Sidetracked with Annie and Nick

BBC Sounds
  • 4.9 (41)
  • Music Commentary
  • Updated Weekly

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.

  1. 6d ago

    Oasis Mania, Stevie Wonder Breaking News, and Miley's Just Being Miley

    Annie and Nick are reunited, and there's a lot to get into. Oasis are having a busy time with a new documentary film about to be released, cryptic videos hinting at 2027 shows, and Noel's daughter Anaïs casually telling/reminding people that he's banned from China in a YouTube Q&A. Elsewhere, Miley Cyrus is now just Miley and Annie explains why she thinks that makes so much sense – but she and Nick disagree about the new single. And Madonna has reignited the rumours that she and Charli XCX have recorded a song together. Plus, the biggest story of the week/year: Stevie Wonder is doing a tour for the 50th Anniversary of Songs in the Key of Life – and they don't clash with Ian's birthday this time. SONGS Olivia Dean – Man I Need Madonna – Vogue George Michael – Freedom Ol' Dirty Bastard – Shimmy Shimmy Ya Miley Cyrus – Bass Persuades Miley Cyrus – Flowers Miley Cyrus – Mother's Daughter Stevie Wonder – Pastime Paradise Stevie Wonder – I Wish Stevie Wonder – Sir Duke Stevie Wonder – Isn't She Lovely Stevie Wonder – As Stevie Wonder – Another Star Oasis – Don't Look Back in Anger Jay-Z – Empire State of Mind Jay-Z - Ni**as In Paris Madonna – L.E.S. Girl Adéla – Ain't in LA Dolly Parton – Early Morning Breeze Dolly Parton – Jolene ALBUMS Stevie Wonder – Songs in the Key of Life Jay-Z – Reasonable Doubt Adéla – Prima Massive Attack – Blue Lines Leftfield – Leftism Goldie – Timeless Oasis – Definitely Maybe Alanis Morissette – Jagged Little Pill The xx – The xx Dolly Parton – Coat of Many Colors Dolly Parton – Jolene Floating Points – Mere Mortals

  2. Sep 3

    Femi Koleoso on Dolly Parton, the Drake Effect and RAYE at Reading

    Femi Koleoso sits in for Nick, to discuss the week in music with Annie. Femi is the bandleader/drummer for the BRIT Award and Mercury Prize winning jazz quintet Ezra Collective, and he's also a DJ, Producer, Youth Leader and now a 6 Music Presenter. With the help of Sidetracked listeners, Femi and Annie discuss Dolly Parton and how she'll be remembered as one of the kindest and most generous musicians of all time. From Eminem to children all over the world, whose life hasn't been impacted by Dolly? Elsewhere, the summer festival season has drawn to a close – what can we learn from this year? Femi was inspired by the message RAYE delivered at her Reading headline set, and he and Annie explain why Notting Hill Carnival 2026 was even more magical than usual. Ezra Collective's fourth studio album, Here Because of Hope, is due for release on 11th September. SONGS Ezra Collective & Lila Iké - Well Organised Spice Girls - Wannabe The Weather Girls - It's Raining Men Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande - Rain On Me N-Trance - Set You Free Dolly Parton - Jolene Dolly Parton - Coat of Many Colours

  3. Aug 27

    Nepo Babies, Madonna's VMA Domination & Charli XCX Saves Nick

    Annie and Nick are reunited after four weeks apart, and there's a lot to catch up on. As they recall their separate summer holiday adventures – Annie's was rustic, Nick’s involved a medical emergency that required intervention from Charli XCX – they discover a mutual summer theme of heatwaves, football and steroid injections. The pair finally discuss all the biggest album releases, what it’s like to watch football in a pub with Olivia Dean, why Annie might have levitated while listening to the new Phoebe Bridgers album, and what they both thought of the World Cup halftime show after having weeks to think about it. Elsewhere, Kacey Musgraves keeps her promise about giant mirror balls, Madonna dominates the VMAs with 11 nominations, and Reading & Leeds have dropped the BBC Introducing stage, which leads to valid questions about nepo babies in music – can they escape the shadow of famous parents? Annie provides listeners with her guide to surviving Notting Hill Carnival, and both Annie and Nick begin to wonder if the Sidetracked studio is haunted. Contains strong language. Given the recent sad news about Dolly Parton, Annie and Nick are asking for your personal tributes to the musical legend to include in next week’s episode. We’d love to give you a chance to send in your thoughts, voice notes, tributes, favourite Dolly memories, reactions, anything to say what Dolly meant to you. You can send in Sidetracked a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk And don’t forget you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram. SONGS Phoebe Bridgers - Bobby Florence + The Machine - Dog Days are Over Charli XCX – No One Lasts Forever Justin Bieber – Everything Hallelujah Shygirl - Alyse ALBUMS Confessions II – Madonna Music, Fashion, Film – Charli XCX Brat – Charli XCX Romance – Fontaines D.C. Never Enough – Turnstile Knats – A Great Day in Newcastle Phoebe Bridgers – Lost Weekend

