Kate Miller-Heidke's new album, the first since 2020's Child In Reverse a a very theatrical and sometimes funny slice of gothic-folk called The Kiss and the Abyss. In between live performances of two new songs, Kate talks about referencing Handel and planning for the end of the world. Pianist Maki Namekawa has an enduring relationship with Philip Glass - performing the world premiere of several of his pieces, including the Piano Etudes. Namekawa is in Australia to perform the first 10 of those Etudes, and shares her experience of working with the renown composer. And selected highlights from a conversation with Philip Glass on-stage at the Perth Festival in 2013, when the Etudes were premiered in their entirety. Kate Miller-Heidke is on tour from Aug 27 - full dates available here Maki Namekawa is performing as part of the Now Or Never festival on August 22nd. Music heard in this program: Title: Etude 9 Artist: Maki Namekawa Composer: Philip Glass Album: Philip Glass: The Complete Piano Etudes Label: Orange Mountain Music Title: Butterflies Artist: Kate Miller-Heidke Composer: Kate Miller-Heidke & Kier Nuttall Album: The Kiss & The Abyss Label: EMI Title: Holiday Artist: Kate Miller-Heidke Composer: Kate Miller-Heidke & Kier Nuttall Album: The Kiss & The Abyss Label: EMI Title: Love Sweet Love Artist: Kate Miller-Heidke Composer: Kate Miller-Heidke & Kier Nuttall Album: The Kiss & The Abyss Label: EMI Title: Lascia Ch’io Pianga Artist: Emma Matthews & NZ Chamber Orchestra Composer: George Frideric Handel Album: Handel Arias Label: Artworks Title: Little Ants Artist: Kate Miller-Heidke Composer: Kate Miller-Heidke & Kier Nuttall Album: The Kiss & The Abyss Label: EMI Title: Etude 1 Artist: Maki Namekawa Composer: Philip Glass Album: Philip Glass: The Complete Piano Etudes Label: Orange Mountain Music Title: Dance VIII Artist: Philip Glass & Michael Riesman Composer: Philip Glass Album: In The Upper Room Label: Orange Mountain Music The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Country Technical production by Antonia Gauci and Brendan O’Neill

Grace Cummings’ latest album is called Bloodhorse! and it's fantastic and fantastically strange. Her ragged, bluesy voice floats through a lush, ornate sound world on tracks like 'The Hills Are Alive with the Sound of Morphine', and 'WITCH! WITCH! WITCH!', the latter of which was recorded whilst Grace wielded a grim reaper style scythe in the studio. She joins Andy to take us into the highly-strung world of the record. Anna Maria della Pieta was a Venetian orphan who was taught, celebrated and written for by Antonio Vivaldi. Her musical life is the subject of a new production by the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, with American historical violinist Augusta McKay Lodge leading. Augusta joins Andy to tell the story of Anna Maria. Plus new music from Mara, who is playing Phoenix Central Park in Sydney on 18 August. Vivaldi’s Legacy is on in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane 12 - 25 August.   Music heard in the show: Title: Violin Concerto in E Major, RV 267a 'per Anna Maria'; I. Allegro Artist: Théotime Langlois de Swarte, Orchestre Le Consort Composer: Vivaldi, Antonio Album: Vivaldi: Concerti Per Una Vita Label: Harmonia Mundi Title: The Hills Are Alive With The Sound of Morphine, WITCH! WITCH! WITCH!, My God, John Lennon Artist: Grace Cummings Composer: Cummings, Grace Album: Bloodhorse! Label: ATO Records Title: Loosening My Grip Artist: Mara, feat. Abby Sundborn Composer: Schwerdtfeger, Mara Album: Air Leak/Loosening My Grip Label: Pure Space Title: Violin Concerto in E Major, RV 267a 'per Anna Maria'; II. Andante Artist: Théotime Langlois de Swarte, Orchestre Le Consort Composer: Vivaldi, Antonio Album: Vivaldi: Concerti Per Una Vita Label: Harmonia Mundi Title: Violin Sonata in A Minor: I. – Artist: Augusta McKay Lodge Composer: Pisendel, Johann Georg Album: Beyond Bach and Vivaldi: Rare Unaccompanied Works for the Baroque Violin Label: Naxos Title: A Certain Panic Artist: Kate Miller-Heidke Composer: Miller-Heidke, Kate; Nuttall, Kier Album: The Kiss and the Abyss Label: EMI The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Technical production by Antonia Gauci and Brendan O’Neill

