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Songwriting Inspirations #3: from Elizabeth Cotton to Nick Cave

6 Music Artist in ResidenceCourtney Barnett
Episode 3 of 4

6 Music Festival 2026 headliner Courtney Barnett shares her songwriting inspirations.

Ahead of headlining this year's 6 Music Festival in Greater Manchester, Sydney singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett shares tracks which have inspired her over the past three years while working on her new album Creature Of Habit. This playlist includes tracks from Elizabeth Cotton, Nick Cave, and some duets that inspired the new album's harmonies.

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Yesterday23:00
BBC Radio 6 Music

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Songwriting Inspirations #2: from Paul McCartney to PeachesCourtney Barnett

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Songwriting Inspirations #4: from Nina Simone to The Beastie BoysCourtney Barnett

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Music Played

  • Neil Young & Crazy Horse

    Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere

    • Reprise.

  • Elyse Weinberg

    Houses

    • Greasepaint Smile.
    • Numero Group.
    • 3.

  • Elizabeth Cotten

    Freight Train

    • The Roots of It All - Acoustic Blues - The Definitive Collection, Vol. 2.
    • Bear Family Records GmbH.
    • 52.

  • Vashti Bunyan

    I'd Like To Walk Around In Your Mind

    • Some Things Just Stick In Your Mind.
    • Branch Music Ltd..
    • 7.

  • Lucinda Williams

    Fruits Of My Labor

    • World Without Tears.
    • Lost Highway/IGA.
    • 1.

  • Aretha Franklin

    Think

    • Aretha Franklin - Queen Of Soul.
    • Atlantic.

  • Harry Nilsson

    Everybody's Talkin'

    • Aerial Ballet.
    • RCA/Legacy.
    • 7.

  • Kim Deal

    Crystal Breath

    • 4AD.

  • PJ Harvey

    Down By The Water

    • Island.

  • Robert Wyatt

    Just As You Are

    • Different Every Time.
    • Domino Recording Co.
    • 13.

  • Tracy Chapman

    Talkin' Bout A Revolution

    • Elektra.

  • Roy Orbison & k.d. lang

    Crying

    • The Best Of Roy Orbison.
    • Columbia.
    • 7.

  • Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash

    It Ain't Me Babe

    • Carryin' On With Johnny Cash And June Carter.
    • Columbia Nashville Legacy.
    • 3.

  • Mickey & Sylvia Robinson

    Love Is Strange

    • Boot 'Em Up: The Groove Records Collection, Vol. 3.
    • Supreme Media.
    • 7.

  • Bob Dylan & Joan Baez

    With God on Our Side (Live at Philharmonic Hall, New York, NY - October 1964)

    • The Bootleg Volume 6: Bob Dylan Live 1964 - Concert At Philharmonic Hall.
    • Columbia/Legacy.
    • 6.

  • Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton

    Islands In The Stream

    • The Greatest Love (Various Artists).
    • Telstar.

  • Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

    Breathless

    • Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus.
    • Mute, a BMG Company.
    • 2.

  • The Jimi Hendrix Experience

    Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)

    • Polydor.

Broadcast

  • Yesterday23:00
    BBC Radio 6 Music