Features · 29 October 2026

Granite Island Discs: Sammy Gilchrist

The newly appointed Content Lead at The Note (and member of local band The Fuss) chats Ball Park Music, Florence + the Machine and Reading Festival.

By The Note Staff

Sammy Gilchrist - photo by Mitchell Jarrett

What five songs would you take to a desert island?

1. Ball Park Music – 'Stars in My Eyes'

2. Florence + the Machine – 'Never Let Me Go'

3. Geese – 'I See Myself'

4. Catfish and the Bottlemen – 'Hourglass'

5. Radiohead – 'High & Dry'

If you could only pick one, what would it be?

Probably 'Stars in My Eyes' by Ball Park Music. It's the perfect blend of nostalgia, melancholy and hope. It never gets old, so I think I could manage listening to this for the rest of my life on an island.

What's your favourite album?

You can't make me choose just one.

Lungs by Florence + The Machine will ALWAYS hold a special place in my heart, and this album is no exception. I remember being eight years old and driving around with my mum; we'd shove the CD into the player every time we hopped in. I would always request 'Kiss With A Fist', and I don't think I had any idea what I was listening to.

Lemonade by Beyoncé, maybe a little bit left field, but this record soundtracked some big times in my life and will forever be special. You've never quite felt this level of rage through your speakers, I'll tell you that for free…

The Balcony by Catfish and the Bottlemen is a record with bangers after bangers. Discovering Catfish and the Bottlemen during this era was an unmatched feeling, but I’m still mad they cancelled their Australian tour.

Slideshows by Thirsty Merc is one of the albums loaded onto my first MP3 player (thanks, Dad). So Australian and so much fun, with the perfect level of 2000s pop-rock magic (and a touch of cringe).

What's your favourite song by an SA artist or band?

TOWNHOUSE – 'Lobotomy? You Barely Know Me'. I remember listening to this track on a stroll around the neighbourhood, and my jaw dropping at the guttural emotion and heart-wrenching lyrics. The only way to describe the feeling of this song is OUCH – but I willingly put myself through it over and over again.

Favourite music-related memory?

So many incredible memories are music-related, so here are a few: getting to open for The Rions at Hindley Street Music Hall, dancing in the rain to Florence + The Machine at Reading Festival, sweating through every piece of clothing at Fontaines D.C. in Melbourne, singing to Paul Kelly at WOMAD, screaming every word of 'Teal' at Wunderhorse… I could go on.