Austin Mackay, Sally Jane & William Alexander: 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 9 pm 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.

Austin Mackay - Worth The Wait

Austin Mackay is an emerging country singer-songwriter from Newcastle, NSW. With his highly anticipated new single, Worth The Wait, he showcases his distinctive, tender, yet classic vocal set against a backdrop of driving guitars.

Blending folk with country and rock, Mackay unashamedly wears his influences on his sleeve, drawing from the singing and songwriting of Chris Stapleton, John Mayer, and KALEO. For his latest single, Mackay drew from his own personal journey of struggling with anxiety and the “constant pressures of the industry,” saying about the song and his forthcoming EP:

“This track, and the EP it’s part of, are all little snapshots of my recent life experiences. These songs all hold a place in my heart, and to get to share them with the world, knowing that they may offer a little comfort and reassurance to those listening, makes them all the more special to me.”

Sally Jane - Ain’t Afraid Of Dirt

Serpentine, WA-based singer-songwriter Sally Jane is completely herself and totally authentically country with her latest anthemic banger, Ain’t Afraid Of Dirt. Being the symbol for all the everyday girls unafraid to get their hands dirty, Sally Jane sings with youthful yet professional energy.

Written four years ago, Ain’t Afraid Of Dirt fuses traditional and modern country influences together, with the singer saying about the track:

“This song is about me. I love being outdoors whenever I get the opportunity, and I want to show my audience who I am. I hope to make listeners feel a little bit empowered - whether they’re girly girls who aren’t afraid of hard work or anyone who wants to go camping or just be themselves.”

William Alexander - All You Need To Do

All You Need To Do is classic country. Taken from William Alexander’s critically acclaimed album The Singing Stockman, the singer-songwriter shows off his abilities as a bush ballad vocalist. He yodels, sings with grace and commands listeners, and gets personal with the first song on his latest album.

The song features a dynamic steel guitar performance from Tommy Brooks, while Patrick Wilson plays the bass. Meanwhile, Alexander steals the show—not only with his surprising voice but also with his songwriting, which transports listeners to somewhere where time moves slowly and you watch the cattle by his side.

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