Can you tell the history of the world in fifty pieces of music? No, but BBC Radio 3 presenter and writer Tom Service has given it a red hot go in A History of the World in 50 Pieces: The Classical Music That Shapes Us. He joins Andy to talk through the surprising stories behind some of those pieces, from Handel to Happy Birthday.  Music heard in the show: Title: Overture from The Marriage of Figaro Artist: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Riccardo Muti Composer: Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus Album: Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro K492 Label: Warner Classics Title: Psalm 130: ‘Du fond de l'abîme’ Artist: Ann Murray, BBC Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, Yan Pascal Tortelier Composer: Boulanger, Lili Album: Faust et Hélène Label: Chandos Title: “Gente, Gente!”, and “Questo giorno di tormenti” from The Marriage of Figaro Artist: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Riccardo Muti Composer: Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus Album: Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro K492 Label: Warner Classics Title: Scena II. Ruggier de danni asprissimi, from La liberazione di Ruggiero dall'isola d'Alcina Artist: Huelgas-Ensemble, Paul Van Nevel Composer: Caccini, Francesca Album: Caccini, F: La liberazione di Ruggerio dall'isola di Alcina Label: Deutsche Harmonia Mundi Title: Fuera, Fuera! Haganles lugar! Artist: Florilegium, Arakaendar Bolivia Choir, Ashley Solomon Composer: Chavarria, Roque Jacinto de Album: Bolivian Baroque Volume 3 Label: Channel Classics Title: Gruppen, for 3 Orchestras (extracts) Artist: WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Bruno Maderna, Michael Gielen Composer: Stockhausen, Karlheinz Album: Gruppen, Punkte Label: BMC Title: The Rumble, America from West Side Story Artist: Leonard Bernstein; Kiri Te Kanawa; José Carreras; Tatiana Troyanos; Kurt Ollmann; Marilyn Horne Composer: Bernstein, Leonard Album: Leonard Bernstein Conducts West Side Story Label: Deutsche Grammophon Title: Mbube Artist: Solomon Linda’s Original Evening Birds Composer: Linda, Solomon  Album: Single, 1939 Label: Gallo Title: Wimoweh Artist: The Weavers Composer: Linda, Solomon Album: The Weavers at Carnegie Hall Label: Vanguard Title: The Lion Sleeps Tonight Artist: The Tokens Composer: Linda, Solomon; Peretti, Hugo; Creatore, Luigi; Weiss, George David; Stanton, Albert Album: The Lion Sleeps Tonight Label: RCA Victor Title: The Lion Sleeps Tonight Artist: Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen Composer: Linda, Solomon; Peretti, Hugo; Creatore, Luigi; Weiss, George David; Stanton, Albert Album: The Lion King (2019) Label: Walt Disney Records Title: The Lark Ascending Artist: Tasmin Little, BBC Philharmonic, Andrew Davis Composer: Vaughan Williams, Ralph Album: The Lark Ascending Label: Chandos Title: America: A Prophecy, Op. 19  Artist: Susan Bickley, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Thomas Adès Composer: Adès, Thomas Album: Adès: America A Prophecy Label: Warner Classics The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Technical production by Tegan Nicholls

All The Grateful Dead are one of the iconic bands of the last century, not just for their music, but for their extended tours, which saw their fans follow them across America and create a very special sort of travelling community. Mischa Richter shares stories from the road and explores his new documentary Summer Tour. Don Walker talks basement recordings, lessons from Nashville, and his new album Love Songs, plus he shares a memory of Glenn A Baker. And in a church in Germany, an organ is 25 years into a 639 year performance of John Cage's piece As Slow As Possible. The notes change rarely, only every couple of years, and one of those changes has just happened. Director of the John Cage Trust Jeffrey Lependorf tells Andy what it felt like to be there as an A natural was added to the sound.  Summer Tour is screening as part of the Melbourne International Film Festival Don Walker is on tour in October - dates here Music heard in this program: Title: As Slow As Possible Artist: John Cage Composer: John Cage Album: Live Performance Title: The Wheel (Live in Chicago - 1976) Artist: Grateful Dead Composer: Jerry Garcia; Robert Hunter Album: So Many Roads Label: Grateful Dead Records Title: Dark Star (Live At the Fillmore West) Artist: Grateful Dead Composer: Jerry Garcia; Robert Hunter Album: Live/Dead Label: Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records Title: Luck Artist: Don Walker Composer: Don Walker, Thomas Busby, Jason Isbell Album: Love Songs Label: Sony Music Title: Breakfast in Paris Artist: Don Walker Composer: Don Walker Album: Love Songs Label: Sony Music Title: Could You Still Be Here Artist: Don Walker Composer: Don Walker Album: Love Songs Label: Sony Music Title: Fly Away Artist: Don Walker Composer: Don Walker Album: Love Songs Label: Sony Music The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Country Technical production by Tegan Nicholls

