For music and pop culture lovers looking for an authentic and light-hearted take on the week in music... with broadcasters and music fanatics Annie Macmanus and Nick Grimshaw.
For music and pop culture lovers looking for an authentic and light-hearted take on the week in music... with broadcasters and music fanatics Annie Macmanus and Nick Grimshaw.
In a week that saw the terrorism case against Kneecap’s Mo Chara thrown out, and Bad Bunny announced as the performer at next year’s Super Bowl half-time show, Annie and Nick discuss the complex history of music and world events. Elsewhere, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky have announced the birth of their third child Rocki Irish Mayers, and Robyn might be about to release a new album. Plus, Annie has some grammatical feedback for Nick, and many questions about Geese.
Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp on 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk
SONGS
Olivia Dean – Man I Need
Bad Bunny - NUEVAYoL
ALBUMS
Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving
Geese – Getting Killed
Robyn – Honey
Bad Bunny - Debí Tirar Más Fotos
Olivia Dean is the first British Female Artist since Adele to have three singles in the top 10 simultaneously and her single Man I Need is the highest performing song on the Global Spotify Chart from a UK artist in 2025 so far. Annie and Nick welcome Olivia to the Sidetracked studio, on the eve of the release of her second album, The Art of Loving.
Olivia, Annie and Nick delve into the week in music: Cardi B’s long awaited second album, Frank Ocean addressing rumours of new music, and Miley Cyrus collaborating with Fleetwood Mac. Plus, the power of the comfort zone, British chocolate bars - and can AI write a convincing Olivia Dean song?
Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp on 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk
SONGS
Olivia Dean - Man I Need
Robbie Williams – Angels
Robbie Williams – Rock DJ
Cardi B, Lizzo – What's Goin On
4 Non Blondes – What’s Up?
Miley Cyrus, Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood – Secrets
ALBUMS
Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving
Cardi B – Am I the Drama?
Miley Cyrus – Something Beautiful
Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Are phone-free experiences the future? Annie and Nick discuss the importance of forging real connections after an effective stickers-on-phones policy. Elsewhere, 90,000 Bowie artefacts are being exhibited at London’s V&A museum and Bad Bunny puts his fan’s safety first by deciding not to tour in the US. Plus, Cardi B takes album sales into her own hands, the 2026 Coachella line-up is (already) here, and Annie and Nick discuss their Mercury Prize winner predictions. Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp on 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk ALBUMS
Cardi B – Am I the Drama?
CMAT – EUROCOUNTRY
Jacob Alon – In Limerence
Pulp – More
Fontaine’s D.C. - Romance
Joe Webb - Hamstrings & Hurricanes
Martin Carthy - Transform Me Then Into A Fish
SL – Block Tales SONGS Selda Bağcan - İnce İnce Bir Kar Yağar
What the hell happened in music this summer? Annie and Nick reflect back on a season to remember, from the Song of the Summer (or lack thereof) to their personal highlights from the past few months. Plus, Annie and Nick road test a new, and somewhat unhinged, feature...the Gigging Forecast! Similar to the shipping one but think more live events than high seas. Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp on 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk
SONGS
HAIM – Take Me Back
Chappell Roan – The Subway
Jess Glynne – Hold My Hand
HUNTR/X, Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami – Golden
Goo Goo Dolls – Iris
Addison Rae – Headphones On
HAIM – Relationships
Olivia Dean – Man I Need
ALBUMS
Charli XCX – brat
KPop Demon Hunters – Soundtrack from the Netflix Film
Addison Rae – Addison
HAIM – I Quit
Wolf Alice – The Clearing
CMAT – Euro-Country
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. Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp on 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk
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 ALBUMS
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 sidetracked@bbc.co.uk
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 sidetracked@bbc.co.uk
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 sidetracked@bbc.co.uk
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 sidetracked@bbc.co.uk.
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 sidetracked@bbc.co.uk
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
TV SHOWS
Too Much, Netflix
Annie sits down with musician, author, and actor Jordan Stephens, whilst Nick is on holiday, to discuss some of ‘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 sidetracked@bbc.co.uk
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 sidetracked@bbc.co.uk
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 Stevie Wonder - As
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 sidetracked@bbc.co.uk
Now that Glastonbury is over, Annie and Nick share their 2025 recovery tactics and analyse their post festival dreams of bread, butter and Jessie Ware. Elsewhere, they’re getting excited for upcoming gigs such as Fontaines D.C. at Finsbury Park, Black Sabbath’s final curtain, the Oasis reunion tour, and Stevie Wonder. Plus, a compelling Wood Pigeon impression from a listener’s son, Sidetracked as a source of oxytocin, and a recent TIME article argues that the concept of the Song of the Summer might be over - but did it ever matter?
Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16 WhatsApp 079700 82700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk
From watching CMAT's career defining performance on the Pyramid Stage to bumping into Lily Allen and Rita Ora in Block9, Annie and Nick debrief on the weekend that was.
This episode was recorded live on 6 Music from Glastonbury.
Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16 WhatsApp 079700 82700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk
For the first time ever, Annie and Nick bring Sidetracked to a live audience.
Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16 WhatsApp 079700 82700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk
Annie and Nick discuss their hopes and predictions for Glastonbury 2025.
Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16 WhatsApp 079700 82700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk
In the last of a series of Glastonbury specials, Annie Macmanus and Nick Grimshaw sit down with Loyle Carner to discuss headlining the Other Stages – ten years after he first performed at the festival on the BBC Introducing Stage. What is it about Glastonbury that makes it a truly special place for both artists and festivalgoers, and how does he feel about using his set to make a political statement?
Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16 WhatsApp 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk
Sabrina Carpenter has divided the internet this week with the artwork for her new album, Man’s Best Friend - but is it radical or regressive? Elsewhere, despite a famously rocky relationship with the Catholic Church and three ex-communications, it turns out that Madonna is related to the new Pope. Plus, Ticketmaster are in trouble again, Nick’s found a way to make DJ’ing easier and remembering the genius of Sly Stone and Brian Wilson.
Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16 WhatsApp 079700 82700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk
