Andy Golledge, Lady Lyon & Mark Wilkinson: Highlights From This Week’s ‘Grass Roots’

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

Andy Golledge – Young, Dumb & Wild

Tamworth’s pride and joy, Andy Golledge is back, bold and better than ever with the title track to his sophomore album. On the single, Golledge said, “It’s anything but a song about being young, dumb and wild; it's more about holding onto that inner child that helps you create more freely. It reflects my efforts to come to terms with performance anxiety and setting myself free on stage.”

Lady Lyon – Blaze

Lady Lyon, a mesmerising artist hailing from Sydney via the Central Coast, captivates audiences with their enchanting blend of cowgirl blues – music that is pure allure, simultaneously threatening and sumptuous and draws listeners into a world of nostalgia and emotional depth. Their distinct alt-country and rock sound is both familiar and fresh, thanks to their relatable and nuanced lyrics paired with unconventional melodies. Lady Lyon invite their listeners on a journey into the darker parts of their hearts, inviting them to immerse themselves in the introspective narratives they weave.

Mark Wilkinson – Fair-Weather Friend

Lifted from Australian singer-songwriter Mark Wilkinson’s latest EP Golden Afternoon, minted in Nashville with producer Owen Lewis (Rhiannon Giddens, Old Sea Brigade). The record expands upon the themes of his 2022 release Mariposa, as Mark juxtaposes uncertainty with confidence for the future. Fair-Weathered Friend is full of vulnerability both lyrically and musically, with sparse instrumentation giving way to Mark’s intimate vocals. It’s testament to Wilkinson’s far reaching audiences, cementing him as one of Australia’s most hardworking and resonant voices.

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