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 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.

Kane Vincent - Sarah

Making music out of the regional hub of Echuca, Victoria, Kane Vincent has proved why going from chef to full-time musician is the best decision he could have made.

On the bubbly, bright new single Sarah, Vincent took lessons from a songwriting retreat with collaborators Gretta Ziller, Anna Farquhar and Kate Dukes, transforming a song about a lonely man that could have been despondent into something that sounds the opposite.

Throughout the verses, Vincent found inspiration in brain chemicals such as dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin. The singer-songwriter said, “We rejigged the chorus and one of them suggested, ‘What if Serotonin was a girl’s name?’ That’s when it became about pining for Sarah to come back.

“Gretta pushed me out of my comfort zone musically—I would never have had the balls to do the soaring vocals in front of people without her encouragement.”

The Audreys - Beatles V Stones

Exploring the age-old rivalries between fans of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, Australian folk-country outfit The Audreys have released an enchanting ode to both bands on Beatles V Stones.

The next single from the group’s forthcoming album Ruin And Repair, luscious melodies are layered with swooning instrumentation that nods to the storytelling style of Jason Isbell.

Their first album in eleven years, The Audreys’ upcoming album also marks their first full-length single the devastating passing of founding member Tristan Goodall.

Singer Taasha Coates said, “I was quite depressed when I wrote this. I struggled a lot with depression after my best friend, songwriting partner and original Audrey, Tristan, died in 2022, but once I'd gotten through the initial grief, I found the process of writing and recording this album very healing.

“I still miss him and have sad days of course, but I know he would have loved this record and that makes me really proud and happy.”

Rufous Whistler - National Panic 

Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Rufous Whistler – aka Vinny Russell – has showcased how powerful good songwriting can be on his new single, National Panic.

A track that captures the tension of living in uncertain times, with the anxiety, resilience and collective unrest honoured, Whistler highlights natural storytelling ability with a uniquely Australian tale, backed by entrancing instrumentation.

Whistler’s lyricism is urgent and the instrumentation urgent, balancing vulnerability with the energy of an anthem of the making. One of Australia’s most compelling new voices in modern folk music, Whistler and his band will perform over 40 shows across the country this year.

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