Miss Chatelaine

Katie plays fabulous songs by artists from Chicago, California, south-east Queensland, Narrm/Melbourne, Gunaikurnai/Gippsland, Meanjin/Brisbane and Kaurna/Adelaide. They include probably one of the few pop songs ever to use both turntable scratches and Gregorian chant, a rollicking new version of a traditional Appalachian folk song, an early contender for Katie’s favourite song of the year,...

Today’s first hour features beautiful songs about transitioning between emotional states, a beloved old guitar, the joys of home, camping under the stars, staying hopeful after having your heart broken, and more. Here is the playlist: La petite mort – Nick Batterham Ayodele – Chloe Marks & The Mayhem Blue Skies – Ryan Bingham & The Texas Gentlemen Lavender – Elke Louie Hush (Chicago Versio...

It’s another hour of sublime folk, alt-country, blues, acoustic and roots music to nourish your soul. The local and international artists include Swedish singer-songwriter and guitarist José González, Gold Coast–based singer-songwriter and producer Matthew Collins, American blues legend Taj Mahal, and Meanjin-based autistic brothers Aiden and Kai Boak, aka Wattmore. Here is the playlist: A Dream,...

Katie chats about rainy weather and rainbow lorikeets and plays beautiful music by artists from Victoria’s Surf Coast, Phillip Island, Narrm/Melbourne, Meanjin/Brisbane, Sydney, London and Dublin. There are songs about autistic masking, an Irishman who fought for the British in World War I, loving a person who is stuck in the past, the life of a musician, and more. Here is the playlist: Mothersong...

Katie talks about her work with the Ruby Demons , the queer supporter group of the Melbourne Football Club, during another hour of great music. The songs come from superb new albums by Nashville-based artists Braison Cyrus and Mitski, North Carolina–based trans folk artist Anjimile, central Victorian bluesman Julian James, Narrm-based band Tinman, and more. Here is the playlist: Bottom Line – Kim...

Katie has a cold, but that doesn’t stop her from presenting a show full of great new songs on themes of Australian polymath and hero Arnold Dix, trust, letting go of fear, women being historically positioned as sources of temptation, distraction or blame rather than as human beings navigating systems of power, and more. Here is the playlist: Fiona – Estelle Conley Too Soon – Shewita Sunday Service...

Katie plays new songs by Australian music stalwarts Katie Noonan, Josh Pyke and Katy Steele, alongside lesser-known local artists Dan Cully and William Crighton. There’s also superb new music from a member of the band Radiohead, the important new album from War Child Records, queer Canadian artist Rose Cousins, and English songwriter Ivor Game. Here is the playlist: Blue Morpho – Ed O’Brien This I...

Katie plays gorgeous new releases by artists based in Newcastle, Sydney, south-east New South Wales, Narrm/Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula, London and Washington, DC. The songs have themes of growing up, self-pity, living as a couple, identity, sibling love, keeping up with a fast-paced life, and more. Here is the playlist: Better Still – Amy Vee This Is Not My Place – Tim Withano Growing Up –...

Katie shares more about her time at the 2026 National Folk Festival, as well as some experiences she has had at this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival. She plays a track from the important new album from War Child Records, and new songs by local and international artists. Here is the playlist: Sunday Morning – Beth Gibbons & War Child Records I Won’t Forget You – Kim O’Leary The Q...

Katie recaps the 2026 National Folk Festival, which she attended last week in Canberra. She was particularly interested in the new Australian organisation Folk the System , which describes itself as “a space for folk musicians and activists to connect and organise for positive change and resistance”, and which hosted a number of events during the festival. Meanwhile, the fabulous new albums and EP...

Another hour of fabulous new releases, including by queer artists Will Edgar and Brandi Carlile, Victorian Surf Coast singer-songwriter and producer Melody Moon, Miss Chat favourite Jack Carty, and 83-year-old Australian folk legend Dave de Hugard. There’s also a tune by Narrm-based artist moonsea with one of the best song titles ever! Here is the playlist: All the Love – Melody Moon Hold You Clos...

Today’s first hour features songs about storms, relationship conflicts, how the past intrudes into the present, the importance of community, unrequited love, losing a loved one to Alzheimer’s, and more. The artists are from Melbourne, Ballarat, Daylesford, Gippsland, Fremantle and the USA. Here is the playlist: This Morning/U/The Rain – Sea Swallow Back to School – Alan Fletcher Whiskey Driven – D...

Katie spends an hour in the JOY studio with the grande dame of Australian folk music, queer icon Judy Small AM. As well as being a celebrated singer-songwriter, Judy is a former judge of the Federal Circuit Court and former chair of the Midsumma Festival Board. Judy and Katie talk about Judy’s recent announcement on her Facebook page that she has been diagnosed with Lewy body disease, a neurodegen...

