Matt Ward Leads This Week's 'Grass Roots' Program

Each week, ABC Country shines a light on the best, in-demand country music on its Grass Roots program. Showcasing 90% Australian artists, just a handful of songs are chosen from hundreds of songs submitted each week.

The one-hour program is now available on demand as well as premiering each Monday at 9 pm on ABC Country, displaying the health of Aussie and international country music across all its sub-genres. Here are four of this week's tracks you should have on your radar. 

Head here to listen to this week’s full episode of Grass Roots.

Matt Ward – Red & Blue (The Norwood Song)

The latest offering from Adelaide alt-country artist Matt Ward is a tribute to his local footy team, the Norwood Football Club, famously known as ‘Paul Kelly’s footy team’. Following his March 2023 track, Nobody Told Me, which Countrytown premiered, Ward’s new single lifts the curtain on various cherished childhood memories that involved watching the Norwood ‘Redlegs’ play some footy.

Matt Ward is a two-time ARIA #1 Country recording artist and the mastermind behind Australia’s newest country music record label, Heartland Music Australia.

Maddie Cail – Drink With Me

Gold Coast singer-songwriter Maddie Cail makes earnest, heart-on-your-sleeve country music that’s taken her to the Gympie Music Muster and beyond. On Drink With Me, she tunes in to relatability and experiences we know all too well: trying to cope with the soaring cost of living crisis, losing jobs and finding new hardships post-pandemic.

Drink With Me is a refreshing song we all need to know; a track that unites and assists in forgetting your troubles.

Oliver Anthony – Rich Men North Of Richmond

This week’s international addition comes from none other than viral hitmaker Oliver Anthony. His track Rich Men North Of Richmond gained over 28 million views in 12 days on YouTube and continues to grow in popularity. Within days, the song leapt to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has seen Oliver Anthony become a redheaded, gruff, blue-collar icon for the people.

Natalie Pearson – Is He Happy?

Perth-born, Queensland-based artist Natalie Pearson has been one of our artists to watch in 2023, and her new single, Is He Happy, proves exactly why that’s been the case. On her latest country-pop ballad, Pearson explores the many complexities of moving forward after a relationship while still cherishing the memories of what once was.

Pearson has also recently been nominated for the Artist Of The Year award at the Gold Coast Music Awards.

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