Sidetracked with Annie and Nick

BBC Sounds
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  • 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. 1D AGO

    Rosalía Gig Review(s), Shakira in Rio, and Having Faith in Madonna

    It’s the moment they’ve been waiting for since November 2025: Rosalía bringing LUX to London’s O2 Arena. Annie and Nick report back on what might be the best live show they’ve ever experienced. Elsewhere, Madonna’s released a new single with Sabrina Carpenter and it hasn’t totally lived up to their expectations of Confessions II; but will everything make sense when the album comes out? Plus, the Pussycat Dolls have cancelled their North American tour dates and instead of making up an excuse, they’ve chosen honesty – should more artists take note? Also discussed in the episode: Kid Cudi has fired M.I.A from his tour after fans’ complaints, Zara Larsson is having a moment, and Annie and Nick reminisce about their chat with Rod Stewart after Shakira’s concert on Copacabana Beach. Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send 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 bio. HOMEWORK: Listen to the end of this episode to find out the next pick for the Sidetracked Album Club. SONGS Shy One and George Riley – I Can Tell TYSON – CHAOS Rosalía – Magnolia Rosalía - Mio Cristo Pigeon – Miami Pigeon – Black James Dean Genesis Owusu – Life Keeps Going Genesis Owusu – Stampede Tara Clerkin Trio – Somewhere Good Nia Archives – Boys in Blue GENER8ION – STORM Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter – Bring Your Love Madonna – Hung Up Madonna and Britney Spears – Me Against the Music The Pussycat Dolls – Club Song The Pussycat Dolls – Don’t Cha M.I.A. – Illygal ALBUMS Rosalía – Motomami Rosalía – Lux Shy One – Mali Pigeon – OUTTANATIONAL Robyn – Sexistential Zara Larsson – Midnight Sun: Girls Trip Madonna – Confessions on a Dance Floor Madonna – Ray of Light Madonna – Confessions II LCD Soundsystem – LCD Soundsystem Nia Archives – Emotional Junglist PJ Harvey – Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea CMAT – If My Wife New I’d Be Dead Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not Jeff Buckley – Grace Frank Ocean – Blonde The Strokes – Is This It Sinéad O’Connor – The Lion and the Cobra Laura Marling – Once I Was an Eagle Various Artists – Mamma Mia! (The Movie Soundtrack) The Streets – A Grand Don’t Come for Free The xx – xx

    44 min

  2. APR 30

    Sidetracked with Kacey Musgraves

    Kacey Musgraves is one of the best-known Country singers in the world, having won 8 Grammy Awards for her consistently stand out records. On the eve of releasing her 6th studio album, she joins Annie and Nick to discuss the making of the record, and how her approach to writing music has evolved since her debut album. Country is the fastest growing genre in the UK; Kacey has some thoughts on why and some more vital Country intel for Sidetracked listeners. Plus, secrets the Middle of Nowhere tour, Kacey delivers an ode to Ireland, and she reveals how artists like Dashboard Confessional, NSYNC and the Spice Girls influenced her as an artist. Kacey’s album Middle of Nowhere will be available from 1st May 2026. Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send 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 bio. SONGS Kacey Musgraves – Merry Go ‘Round Kacey Musgraves – Dry Spell Loretta Lynn – You Ain’t Woman Enough Kacey Musgraves – Oh, What a World Kacey Musgraves – Slow Burn Kacey Musgraves & Miranda Lambert – Horses and Divorces Kacey Musgraves – Mexico Honey ALBUMS Kacey Musgraves – Same Trailer Different Park Kacey Musgraves – Pageant Material Kacey Musgraves – Golden Hour Kacey Musgraves – Star‑Crossed Kacey Musgraves – Deeper Well Kacey Musgraves – Middle of Nowhere

