Sunburnt Country Music
Sophie Hamley interviews Australian country music artists for her website Sunburnt Country Music. New interviews are released in this podcast, featuring Golden Guitar winners like Amber Lawrence and Luke O'Shea. Artists discuss their songs, songwriting, performance, and creativity.
Episodes
Zac & George make a splash with Call it a Day
Short versionCountry-pop duo Zac & George have released the upbeat and uplifting debut album Call it a Day and are about to embark on the first dates of their tour. Zac tells us all about their music and how it all started.Long versionWhen Zac & George started releasing music, their upbeat, uplifting country-pop sound was infectious. Almost straightaway they started winning fans, and one o
Lee Kernaghan roars back with new single ‘4X4 is King’
Short versionAustralian country music icon Lee Kernaghan releases his first new single in several years with ‘4X4 is King’, a high-energy ode to the joys of offroad driving, and prepares for his big 2027 Tamworth show.Long versionIt’s been several years since Australian country music icon Lee Kernaghan released new recorded music, although he has in no way been idle, touring the land and putting o
Possum on the wonderful world of Paynesville Seafoods
Short versionVictorian folk artist Possum talks about her concept album Paynesville Seafoods, a cycle of songs inspired by her hometown and tracing life, death, rebirth and generational change. Long version‘If you’re the sort of person who’s not into listening to lyrics, I imagine you’re going to find my music quite boring,’ says Victorian folk artist Possum as we chat about her new album, Paynesv
Tori Forsyth on the magical manifesto that is Self Preservation
Short versionTori Forsyth talks about her outstanding fourth album, Self Preservation, a collection of country and rock songs full of power and whimsy that will take the top off your head in the best possible way.Long versionWhile this interview for Tori Forsyth’s fourth album, Self Preservation, was formally arranged and we spoke at the appointed hour, Tori and I have had several off-the-record c
Ellis Undercover is out in the open with new single ‘Wildfire’
The first I heard of Ellis Undercover, who lives in the Central West of New South Wales, was the song ‘October’ from Wade Forster’s latest album, The Aftermath. The song is a standout on an already brilliant album, and it was written by the pair at the CMAA Academy of Country Music earlier this year, then – as Ellis tells me in this interview – recorded within a month. Ellis grew up on the music o
Fanny Lumsden on embracing Traditions and shaping her future
Short versionMultiple award-winning country music artist/icon Fanny Lumsden talks about her fifth album, Traditions, which is being released on 30 October 2026 on her own label, Red Dirt Road Records. She is also embarking on a tour.Long version‘We were told to have it all, so now we want to have it all, and really that just means doing it all.’Fanny Lumsden says this early on in our interview abo
Faith Williams on her exceptional debut album, Home Truths
Short version:Home Truths is the outstanding new album from Central Coast NSW country music artist Faith Williams, who talks about the songs and the recording process in this new interview. Long version:Central Coast NSW artist Faith Williams announced herself last year with her debut EP, Queen of Hearts. It arrived with no preamble and a whole lot of impact, given Williams’s expressive, powerful
Duncan Toombs on his northern adventures and new releases
Short version:A candid conversation with multiple Golden Guitar winner and fan favourite Duncan Toombs about his extensive Canada tour earlier this year and three new singles released from forthcoming album Roller Coaster.Long version:While Duncan Toombs has a full professional life in Australia, as an artist, videographer and musician, he has spent part of this year touring Canada with Canadian-A
Chloe Marks on blazing new album Bright Lights Late Nights
Short version:After a chat about Star Wars inspired by the T-shirt Brisbane multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter Chloe Marks wears for our interview, we talk about the tight bond of her band, The Mayhem, and their debut album, Bright Lights Late Nights.Long version:This interview with Brisbane multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter Chloe Marks begins with a chat about Star Wars. That
Brad Christmas from Copperline on new album Sleepwalking
Short version:Bradley Christmas, frontman and songwriter of alt-country four-piece Copperline, talks about the band’s third album, Sleepwalking, which is partly a commentary on the role and importance of art for the artist and for the audience.Long version:This is not the first time Bradley Christmas, frontman and songwriter of alt-country four-piece Copperline, has appeared on Sunburnt Country Mu
Sarah from The Stumblers on making music and embracing joy
