Sidetracked with Annie and 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

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

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

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