    50 min

  3. APR 23

    Madonna’s Week in Music, Charli Declares the Dancefloor Dead, and Olivia Rodrigo

    Annie and Nick discuss the most Madonna week in music – the album announcement, the new song, the Coachella performance, and the theft. Sidetracked fans will know how much Madonna means to Nick...so why does he have beef with her this week? Elsewhere, Justin Bieber and Billie Eilish showed us what they’re worth at Coachella Weekend 2, Olivia Rodrigo has a brilliant new song, and Annie has some thoughts on the link between bad fathers and great music artists. Plus, Charli XCX has declared the dancefloor dead, but was she being serious? Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send 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 bio. SONGS Lil Louis – French Kiss Madonna – Vogue Madonna – Like a Prayer Madonna – I Feel So Free Madonna – Justify My Love Madonna – Hung Up Empire of the Sun – Walking on a Dream Olivia Rodrigo – Drop Dead ALBUMS Peaches – Teacher of Peaches Madonna – Confessions II Madonna – Confessions on a Dance Floor Madonna – Ray of Light Madonna – Music Madonna – Madame X Madonna – Hard Candy Charli XCX – brat Warchild Records – Help(2) Olivia Rodrigo – You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love

    36 min

  4. APR 16

    Bieber Fever, Coachella Dreams, and the Kanye Question

    Annie is back after a fortnight away and there’s a lot to catch up on. First on the agenda, Annie and Nick discuss the fallout from Wireless booking Kanye West as a headliner, and the subsequent cancellation of the entire festival. Plus, in other live music news, LIDO festival has had to cancel their planned June weekend due to environmental concerns, and CMAT fans are devastated. And of course, after the first weekend of Coachella 2026, everyone is analysing the Justin Bieber set – and Annie and Nick hear from someone who was actually there in the field. Were the critical headlines about his YouTube use fair? Or has he just made history for one of the most special live shows in the festival’s history? Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send 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 bio. With thanks to Sam Murphy (@popsamcam), who provided much needed intel from Coachella. SONGS Justin Bieber – Baby Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj – Beauty and a Beat Ne-Yo – So Sick ALBUMS Arlo Parks – Ambiguous Desire Elmiene – sounds for someone Justin Bieber – Swag Justin Bieber – Swag II

    51 min

  5. APR 9

    Sidetracked with Arlo Parks

    This week Nick is joined by a very special co-host, Arlo Parks, following the release of her third album, Ambiguous Desire. They discuss how songs come to her, being a sensitive child, accepting a Mercury prize from Annie, trusting yourself as an artist, and how LA inspires her music. Plus, what does an ideal night out look like for Arlo and which does she prefer: Coachella or Glastonbury? Elsewhere, Slayyyter gets a lot of love, Mitski settles into a residency in a hyper-intimate venue where “you can cry,” and the band Angine de Poitrine do something never been done in music before. We’re still open to our next Album Club recommendation, with Arlo suggesting a few in this week’s episode. Send your thoughts in to Annie and Nick! You can send 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 bio. HOMEWORK: Listen to Arlo Park’s new album, Ambiguous Desire. SONGS The Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams Elmiene - Golden ALBUMS The xx - xx Angine de Poitrine - Vol.II Charli XCX - Brat Slayyyter - WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA Massive Attack - debut album Mazzy Star - debut album Sexistential - Robyn The King of Limbs remix album – Radiohead CLUBS + DANCE FLOORS Nowadays - New York Midnight Lovers - LA Corsica - London Venue MOT/Unit 18 Palais - Peckham