Short version:This is an interview with Sarah Sands from Perth six-piece The Stumblers. Watch/listen especially if you want to feel inspired to live a full creative life and find opportunities for joy. The band’s latest single is ‘Rhyolite’.Long version:The Stumblers are a six-piece band from Perth, WA, with members Sarah Sands (vocals, banjo, guitar, dobro), Dan Durack (vocals, guitar, mandolin),
Kylie Jane on ‘Seasons Changing’ in life and music
Kylie Jane has been working as a professional musician for several years – indeed, she had a short stint doing something else (as she reveals in this new interview) but it was clear she was meant to be a singer, and ever since then she’s had a busy roster of gigs and functions. She started singing as a child – her father’s cousin had a karaoke business, so there were several opportunities for her
Tom Mac on what it takes to be ‘Brave’
The first time Tom Mac was a guest on the Sunburnt Country Music podcast, we had a long chat – so long that it grew gradually darker in his car (he’d pulled over in order to do the interview) to the point where he was barely visible! This time around he was indoors, with a light, and we had another long chat, because he has stories to tell.The reason for the interview was his latest single, ‘Brave
Tameka steps to the front of the stage with debut single ‘Like This Before’
If you’ve been to see an Australian country music artist play at any time in the past few years, the chances are good that you’ve seen Tameka playing in the band. A highly accomplished and in-demand guitarist, she has performed alongside Ashleigh Dallas, Adam Harvey, Andrew Swift, Catherine Britt, Loren Ryan and Tori Darke, amongst others.Tameka has now released her own music, the country-pop sing
Trent Richardson on moving new single ‘Promise You Now’
When Central Queensland contemporary country artist Trent Richardson appeared in Australian Idol two and a half years ago, not only had he never performed for an audience before – he thought he was a long way from being a father, which is something he very much wanted. His life changed fairly quickly: he reached the final six of Idol, which gained him fans and propelled his burgeoning career in co
The Wolfe Brothers on new single ‘Wannabe’ and upcoming album
Since they first emerged on the Australian country music scene seven albums and fifteen Golden Guitars ago, Tasmanian country-rock outfit The Wolfe Brothers have won fans and admiration with their hard-work ethic backed up by impressive live performances, professionalism and songs that take in good times and bad, sentimentality and straightforwardness.The Wolfe Brothers are Nick and Tom Wolfe, and
Lucy Beveridge on being A Million Different Things
There are pathways for Australian country music artists of all ages to develop their talents and skills, and that includes those who are young enough to still be in school. The CMAA Junior Academy of Country Music is for artists under 18 years of age – and NSW Central Coast singer-songwriter Lucy Beveridge has been a student there four times, in both songwriting and instrumental strands. She’s als
Saralyn on the Goldline that pulls her through
NB: Saralyn’s sound was softer on the recording than it sounded when we spoke, so there are subtitles on this full-length interview. If you'd rather watch this with subtitles, you can find the full interview on YouTube.From the time she started releasing songs in 2023, it was clear Saralyn was an artist with a distinctive sound and point of view, and that she had a lineage in country mus
Sue Ray on her lifetime of music and her new single ‘Before the Rain’
[Mild language warning]In this new interview, Toowoomba-raised country-blues artist Sue Ray tells me that, ‘like a bad country song’, she moved back to the Queensland city to have her children. But it’s also where she formed as an artist, as a member of the Toowoomba Country Music Club along with Duncan Toombs and Lyn Bowtell, and as the child of a rock ’n’ roll father (about whom she sh
Jen Mize on her sensational new album TILT with The Rough N’ Tumble
There is many a songwriter in this fair land who will have either written a song with Jen Mize or been mentored by her in their songwriting. Mize has been a regular mentor and teacher at Song Muster and the DAG Sheep Station, amongst other places, and the number of times her name comes up is a clear indicator of how wonderful a collaborator she must be. Collaboration is also at the
Chris Cobb on growing up with music and releasing his rich first album
Early in my interview with Chris Cobb, who has just released his debut album, More Questions than Answers, he speaks about his childhood in Bulolo in Papua New Guinea. ‘Music was very much a part of me,’ he says, then he went on to talk about how there was a local bluegrass scene, and a band in which most players had instruments with two strings only. ‘I got lost in it,’ he tel
Wade Forster on impressive new album The Aftermath and tour plans
‘Saturday night’s the gooseneck party – this is the Sunday after.’ That’s how award-winning country music artist Wade Forster described his new album, The Aftermath, to me in this interview. The album comes fairly hot on the heels of his last, Gooseneck Party, hence his explanation, and he wrote them close together too, recording The Aftermath earlier this year, strai
Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley return with dynamite third album, Souls on Show
From the start of the enterprise that became Sunburnt Country Music, I was a fan of The McClymonts, the band Brooke McClymont formed with her sisters, Sam and Molly. Their country-pop songs were always clever and fun and musically unforgettable, due to their way with a melody and their harmonies. I saw them play live as often as I could. Thus, when Brooke released an album with her husband, Adam E
Andrew Swift on his new bluegrass direction and upcoming album
Victorian Andrew Swift has released four ARIA chart-topping albums and won three Golden Guitars, in amongst touring regularly – although later it’s been a lighter tour schedule than usual, as he’s now the proud dad of Valentine.Swift has built his fan base with both releases and touring, and the temptation for any artist in that position must be to continue in the same vein with the song
From busking on Peel Street to New Zealand Gold Guitars – Zac Weeks’s big year
When I was researching this interview with Devonport, Tasmania-based country-rock artist Zac Weeks, the New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards – and his success at them – kept coming up, the point where I then went looking for information about where he was from in New Zealand. There was none, and therefore I decided that I’d start the interview by asking about this.It turns out that Weeks is very mu
Madeline Leman on the long journey to her latest album Ripen on the Vine
Victorian artist Madeline Leman’s latest country-folk album, Ripen on the Vine, was recorded in 2023, and while Leman has released some singles since then, the album needed a little more time to emerge – for a very important reason. As she tells me early in this interview, her young son was unwell for several months, so the album’s release was necessarily delayed.Upon release it went to
Georgia Scarlett and Joel Spence – two solo artists with one very good idea
Georgia Scarlett and Joel Spence are two Queensland country artists who have been releasing solo music independently for several years, and who have now found a creative partnership that has produced two singles which have taken them in a musical direction that is distinct from their own music while preserving their musical identities. The first single is ‘The Wise Folks Say’,
Jessie Robins on her debut single, ‘I Should’ve Known Better’
Jessie Robins grew up in Katherine in the Northern Territory as one of a set of triplets and the daughter of a helicopter mustering pilot, and – as she tells me in this new interview – she has been singing since she was a small child. Creativity also runs in the family as her sisters are also working in creative fields. Robins now lives in Brisbane, where she performs regularly across th
Nashdale on their new music that was ten years in the making
Nashdale are a Central Coast country duo – Kerryn Daniel on lead vocals and Brent Murphy on guitars and vocals – who have been playing together for over a decade and releasing original music since 2024. Their third single, ‘Boots Back On’, is out now, and an EP is in the works for the Tamworth Country Music Festival next year.While it seems like the pair came up with the perfect moniker for a
Hayden Phillis on new single ‘Stick Poke Tattoos’ and his rich creative life
Art can emerge at any age, and that’s just as true of younger artists as those who find their creative voices later on. Sydney singer-songwriter Hayden Phillis is not yet twenty years old and has spent his teen years developing his skills as a musician, singer and songwriter, attending the CMAA Academy of Country Music three times – twice as a singer-songwriter, once in the instrume
Olive Mae on singing country songs and choosing freedom
The first time I interviewed country-folk artist Olive Mae she was in a caravan she shared with her husband and children, and they were travelling around Australia, embracing freedom – a concept that is at the core of Olive’s latest single, ‘Country Songs’.Now settled in the south-west of Western Australia, about ten minutes’ drive from the popular Margaret River area, Olive is playing f
Ella Powell hates her clothes and loves the songs she’s making
Central Coast NSW country-pop artist Ella Powell has been evolving her sound and storytelling over her last few singles, and her latest, ‘Hate My Clothes’, has the most intriguing title yet. As Powell tells me in this new interview, the song began as a feeling rather than a concept. She had a verse and a chorus and took those to co-writer and producer Ben Horsley, who has worke
Cookie from Rusty Pickups on their new album and unique band dynamic
The last time I interviewed Michael Cook – known as Cookie – from the Darling Downs (Queensland) alt-country and bluegrass band Rusty Pickups, there was a donkey outside the studio at Possum Creek, where the band recorded. Naturally, when we spoke again recently about the band’s new album, I Don’t Think About You at All (… some days), I checked in on this unofficial extra band member and
