The Pleasures, Axe And The Ivory, Alan Fletcher & Jennifer Hansen: 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 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.

The Pleasures – Where The Money Goes

Australian folk/country music duo The Pleasures – Catherine Britt and Lachlan Bryan – are back with Where The Money Goes, proving with the rousing track why they’ve won over audiences in Australia and internationally.

The song was co-written by Britt and Bryan, with the pair providing a somewhat “cautionary tale.” The driving country tune finds them harmonising throughout the whole song, and accompanied by the banjo, percussion, and reverb-drenched electric guitar.

Like their best songs, Where The Money Goes is direct and showcases just how well the duo work together. The new single arrives ahead of The Pleasures’ tour dates in Australia from November through to January.

Axe And The Ivory – Give It All To Me

Best mates who grew up playing music together, Axe And The Ivory from Adelaide, South Australia, have provided a bluegrass-inspired folk tune that’s packed with harmonies and epic singalong moments.

Starring two lead vocalists who deliver impressive harmonies, Give It All To Me features an energetic banjo solo (then a harmonica solo), commanding guitar, and the kind of energy you need in your life.

Give It All To Me was written by Ben Lovell and explores themes of waiting and hoping for “the one” to magically appear and praying that no chance is wasted. If you do somehow waste that chance, Axe And The Ivory share a hopeful turn about a potential second chance.

Alan Fletcher & Jennifer Hansen – Tell Em

Alan Fletcher and Jennifer Hansen, an adorable husband-and-wife team, have shared a heartwarming and nostalgic tune about love—specifically, first love, and just how deep that love can be.

Natural storytellers, the pair harmonise while the steel guitar adds a mournful edge to the song. Tell Em follows a couple who have broken up but still have feelings for each other, never sharing the depth of their emotions.

With their song, Fletcher and Hansen bring their appreciation of George Jones and Tammy Wynette duets to the spotlight, making their own duet shine with their unique style.

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