    42 min

  6. APR 2

    Sidetracked with Elmiene

    Nick is joined by one of his favourite singers, Elmiene, while Annie is away. Fresh from releasing his debut album ‘sounds for someone’, Elmiene tells Nick what it’s like to work with Raphael Saadiq, how Benji B and Virgil Abloh helped him get his big break, and why it all links back to BBC Bitesize. They also discuss the news of Kanye West’s upcoming return to the UK, and how conflicted lots of his former fans feel about it. Plus, Celine Dion’s iconic comeback announcement inspires a conversation about Cornwall, and Rosalía’s food poisoning nightmare raises some serious questions. Get in touch with Sidetracked! You can send 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 bio. HOMEWORK: Listen to Elmiene’s debut album ‘sounds for someone’ and tell us your thoughts. SONGS D'Angelo – Untitled (How Does It Feel) Elmiene – Golden Elmiene – Light By The Window Eric Clapton – Layla Solange – Cranes in the Sky Wesley Joseph – Peace of Mind Wesley Joseph – Pluto Baby Kanye West – Through the Wire Kanye West – Heartless ALBUMS Elmiene – sounds for someone Ye – Bully Rosalía - LUX

    48 min

  7. MAR 26

    LCD Soundsystem Nostalgia, Lily Allen Gig Review, and Praise for SNL UK

    It’s the inaugural Sidetracked Album Club: Annie and Nick travel down memory lane to 2005 after listening back to LCD Soundsystem’s debut album and answer questions like: What was life like then, how much have things changed, and does the music still hold up? Elsewhere, Nick is preparing for 6 Music Festival (which will see him DJ with Beth Ditto), Annie reflects on some excellent gig crowds and Courtney Love is on a very relatable Geese journey. Plus, Annie and Nick review SNL UK’s first episode, and a listener gets in touch about Lily Allen’s West End Girl shows, inspiring a conversation around the ethics of enjoying music about someone’s deeply personal pain. HOMEWORK: Send in your ideas for the next Album Club choice. Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send 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 bio. SONGS LCD Soundsystem - Losing My Edge LCD Soundsystem - Tribulations LCD Soundsystem - Daft Punk Is Playing at My House LCD Soundsystem - Too Much Love LCD Soundsystem - Tired LCD Soundsystem - Yeah The Rapture - House of Jealous Lovers The Killers - Mr. Brightside Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out Scissor Sisters - Comfortably Numb Geese - Trinidad Hot Hot Heat - Bandages ALBUMS LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem Robyn - Sexistential RAYE - This Music May Contain Hope Elmiene – sounds for someone Courtney Barnett - Creature of Habit The Killers - Hot Fuss Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters Green Day - American Idiot Kasabian - Kasabian Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand The Pogues - Rum, Sodomy & The Lash

    46 min

  8. MAR 19

    David Byrne wows, Rosalía is hard to miss, Jack Harlow sings neo-soul and Annie and Nick sing opera

    David Byrne leaves Annie wanting to know more about his live show while Nick avoids any Rosalía Lux Live spoilers. Plus, Annie and Nick discuss the intimate production behind James Blake’s new album and how too many opinions can hold an artist back. Speaking of opinions, there have been many about Jack Harlow’s new album, “Monica,” and Annie and Nick explore what puts the soul into neo-soul. Meanwhile, Morrissey has been left in a “catatonic” state and Live Nation executives give people new reasons to be angry, as Annie and Nick try to wrap their heads around their recent settlement with the US Department of Justice. Finally, Annie and Nick are paid a visit by Gail Mortley, an opera singer and singing teacher who kindly takes them through the importance of opera, instructions for our diaphragms, and a few vocal exercises for all burgeoning divas to follow - with Nick turning from reluctant singer to essential pillar of “Gail and the Gail-ettes.” HOMEWORK: Don’t forget to listen to LCD Soundsystem’s self-titled debut album and send us your thoughts ahead of our first ever album club discussion. Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send 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 bio. SONGS James Blake - Doesn’t Just Happen (feat Dave) James Blake - Rest of Your Life James Blake - Days Go By ALBUMS Bruce Springsteen – Nebraska Jack Harlow – Monica James Blake - Trying Times Various Artists for War Child Records – HELP(2) LIVE MUSIC Altin Gün David Byrne – Who's in the Sky? David Byrne - Stop Making Sense, film directed by Jonathan Demme Rosalía Lux Live OPERAS O Mio Babbino Caro from Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini

    56 min
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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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