Sidetracked with Annie and Nick

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

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

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

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

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