The Music Show

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. 
Tune in to Koori Radio
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)
Catch up on every episode of Cover Story
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.