Anita O'Day was a jazz singer who lived 'the jazz life'. She's been compared to people like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald: an incredible singer, storyteller, and a deeply troubled drug user and alcoholic.  Despite the turmoil of her personal life, she's one of the most precise singers of her generation, on the beat and right in tune for every note.  Author James Gavin, who knew O'Day, returns to The Music Show with his fresh biography, Cool Heat: Anita O’Day and Her Dangerous Jazz Life. Music heard in the show:  Title: Let Me Off Uptown Artist: Gene Krupa Orchestra, Roy Eldridge, Anita O’Day Composer: Bostic, Earl; Evans, Redd Album: Let Me Off Uptown Label: Okeh Title: Tea For Two Artist: Anita O’Day Composer: Youmans, Vincent Album: Anita O’Day At Mister Kelly’s Label: Verve Title: What Is This Thing Called Love? Artist: Anita O’Day Composer: Porter, Cole Album: Anita O'Day Swings Cole Porter with Billy May Label: Verve Title: Angel Eyes Artist: Anita O’Day, Johnny Mandel Composer: Brent, Earl; Dennis, Matt  Album: Waiter, Make Mine Blues Label: Verve Title: Don't Explain Artist: Anita O’Day, Johnny Mandel Composer: Holiday, Billie; Herzog, Arthur Jr. Album: Travelin' Light Label: Verve Title: Boogie Blues  Artist: Anita O’Day, Gary McFarland Orchestra Composer: Krupa, Gene; Biondi, Ray Album: All the Sad Young Men Label: Verve Title: Old Devil Moon Artist: Anita O’Day Composer: Harburg, Yip; Lane, Burton Album: Mello'day Label:  GNP Crescendo Title: In A Mellow Tone Artist: Anita O’Day Composer: Ellington, Duke; Gabler, Milt Album: In A Mellow Tone Label: DRG The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Technical production by Emrys Cronin and Ross Richardson

American composer William Basinski's very long and much celebrated avant-garde electronic work The Disintegration Loops was born from the gradual decay of magnetic tape. It was created over a month in August and September 2001, during which time Basinski witnessed the collapse of the World Trade Centre from his New York apartment. 25 years later, the piece is being presented in its entirety in Melbourne, with Basinski hosting a sleepover of sorts as part of the Now or Never Festival. Will Swenson has been part of many Broadway revival casts - from Hair to Les Misérables to Assassins - but playing Neil Diamond in his prime is a different sort of revival. He joins Andy to talk about the jukebox musical A Beautiful Noise, and getting the real Neil's blessing. And we remember Glen Hansard, the Irish musician, actor and co-composer of the Oscar-winning film Once and its stage adaptation, who has died at the age of 56.  Plus it's National Poetry Month and The Music Show launches Middle of the Air for 2026, our competition in partnership with Red Room Poetry. Throughout August entries are open to submit a poem, which may be chosen by newly-announced partner artists Missy Higgins and Ziggy Ramo to transform into two new songs.  Music heard in this program: Title: DLP 6 Artist: William Basinski Composer: William Basinski Album: The Disintegration Loops IV Label: 2062 Title: Craters Artist: Missy Higgins Composer: Missy Higgins Album: The Second Act Label: Eleven Title: Banamba Artist: Ziggy Ramo Composer: Guyala Bayles, Lewis Mitchell, Macario De Souza Album: Human? Label: Impressed Recordings Title: Crunchy Granola Suite Artist: Neil Diamond Composer: Neil Diamond Album: Hot August Night Label: MCA Records Title: I Am... I Said Artist: Neil Diamond Composer: Neil Diamond Album: Stones Label: MCA Records Title: Kentucky Woman Artist: Will Swenson Composer: Neil Diamond Album: Live Performance Title: What Happens When The Heart Just Stops Artist: The Frames Composer: Glen Hansard & The Frames Album: For The Birds Label: Little Big Music The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Country Technical production by Emrys Cronin & Ross Richardson