Katie plays exceptional new releases by artists based in Aotearoa/New Zealand, England, Narrm/Melbourne, Sydney, the NSW Northern Rivers, the Gold Coast, and Fort Worth, Texas. She also tells a story about encountering a fellow JOY presenter In the wild during the week! Here is the playlist: Mother’s Mother – alayna Downstream – Cooee This Is All for You – Kelly Brouhaha You, Me & the Moon – B...

Katie talks to Irish singer-songwriter Gráinne Hunt and US drummer and singer Jules Stewart, partners in life and love, in the JOY studio at the beginning of their Australian tour. The chat covers how Gráinne and Jules met, the difference between traditional Irish folk music and what is called ‘nu-folk’, Gráinne and Jules’s friendship with Australian lesbian duo and Miss Chat favourites Great Aunt...

And the excellent new albums keep on coming! Katie plays tracks from some of them, including those by fast-rising Narrm singer-songwriter and guitarist Steph Strings, beloved Meanjin pop artist Meg Washington, Tennessee-based ‘Afro-Appalachian’ folk artist Mon Rovîa, US trans artist Anjimile, and gay Canadian country musician Orville Peck. Here is the playlist: Feel Alive – Steph Strings Bloodline...

Katie previews the 49th Port Fairy Folk Festival , which takes place from 6 to 9 March 2026, by playing tracks by some of the outstanding artists on the festival line-up. They include several of the queer artists appearing this year and songs with queer themes, as well as some particular Miss Chat favourites. Here is the playlist: Petrichor – Steve Poltz Magnets – Gráinne Hunt Tie It Onto Me – Kau...

Katie plays tracks from some of the many new and recent album releases, including those by Irish folk duo Ye Vagabonds, American-Japanese singer-songwriter Mitski, Aotearoa/NZ ‘progressive bluegrass’ band You, Me, Everybody, Narrm/Melbourne soul/jazz outfit Jake Mason Trio, US queer artist Brandi Carlile, and more. Here is the playlist: Young Again – Ye Vagabonds I’ll Change for You – Mitski...

Today’s second hour features beautiful new songs by past Miss Chatelaine guests The Milk Carton Kids and MAXON, a timely protest song by Australian legend Ben Lee, tracks from excellent debut albums by American singer-songwriter Tyler Ballgame and Narrm/Melbourne favourite Loretta Miller, and more. Here is the playlist: Life and Time – Mike Reid & Joe Henry Here All Night (Ode to Procrastinati...

The songs in this hour, by artists based in Sweden, French Polynesia, Meanjin/Brisbane, western New South Wales, Sydney, Narrm/Melbourne and lutruwita/Hobart, explore themes of meeting the challenges of the future, what it means to be famous, making difficult choices, escaping our chaotic world, surrender and growth, calling out negative self-talk, love, and surviving a break-up. Here is the playl...

Darwin singer-songwriter and producer Tracey Bunn started making music around 20 years ago with Gleny Rae in the Toe Sucking Cowgirls . She joins Katie in the JOY studio for a chat about her excellent 2025 album Another Broken Juliet , collaborating with other artists, the music scene in Darwin, and more. The hour also features a track from the stunning new album by Liberian-American artist Mon Ro...

Katie plays new and recent tracks by artists based in Narrm/Melbourne, Point Lonsdale (Victoria), Sydney, Meanjin/Brisbane, Canada and Los Angeles. Some of the artists are well known and well loved; others are new and have only been releasing music for a couple of years. All of them are great! Here is the playlist: Change of the Wind – The Paper Kites The Price – Katelyn Tarver Into the Wind – Mar...

The second hour of Katie’s first show since taking a few weeks’ break features more tracks that were released while she was away or that she missed in the last few months of 2025, plus three awesome new protest songs that capture the spirit of those opposing various tyrannies around the world. Here is the playlist: Natural Beauty – Meg Washington Nightwire – DINGO Sail Away – The Last Dinner...

Katie is back after a few weeks’ break and very happy to be in the JOY studios again! In the first hour she plays nine beautiful new and recent songs by Australian artists and one by a New Zealand artist. The music styles include soul, pop, folk, bluegrass and more. Here is the playlist: Love Is on My Mind – Fatai Rise Up Early With the Sun – Daniel J Townsend & The Wild Twin Ice Cream – Merry...

In the last hour before she takes a few weeks break, Katie plays a few more new releases and some seasonally appropriate tunes. She talks about the one-year anniversary of her dad’s death, why she’ll never play traditional Christmas carols on Miss Chatelaine, and her gratitude to her listeners and her faithful podcaster, Penn. Here is the playlist: This Is a Drill – Anna Smyrk Candle in the Dark –...