Piper Butcher, Roger Knox, Jade & The Lilts: 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 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.

Piper Butcher - Start Of Something

Piper Butcher was crowned the CMAA Young Achiever of the Year in 2024, and it’s easy to see why, listening to Start Of Something.

With a soft, entrancing vocal, she shows off her effortless range on her latest single. Co-produced by Kasey Chambers and Brandon Dodd, Butcher captures a ‘70s country meets rock atmosphere blended with modern storytelling.

Butcher revealed that the mid-tempo, instant classic was inspired by local author Susan Francis, whom she met at last year’s Words and Music showcase at the Newcastle Writers Festival.

She explained, “I had stumbled across the story of a Newcastle woman, and how she wrote a book purely telling her truths about her adoption, and how she met her soulmate later in her life. I was truly inspired by Susan’s humbleness and patience with all of her tragic dilemmas through her years, and I knew I had to channel some of her ongoing positivity to write this song.”

Roger Knox - Prison Wall

Prison Wall feels like a timeless country song, focused on telling a story as its singers and instrumentalists shine.

Gomeroi songman and storyteller Roger Knox, AKA the Koori King of Country, teamed up with Chicago-based artist and songwriter Jon Langford. Meanwhile, Buddy Knox is on backing vocals, and Jason Walker is on guitar and backing vocals.

It’s a simple song, in terms of arrangement, with Roger, Buddy and Jason Walker singing a moving track along with Walker’s acoustic guitar playing. Knox commented, “I’ve been performing in prisons for many years. It’s a place where you have to give it everything you’ve got.”

Prison Wall has been lifted from Knox’s upcoming sixth album, which will be his first album to contain his original songs. Buluunarbi And The Old North Star will be released in mid-2025 on CD, vinyl, and digital platforms.

Jade & The Lilts - Little Birdie

Far North Queensland group Jade & The Lilts have carved a niche for themselves with their indie, alt-country brand of storytelling.

Their latest song, Little Birdie, is whimsical and fun. It features “classic cowboy chords” anchored by acoustic and electric guitars, drums, and bass guitar. It feels like a song anyone can play along to, making for a laid-back, emotionally charged piece of music.

Led by songwriter Jade Watson, the group’s brand of simple yet powerful music captures the essence of Watson’s creative philosophy, which finds her embracing simplicity and the joy of playing with friends.

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