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.

JB Paterson - The Waltz

JB Paterson is the quintessential storyteller.

On his hypnotic new single, The Waltz, the Queensland singer-songwriter unveils something special from his Cedar Creek studio shack. The narrative-driven folk tune tells the story of an elderly couple who have sadly drifted apart.

According to Paterson, his characters are imperfect but real: John is a drinker who’s always up to something, while Suzanne eats seven meals a day. She has a heart of gold, and somehow, the pair find their way back to each other for their final waltz.

The song is taken from Paterson’s forthcoming album, Whole World's Gone Mad, And So Have I. The record is packed with social commentary about the Australian landscape and way of life, stories shared with humour, peace, and grace. Paterson continues to create in an independent, DIY fashion in his off-grid studio in Cedar Creek but will hit the road in 2025.

Jo Davie - Nothing Comes Free

Acoustic guitars, distorted electric guitar, and light drumming can’t distract from Jo Davie’s stunning, wistful voice. On Nothing Comes Free, the title track of her debut EP, the Australian singer-songwriter combines classic country with indie-folk stylings.

Davie, an honouree at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, channels her ancestors by sharing stories through song, highlighting tenderness and vulnerability on Nothing Comes Free that feels like the warmest blanket.

Nothing Comes Free is a three-song act that explores how easy it is to worry about something so much that one forgets to enjoy it, while Davie encourages us all to find beauty by living in the moment.

As a performer who’s performed at Australian events such as the Woodford Folk Festival, the National Folk Festival, and the Caloundra Music Festival, Davie is an expert at connecting with audiences and ensuring fans remember her name.

Wattmore - Romantic Side

Brisbane cowpunk duo Wattmore bring the fast-paced energy to their new single, Romantic Side. Bouncing around genres such as country, punk, and Americana, the pair duel with banjo playing and their strong melodies, Wattmore have once again proved why they’ve built such an impressive reputation in country, rock, and Americana circles.

Written by Wattmore’s Aiden and Kai Boak along with Australian country music royalty Allan Caswell, Romantic Side is a satirical and playful exploration of the dating industry, backed by a country hook and surprising punk twist. “Everyone wants to play on a Wattmore record,” Caswell said.

“We have been working on the songs for the first Wattmore album, that is very much underway, for over a year, and I’m really proud of the depth, quality and variety of the songs we have created.”

Caswell continued, “Aiden and Kai are constantly pushing the envelope in terms of feel and style, and their musicality amazes me at times. Wattmore runs on energy and a refusal to accept things that irritate them … (like bigotry, stupidity and bullying). They are prepared to take on any style and any subject as long as it is cool and, above all, entertaining.”

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