The latest in our Music Now & Then series with composer Liza Lim, who first appeared on The Music Show in its early years when she was in her mid twenties, where both her youth and the 'difficulty' of her music were remarked upon.  As her opera The Oresteia is remounted by Sydney Chamber Opera and ELISION Ensemble, Andy speaks with Liza on stage about revisiting works and ideas over more than thirty years.  The Oresteia is staged at Sydney's Carriageworks 24-31 July. Music heard in the show: Title: The Oresteia: The Furies; Positions of a memory theatre (Cassandra’s Dream Song); Athena’s Trumpet Artists: Jeannie van de Velde, Julie Edwardson, Deborah Kayser, Andrew Muscat-Clark, Tyrone Landau, Grant Smith (singers), Elision Ensemble/Sandro Gorli Composer: Lim, Liza Album: Mother Tongue Label: BR Klassik Title: The Compass, II. –  Artist: William Barton (digeridoo), Carin Levine (flute), Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra/Christoph Poppen Composer: Lim, Liza Album: Musica Viva Vol. 47 Label: BR Klassik Title: A Sutured World, IV. Simon Says. Alle Vögel fliegen hoch Artist: Nicolas Altstaedt (cello), Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra/Edward Gardner Composer: Lim, Liza Album: Musica Viva Vol. 47 Label: BR Klassik The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Technical production by Harvey O’Sullivan, Mickey Grossman and Ann-Marie Debettencor

The Veils frontman Finn Andrews joins Andy to talk about love, death, and Sinead O'Connor, all features of their latest and aptly named album Fragile World. Married couple Anna Maria Friman and Arve Henriksen are both Norwegian musicians who've benefited from Norway's remarkably genre-blind attitude to making music. She's a classical vocalist (one third of Trio Mediæval), he's a jazz trumpeter, and together they're teaming up with the Australian Chamber Orchestra for a program of Nordic music. The Veils are in Melbourne and Sydney 20 & 21 August, the new album Fragile World is out now. From Winter's Stillness with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Trio Mediæval and Arve Henrikson is on tour around Australia 25 July - 9 August. Music heard in the show: Title: Lungs, Aurora, Little White Bird, High Hopes Artist: The Veils Composer: Andrews, Finn Album: Fragile World Label: V2 Records Title: Det lisle bånet Artist: Trio Mediæval Composer: Trad. Album: Folk Songs Label: ECM Records Title: Acceptance Artist: Arve Henriksen Composer: Henriksen, Arve Album: Mental Fatigue Label: Arve Maria Music Title: St Magnus Hymn (Nobilis Humilis) Artist: Arve Henriksen, Trio Mediæval Composer: Trad. Album: Rímur Label: ECM Records The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Technical production by Harvey O’Sullivan, Mickey Grossman and Ann-Marie Debettencor

Ziggy Ramo, Leah Senior, and Kate Fagan join Andy to talk about the art of turning poetry into song. Recorded live at the 2026 Sydney Writers' Festival, in partnership with Red Room Poetry. Songs performed live: Ziggy Ramo: Little Things (after Kev Carmody and Paul Kelly) Leah Senior: The Arbour (text by Giles Watson) Kate Fagan: Child Upon the Road (Kate Fagan, based on Child Ballad #3, The False Knight Upon the Road) The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Technical production by Antonia Gauci and Harvey O'Sullivan

Electropop singer, songwriter and producer Montaigne took the plunge into the world of independent music after over a decade with a big label a couple of years back. Their first offering in the indie era is an album called it's hard to be a fish. But they've not left their earlier music behind entirely: Montaigne joins Andy to talk about taking their 2016 album Glorious Heights on the road in August. Elissa Goodrich is a composer and percussionist whose album Gene Tree is the result of her long-term engagement with climate science and genetics. She and her guitarist Elliot Folvig join Andy to explain how the DNA of moths and butterflies, the patterns of cells dividing and multiplying, and transcriptions of mRNA all part of the creative process. Gin Wigmore's last album was eight years ago. Since then she's got divorced, picked up sticks with her kids and moved from LA to her native Aotearoa New Zealand where she's been writing and recording music and running a deli. The new album is called Beautiful Mess and she performs it live in The Music Show studio.  Music heard in the show: Title: Replication Slippage Artist: Elissa Goodrich, Gideon Brazil, Elliott Folvig, Miranda Hill Composer: Goodrich, Elissa Album: Gene Tree Label: Independent release Title: Glorious Heights Artist: Montaigne Composer: Cerro, Jess Album: Glorious Heights Label: Sony Title: so fast in the water Artist: Montaigne Composer: Cerro, Jess Album: It’s hard to be a fish Label: Independent Title: Moth Returns to Mountain Ash I, The Other Moth, Moth Returns to Mountain Ash II Artist: Elissa Goodrich, Gideon Brazil, Elliott Folvig, Miranda Hill Composer: Goodrich, Elissa Album: Gene Tree Label: Independent release Title: Country Diamond, Tip of My Tongue Artist: Gin Wigmore Composer: Wigmore, Gin Album: Beautiful Mess Label: Universal The Music Show is produced on Gadigal, Gundungurra and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Technical production by Antonia Gauci and Harvey O’Sullivan