The reason why I have spent several years covering Australian country music on this website is simple: I listen to all types of music, but I believe Australian country music artists produce songs of an incredibly high standard lyrically and musically, and they do it consistently. The industry is excellent. Its artists should receive a lot more radio airplay than they do. And people around the nation – around the world – should know who they are.
The Australian country music industry – like every performance-based industry around the world right now – has been affected by the immediate disappearance of live shows. The good part is that the music is available everywhere, and many of us are going to be stuck at home for a while looking for distractions, so it’s a great opportunity to discover new music.
The following playlist is by no means prescriptive. It’s an introduction to Australian country music for those who may not know much about it, or know only a portion of it. It contains only artists who are currently working in the industry and who can be classified as emerged, rather than emerging. The songs are listed after the Spotify player.
Amber Lawrence – ‘The Man Across the Street’
Andrew Swift & Gretta Ziller – ‘Second Hand’
Andy Golledge – ‘Run to the River’
Ashleigh Dallas – ‘Dear Brother’
Beccy Cole – ‘Blackwood Hill’
Ben Leece – ‘Villains’
Bennett Bowtell & Urquhart – ‘Weeds’
Brad Butcher – ‘The Old Man’s Gone’
Brad Cox – ‘Water on the Ground’
Catherine Britt – ‘Charlestown Road’
Fanny Lumsden – ‘Land of Gold’
Felicity Urquhart – ‘So Go On’
Harmony James – ‘Home’
Hayley Marsten – ‘Wendy’
Kasey Chambers – ‘I Would Do’
Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes – ‘Big Fish’
Lee Kernaghan – ‘High Country’
Luke O’Shea – ‘Happy Australia Day’
Lyn Bowtell – ‘The Willow Tree’
The McClymonts – ‘This Ain’t Over’
Shane Nicholson – ‘Long Time Coming’
Tania Kernaghan – ‘Where the Murray Meets the Darling’
The Weeping Willows – ‘Devil’s Road’
The Wolfe Brothers – ‘Country Heart’
Troy Cassar-Daley – ‘Born to Survive’
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