  4. Aug 20

    Shygirl on: Working with Madonna, Influencing Fontaines and Troye Sivan’s Aesthetic

    Nick is joined by singer, DJ, rapper and Sidetracked favourite, Shygirl, to discuss the week in music, and her new single ‘Alyse’. This week was a big one for new music releases: Phoebe Bridgers brought out her new album – and although Annie’s on holiday, Nick shares her thoughts on the record. Troye Sivan released a beautiful new single, and the video has generated some online discourse about the male gaze; Shygirl has some thoughts on the aesthetic choices and how much they tell us about an artist’s intention. And Fontaines D.C have dropped a new single and announced the release date of their fifth album, Nick and Shy share their thoughts on ‘Marianne’. Plus, what it’s like to work with Madonna, Reading Festival nostalgia, and Nick recounts an awkward experience at Charli XCX’s London brat show. You can send Sidetracked a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram. The film Shygirl mentions is Bird. SONGS Shygirl - Alyse Shygirl - Altar Phoebe Bridgers - Bobby Fontaines D.C. - Marianne ALBUMS Shygirl - Nymph Madonna - Confessions II Fontaines D.C. - Dopamine Chamber Fontaines D.C. - Romance Rosalía - Motomami

  5. Aug 13

    A Mid-Year Review of 2026 in Music

    It’s the Sidetracked mid-year review, in which Annie and Nick look back on the biggest moments of 2026 so far. Back in January, they made some predictions for the year in music and it's time to find out - do they possess psychic abilities or wishful dispositions? From Harry Styles’ return to Rosalía’s LUX tour, which moments define 2026 so far? Featuring Mark Savage, Jessie Ware, Elmiene, and CMAT. SONGS Mary J. Blige - I'm Goin’ Down Harry Styles - Aperture Rosalía - Magnolias Oasis - Wonderwall Justin Bieber - DAISIES Justin Bieber – Beauty and a Beat Taylor Swift – I Knew It, I Knew You Shakira & Burna Boy – Dai Dai ALBUMS Rosalía - LUX Harry Styles – Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. Madonna – Confessions II Justin Bieber - SWAG

  6. Aug 6

    Nia Archives on: Lollapalooza, Grace Jones’ Rider, and Japanese Convenience Stores

    Nick is joined by the Emotional Junglist and record-breaking music artist, Nia Archives, to discuss the week in music. Nia made headlines herself after being shortlisted for the Mercury Prize for the second time - she explains to Nick why the announcement came at a difficult time. Elsewhere, Nick and Nia have both recently seen Grace Jones perform and discuss the many reasons why no contemporary artist could ever emulate Grace’s artistry or her perfectly curated rider. Plus, Sam Fender and Olivia Dean have broken chart records with their single ‘Rein Me In’, but what is it about the two of them that has sent the track into the history books? Plus, Charli XCX’s Lollapalooza performance has fans excited for more live shows; Nia’s big plans for Japan’s convenience stores, and what’s it like to work with James Ellis Ford? You can send Sidetracked a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram. SONGS Nia Archives – Sober Feels Nia Archives – Boys in Blue Kettama – Comes and Goes Tricky feat. Mitch Sanders - I’m Yours ALBUMS Nia Archives – Emotional Junglist Nia Archives – Silence is Loud Madonna – American Life Madonna - Music Madonna – Ray of Light Knats – A Great Day in Newcastle War Child Records- Help(2) Arca – XXXXX Charli XCX – brat Charli XCX – Wuthering Heights Charli XCX – Music, Fashion, Film

  7. Jul 30

    2026 Mercury Prize Shortlist with Knats

    Nick reacts to the Mercury Prize 2026 shortlist with Knats, a jazz collective who are one of the most exciting bands in the UK music scene right now - and whose latest album ‘A Great Day in Newcastle’ has been described as “the best thing to come out of the North East since Andy Carroll.” In a year of great albums from the UK and Ireland, which artists have made it on to the most prestigious shortlist in music? SONGS Knats – Bowling Ball Knats – Wor Jackie Arctic Monkeys – Do I Wanna Know? Arctic Monkeys - R U Mine? Olivia Dean – Man I Need JADE – Angel of My Dreams Kojey Radical & Planet Giza – Expensive Ezra Collective & Kojey Radical – No Confusion

  8. Jul 30

    Coming Soon... 2026 Mercury Prize Shortlist

    This week’s episode will be dropping later than usual as Nick - and some very special guests - await the much-anticipated Mercury Prize Shortlist.

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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.

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