Piper Butcher, Wade Forster & Sweet Talk: 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.

Piper Butcher – Turn The Key

Turn The Key marks a huge comeback for Newcastle’s Piper Butcher, getting it’s official launch via triple j Unearthed and scoring instant high rotation on ABC Country. The youngster has been honing her craft for a long time and has gone from strength to strength. Of late, she has supported acts including Boy & Bear, You Am I, Melody Moko and Tori Forsyth, among many others. Piper has also just been announced as part of the first artist release for Dashville Skyline in October alongside Ross Wilson & The Peaceniks, Kingswood, William Crighton and Small Town Romance. If Turn The Key is any indiction, Piper Butcher is here to stay.

Wade Forster – Off The Drugs

Off The Drugs is the first single for Wade Forster after being crowded 2024 Toyota Star Maker. The song was written after attending the 2023 CMAA Academy of Country Music. Its toughened lyrics, touching on the dangers of addiction and depression, are definitely hard for some. Forster is currently touring with Lane Pittman, and he’s been announced as support for US star Tyler Hubbard’s upcoming Australian tour. Forster is an Australian superstar in the making.

Sweet Talk – Real Good Cookin’

Melbourne six-piece Sweet Talk return with their latest banger, Real Good Cookin’. The band has had a stellar run of major festivals including Riverboats and Bluesfest, where Kasey Chambers surprised fans by joining the boys on stage. They also supported US Americana superstar Charley Crockett on his Australian tour earlier in the year. Sweet Talk has just be announced as part of the Groundwater Country Music Festival in October, and will tour with The Whitlams Black Stump at select shows later in the year.

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