Playing: Songs for Lost Highway tonight

Tune in to 2XXfm - 98.3 in Canberra. 9.30 til 11.

Walking after midnight Cowboy Junkies 6:02 The trinity sessions

Languid bluesy cover of a great Patsy Cline song

Spaceball Ricochet Marc Bolan 4:42 Acoustic Warrior

Better known for his glam-rock with T.Rex in the early 70s, Marc Bolan put out a great album of acoustic tracks

World On A String Neil Young 2:25 Tonight's The Night

A lesser-known Neil Young track from one of his sadder, more personal albums.

Central Reservation (Spiritual Life - Ibadan Edit) Beth Orton 4:04 Central Reservation

A lively remix that doesn't overwhelm the beauty of the original song

Promise What You Will Iron & Wine 2:24 The Creek Drank The Cradle

Moving back to something a little more low-key, sweet gentle voices work well with slightly rough-hewn guitar

Woman Of Ireland Weddings Parties Anything 2:47 Trophy Night

A good Weddos party song, with a pacey beat, rockin' accordion (now that's something you don't get to say often) and Michael Thomas' passionate vocals

I'll Fly Away Alison Krauss & Gillian Welch 3:57 O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Old-time bluegrass gospel sung by a couple of angels

Labour Of Love Frente! 3:10 Whirled

One of my favourite lo-fi acoustic songs of the 90s, I remember playing this over and over at times. Check the recorder solo.

Liar Randall Blair And The Wedded Bliss 4:57 Tattoos And Taillights

The more I hear from this local outfit, the more hopeful I become about the Canberra music scene - can't really compare them to anyone but listen and enjoy.

No Reason To Cry The Go-Betweens 3:53 Oceans Apart

One of the best Oz bands ever, everything in this song (from their last proper album) just works - I noticed there is a tribute album to the Go-Betweens out now (Write your adventures down) which I will chase up.

You turn me on I'm a radio Joni Mitchell 2:39 Hits

One for the Pussycat but it's quickly becoming a personal fave as well. Joni's sassy and smooth :)

Amnesia Machine Translations 3:33 Happy

It's a mystery how Machine Translations has flown below the radar for so long, everything they do is so special and unique. (J Walker has played with a band in recent years after doing the whole thing solo for a long time)

Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole Martha Wainwright 3:14 Martha Wainwright

Martha vents a few issues and everyone gets to enjoy it.

Warren's Waltz Dirty Three 7:06 Sad & Dangerous

Another fantastic but under-rated Oz outfit, the Dirty 3 play some amazingly emotional tunes with just a violin, guitar and drums. Here's an early one.

Harry Was A Bad Bugger Tex, Don & Charlie 5:19 All Is Forgiven

Fantastic story telling in a nearly spoken song from some music greats, playing together because they enjoy it.

Just Twisted Penelope Swales 5:57 Justifying Your Longings To The Doctor

Bouncy, acoustic tunes from a strong woman with a bunch of talent.

Casimir Pulaski Day Sufjan Stevens 5:53 Illinois

This guy just writes some amazing songs - he's working on a project apparently to write an album about each American state, this is from the second - Illinois. (Michigan was first)

Helpless k.d. lang 4:15 Hymns Of The 49th Parallel

One Canuck pays tribute to another - kd lang sings Neil Young and it sounds great.

Thirteen Elliott Smith 2:43 New Moon

Another great cover from a sorely missed acoustic maestro - this time of a Big Star track.