Ruby Jane, The Buckleys, Tate Cole: 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.

Ruby Jane - Charlie’s Bar

Rising Australian musical talent Ruby Jane knows how to bring country to your local pub.

On her thrilling, highly memorable song Charlie’s Bar, Jane brings buckets of energy to the mid-tempo banger, her twang seamlessly blending with ripping guitar solos, violin, and driving drums.

Jane cites Slim Dusty and Dolly Parton as key inspirations in her music. She’s a graduate of the CMAA Academy of Country Music and holds a diploma in music, which she achieved in 2022.

Charlie’s Bar was born after numerous nights spent at CMC Rocks—where she’ll appear this weekend as part of the Back Forty 2025 Emerging Artists initiative.

The Buckleys - See Your Folks Again

With a soothing acoustic melody, the latest single from The Buckleys, See Your Folks Again, plays into their cheeky side.

Siblings Sarah, Lachlan, Molly, and Dylan embrace an organic country sound, displaying a lyric-driven story of missing a former partner’s family, friends, and dog—but not them.

Sarah said of the band’s playful new track, “When we got into the studio, our only goal and intention was to pull out the most raw and honest emotion and tell some real stories.

“I think that comes with age and the fact that we’re all sorta entering a new phase in our lives - when we were introduced onto the scene, we were literally teenagers! So, it’s exciting to show people more depth as we find it ourselves.

Tate Cole - Purgatory

Tate Cole knows how to make his mark on the Australian country music scene.

With his debut single, Purgatory, Cole sings like a veteran country star with epic stories to tell. Backed by a band playing all your favourite instruments—including fiddle—the song contains layers of fun and excitement.

Cole was raised on his family’s farm in Southeastern Queensland, where he developed his love of country music while he attended rodeos. Inspired by the authentic stories and sounds of country music, Cole has embraced elements of traditional country and ‘90s music but with his own spin on both.

As for Purgatory’s themes, the song is a journey through love and how it can change lives. Its central figure is a travelling troubadour who meets his soulmate, a woman who changes his ways and rescues him from eternal damnation.

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