Michael Carpenter, Freight Train Foxes, Felicity Dowd: Highlights From This Week's 'Grass Roots'

Every week, ABC Country’s Grass Roots program shines a light on the best independently released country music. Selected from the hundreds of new tracks submitted, the one-hour program is now available on demand as well as premiering each Monday at 9 pm on ABC Country, showing the health of Aussie country music across all its sub-genres. Here are three of this week's tracks you should have on your radar. 

Head here to have a listen to this week’s full episode of Grass Roots.

Michael Carpenter - What Makes You Think (That I Want You)?

Back with his third solo single of the year, Michael Carpenter has returned with the energetic What Makes You Think (That I Want You)?.

A song that showcases Carpenter at his most confident, What Makes You Think… effortlessly combines his signature country rock twang with jangly guitars and indie rock inspirations – think Steve Earle, Motown, signature pop-rock melodies, and 90s country-inspired pedal steel.

Made with a bit of help from his friends, Carpenter joined forces with Jy-Perry Banks on pedal steel and Maddison Breen on backing vocals, while Carpenter sang, played drums, bass, electric and acoustic guitars, and keyboards. Plus, he produced, mixed, and mastered the track in Sydney.

Carpenter said of the song, “The inspiration for the track actually came from a day listening to 10CC. I’ve always loved the idea of the ‘denial of I’m Not In Love’, where the protagonist goes to great lengths to deny his true feelings. I was inspired by the love bubble I’m in with my own partner and felt it was the right time to write something similar thematically.”

Freight Train Foxes - Running On Empty

Queensland folk duo Freight Train Foxes – comprising songwriters Pat Kenny and Kelsey Berrington – came up with their latest single, Running On Empty, as part of their prize package after winning last year’s Groundwater KIX Start competition.

Running On Empty is a testament to the group’s artistic growth and songwriting prowess. For the song, the pair teamed up with producer Jared Adlam (James Johnston, Lee Kernaghan) and display an earthy, acoustic disposition akin to Noah Kahan and The Lumineers.

Explaining the meaning of the song, Freight Train Foxes said, “At times we can all feel like our tank is running on empty and we’re running on fumes. Sometimes we need to push through and reach the other side, and in other seasons, this feeling reminds us to pause and try another path. We’re all on our own journeys...”

Felicity Dowd - Rusty Nail

New South Wales-based troubadour Felicity Dowd has returned, offering her catchiest and perhaps her most country release to date.

Dowd premiered Rusty Nail ahead of a showcase appearance at AmericanaFest in Nashville next month. Written while she was sitting in a campground before a festival performance last year, Rusty Nail finds Dowd leaning into old-school country storytelling, featuring a raw acoustic edge, fiddle, and mandolin to bring the story to life.

Rusty Nail stars Josh Schuberth on drums and Rod Motbey on guitar. The song marks one of the first recordings Dowd has shared without backing vocals, a decision that lends Rusty Nail an extra layer of grit.

“It was almost reminiscent of Pony or Dolly Parton – that old country vibe,” Dowd explained. “And when I started playing it, I had so much fun. I thought, let’s lean into it. Let’s get some fiddle. Let’s get some mandolin.”

“It is probably the countriest thing I’ve ever done,” she added. “I’ve done a lot of serious releases – this one was written as a bit of fun, and it turned out to have this really cool vibe. I hope other people feel that too.”

You can listen to the latest full episode of ABC Country’s Grass Roots here.