Hazel & The Thief, Beth Lucas & Dave Kent: 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.

Hazel & The Thief - The Olden Days

A song that’s actually a dream 20 years in the making, Heidi Luckhurst has finally released her debut single. The Olden Days, released under the moniker Hazel & The Thief, is a heartfelt country ballad bathed in nostalgia and fun about embracing childhood innocence no matter how old you are.

The Olden Days arrives after Hazel & The Thief enjoyed a stint opening for Fanny Lumsden on her sold-out Australian tour dates. The song brings the soothing qualities of living in the Mornington region in Victoria while sharing traditional country music with folk and a touch of ‘90s rock, especially in the raw energy.

Hazel describes the new song as follows: “It’s about remembering those happy-go-lucky moments when every day felt like an adventure and the world was our oyster. It’s also about cherishing those special childhood memories. Unleash your inner child, and let the dance floor become your playground once again as we take you on a memorable journey.”

Beth Lucas - One Stoplight Town

Beth Lucas is all about fun on her new single, One Stoplight Town. A song about finding young love in a small town, One Stoplight Town was written by Lucas and recorded at Airlock Studios as part of the prize for her win at last year’s Ekka Country Music Showdown.

For the song, Lucas enlisted her live band: Peter Eckel (banjo), Scott Eckel (drums), Daniel Colborne (bass), and Daniel Henwood (electric and lead guitar). She recorded the song with James See, with mixing and mastering from James North.

Lucas told Countrytown about the track, “I wanted to sing about that feeling of young love, and I wanted to relate those first-time feelings with the imagery of growing up in a small town. First love really can feel like speeding down the highway, everything moving quickly but you only have eyes for each other.”

Dave Kent - Honky Tonk Dreams

Dave Kent is back with another pearler of a tune, a purely Australian country song anchored by acoustic guitar and a slide. Co-written with multiple Golden Guitar winner Luke O’Shea and produced by James Newhouse, Kent muses on feeling more at home in America – got himself some Honky Tonk Dreams – despite living in Australia.

Honky Tonk Dreams is a very personal song from Kent, finding the singer reflecting on his life wearing cowboy hats, boots, and jeans in gritty outback pubs. Hailing from South West WA, Kent paints an unforgettable picture as he helps listeners escape the daily grind.

In his lyrics, Kent pays tribute to those who have influenced him, including Alan Jackson. It’s an incredibly soulful song you can’t help singing along to.

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