Lachlan Bryan, Dear Tommie & Graeme Connors: 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.

Lachlan Bryan And The Wildes – The Continuing Saga

The Continuous Saga is a joyous slice of slinky, ‘70s-esque singer-songwriter-inspired mischief that appears to be a story-song, but chooses to avoid earnest, linear storytelling and instead leaves the details to the listener’s imagination. The characters’ names, genders and intentions are left deliberately ambiguous, but it’s safe to assume that a) they’re having a good time, and b) they’re probably going to get in trouble for it later!

Dear Tommie – Winter In July

Hailing from Australia’s country music capital in Tamworth, the authentic farm girl proves with Winter In July that she’s unafraid to take risks musically while telling a tale of falling in love with a man who has a gypsy soul. Influenced by Bruce Springsteen, Megan Moroney and Zach Bryan, Dear Tommie is behind some of today’s biggest hits and is credited as co-producer of Bella McKenzie’s smash-hit COWBOY. Her music is a tribute to her heritage and the reconnection to her roots, compelled by passion.

Graeme Connors & Kelly Dixon – The Ringer’s Retired

The Ringer’s Retired is a stunning collaboration between two of Australia’s most respected and award-winning songwriters, Graeme Connors and Kelly Dixon. Now 96 years old, Dixon penned over 40 songs for the late Slim Dusty (including the hit Leave Him In The Longyard). The Ringer’s Retired is as genuine as its creators with lyrics reminiscent of Australian classics penned by Henry Lawson and Banjo Patterson – its melody memorable and its lyrics reflecting two of our great storytellers in their prime.

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