Melanie Dyer, Babe Rollins & Nicolette And The Nobodies: 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.

Melanie Dyer – Had To Be There

Melanie Dyer continues to cement herself as one of the hottest talents in Aussie country music. Had To Be There is the follow-up single to Honeymoonin’, which recently saw her land in the Top Five of the Countrytown Hot 50 national airplay chart. The in-demand artist and songwriter says Had To Be There captures how you can’t really explain exactly how you felt within a magic moment – you just had to be there!

Babe Rollins – Honest Cowboy

Babe Rollins’ bio states that “if Dolly Parton was trapped inside the body of an Australian man and was forced to write mediocre indie country pop, it would almost sound like what Babe Rollins is trying to achieve”. Definitely not mediocre, Babe shines bright, bringing forth a fresh Aussie take on classic country. Hailing from Western Sydney, this Honest Cowboy lives up to his name and is one not to be missed.

Nicolette & The Nobodies – Better Days

The vibe on Nicolette & The Nobodies is growing daily thanks to the pocket rocket’s powerhouse vocal and a musical style that harks back to the golden years of strong female country. Think Loretta meets Connie Smith with a dash of Neko Case and you’ve got the picture. Hailing from Canada, Nicolette & The Nobodies brings more American twang than the best of them. Check out the album The Long Way and prepare to have your socks blown off. This record will make Nicolette & The Nobodies ‘somebodies’!

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