolina String BandComposer: Stephen FosterAlbum: Hard RoadLabel: Independent release

Title: Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young CharmsArtist: John McCormackComposer: Thomas Moore

Title: Jeanie With the Light Brown HairArtist: Jan DeGaetani & Gilbert KalishComposer: Stephen FosterAlbum: Songs By Stephen FosterLabel: Nonesuch

Title: Beautiful DreamerArtist: Broderick SmithComposer: Stephen FosterAlbum: Crayon AngelsLabel: ABC Music

Title: Hard Times (Come Again No More)Artist: Bruce Springsteen And The E Street BandComposer: Stephen FosterAlbum: Live at Nassau Coliseum Label: Independent release

Title: Sabotage! feat. Josh PykeArtist: DOBBYComposer: Rhyan ClaphamAlbum: MarshmallowLabel: ABC Music

Technical production by Isabella Tropiano

The show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country. 

Never Tear Us Apart began its life as a bluesy demo by INXS’s keyboardist and songwriter Andrew Farris. Frontman Michael Hutchence gave it lyrics, producer Chris Thomas gave it synthesisers, and the public gave it a place on every Australian Music best-of list. 

And the covers come from far and wide: you’ll hear English, American, Welsh, French and Lanarkshire accents amongst the covers. 

Andy’s guests are ABC Classic’s Alice Keath, and Double J’s Al Newstead. 

Every great song gets covered. Sometimes beautifully, sometimes badly, and sometimes by people who clearly should have known better.

Cover Story, returning for its third series, hunts down the best, the worst, and the downright strange versions of classic songs, and asks the question: why does this version give us goosebumps while that one makes our skin crawl?

Never Tear Us Apart

Words by Michael Hutchence, music by Andrew FarrisFirst performed by INXSOn the album Kick, 1987

Versions heard in the show:

• Joe Cocker - Respect Yourself (2002)
• Tom Jones feat. Natalie Imbruglia - Reload (1999)
• The National - Songs for Australia (2020)
• The Ten Tenors - Wish You Were Here (2017)
• Courtney Barnett - Rehearsal Room Recording (2018)
• The Twilight Sad - single (2011)
• Paloma Faith - John Lewis Ad (2012)
• INXS with Ben Harper and Mylene Farmer - Original Sin (2010)

Next time on Cover Story: The Beatles’ Can’t Buy Me Love.

Technical production by Tegan Nicholls

The show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country. 

Alina Pash was last on the show back in 2021, before the Russian invasion of her country began. At that point, Pash said that she wanted to stay in Ukraine and be part of a strong emerging music scene there. Circumstances changed and Alina is now based in the USA, but she returned home last year with the Belgian-Canadian producer Apashe. Together, they recorded with local choirs in Kyiv, drawing on the traditional music of Ukraine to create something very modern.

Singer-songwriter Kristina Olsen has been a regular guest on the Music Show over the years, playing folk, jazz, and blues. But her latest work sees her taking on a new challenge - choral compositions. With a suite of works inspired by the equinoxes and solstices, Olsen is connecting with local choirs on her latest tour across Australia.

Kristina Olsen's full tour dates are available here

Music heard in this program:

Title: Winter Solstice EveArtist: Kristina Olsen, Angie Doctor, Kim Scanlon, Ed Johnson, Avi JacobsonComposer: Kristina Olsen

Title: KyivArtist: Apashe & Alina PashComposer: Apashe & Alina PashAlbum: Hymns of ResilienceLabel: Majestic Collective

Title: EverestArtist: What So Not ft. Alina PashComposer: Chris Emerson, Alina PashAlbum: Everest singleLabel: Independant release

Title: PortalArtist: Alina Pash & David AugustComposer: Alina PashAlbum: Alina Pash Coven DeluxeLabel: Bad Witch Good Corporation

Title: VoyagerArtist: PJ HarveyComposer: PJ HarveyAlbum: Voyager SingleLabel: Partisan Records

Title: I Still Do Miss You Pierre (live)Artist: Kristina OlsenComposer: Kristina OlsenAlbum: Live performance

Title: Maybe Better (live)Artist: Kristina OlsenComposer: Kristina OlsenAlbum: ChemistryLabel: Take A Break Productions

Title: Never Tear Us ApartArtist: INXSComposer: Michael Hutchence, Andrew FarrisAlbum: KickLabel: WEA

The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Country

Technical production by Tegan Nicholls and Marcus Hobbs

A love song, a football anthem, and a weapon of war for men with acoustic guitars: Noel Gallagher said he thought Wonderwall was an annoying song when he wrote it. 

Cover Story dips more than a toe into the world of Britpop with composer and ex-Go-Between Amanda Brown, and conductor, composer and singer Dan Walker. 

Every great song gets covered. Sometimes beautifully, sometimes badly, and sometimes by people who clearly should have known better.

Cover Story, returning for its third series, hunts down the best, the worst, and the downright strange versions of classic songs, and asks the question: why does this version give us goosebumps while that one makes our skin crawl?

Wonderwall

Words and music by Noel GallagherFirst performed by OasisOn the album (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, 1995

Versions heard in the show:

• The Mike Flowers Pops - single (1995)
• Cat Power - John Peel Session live at the BBC (2000)
• Bring Me the Horizon, single (2025)
• Paul Anka - Rock Swings (2005)
• Brad Mehldau - Brad Mehldau Trio Live (2008)
• Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Plays The Music of Oasis (1997)
• Ryan Adams - Love Is Hell (2004)
• The Killers - Live At Lollapalooza Chile (2018)
• Oasis - Live in Dublin August 2025

Next time on Cover Story: the nation’s favourite Australian song, Never Tear Us Apart by INXS.

Technical production by Antonia Gauci

The show this week was made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country.