Melanie Dyer on ‘If Only She Knew’ and dreams coming true
At the start of this interview I say I’m a Melanie Dyer fan, and that’s because she writes songs that can encompass a whole life, as in her recent single, ‘Golden Girl’, or cut right to the heart of something in a devastating way, as in ‘What You Didn’t Say’, from her 2022 album Between You & Me, or just be out-and-out entertaining because of her ear for melody.As she talks abou
Brooke Seabrook on being a wordsmith and new single ‘Took My Town Away’
Brooke Seabrook is a balladeer from Queensland who recently won the Barry Thornton Young Award, which supports Australian bush and heritage artists. Her latest single is ‘Took My Town Away’, produced by Lindsay Waddington. Seabrook describes herself not as a songwriter but as a wordsmith – and the distinction matters, as she talks about in this interview. For Seabrook came to music throu
Kesha Nevé is … Better This Way
Although Snowy Mountains-raised Kesha Nevé was the winner of this year’s Australian Idol, I did not know what to expect when I interviewed her because … I didn’t see any of this year’s season! I caught up on the musical side of things by watching clips and research revealed that she had grown up in Jindabyne, a town in the Snowy Mountains region of New South Wales that is known as t
Ally Paterson on her Gold Rush single, ‘Dig’, and life on the land
The latest single from Ally Paterson, a singer-songwriter from the Ballarat area in Victoria, went on, is called ‘Dig’ and it was born at Sovereign Hill, Ballarat’s living museum of the Gold Rush era. As Paterson tells me in this interview, the rhythmic banging of an old battering ram sent her imagination straight to the men who had worked the claims: Irish migrants, Chinese labourers, people
Jean Elliot on her epic EP Butcher, Lover, Runner
There’s never a guarantee of what will emerge during an interview – that’s partly why it’s so interesting to be able to talk to all sorts of artists. And even if I’ve interviewed an artist before, there’s always something new to discover. In the case of Jean Elliot, a multi-genre artist from the Hawkesbury region of New South Wales, north of Sydney – which inspired ‘Devil’s Wilderness Th
Vixens of Fall on ‘Midnight Cowgirls’ and the power of three
Sibling harmonies are a form of magic – there’s a synergy that happens within families who sing together that makes for unforgettable sounds that are impossible to replicate. Brisbane sister trio Vixens of Fall have been creating that sort of magic for a decade, embracing it in the title of their 2023 debut album, Magick in the Chaos, and in their lives. The latest single for sisters Nin
Paper Daisies on their debut single and their friendship forged in music
Paper Daisies are a duo from the Gold Coast who have released one single, ‘Heartbreakin’ Cowboy’, and as soon as I heard it I thought, These two are not just starting out. The vocals are glorious and there was this energy running through the song that made it sound like the artists, Britt Grey and Rhea Robertson, were completely immersed in the music.So I was interested to talk to t
William Alexander on his new album, Along the Boundary Line
From the Central West of New South Wales, William Alexander won his first Golden Guitar earlier this year in the category of Bush Ballad of the Year, for the song ‘Wild Roan Brumby’, which he wrote with his good friend Pete Denahy. For those of us who have observed Alexander’s career, and listened to his releases starting in 2023, there was no surprise in the award itself – only in the fact t
Dingo on the changing seasons of his musical life
Towards the end of my first ever interview with Brandon Dodd, who records under the name Dingo (he’s released music under both, including the 2020 album What a Way to Die and Dingo and the Rising River in 2024), I realised that I’d seen him play a solo set right before the pandemic closed the nation, and world, down. Because the pandemic changed the shape of time – or
Amber Lawrence is the boss of her own wild frontier
Suburban Cowgirl, the latest album from beloved country music star Amber Lawrence, topped the Australian album and country album charts open release, and has held its spot. This will be no surprise to anyone who heard the singles leading up to it, including ‘That’s Cowgirl to Me’, which contains the line ‘I am the boss of my own wild frontier’ – which is a true statement when it comes to Lawrence,
Mem Davis on why ‘It’s All Just Love’
Mem Davis is a singer, songwriter and – as I found out during this interview – a book editor from the south coast of New South Wales, although she’s currently not there, because she and partner Neil have been travelling Australia in a caravan since September last year, performing as the Mem Davis Duo along the way, with their elderly Boston terrier in tow.The musical life was not one Davis th
Amy Solylo on being your own biggest red flag
Some artists arrive with a statement – or a splash, as you prefer – and it’s immediately clear that it’s worth paying attention to them because whatever comes next is likely to be interesting. As is the case with Sydney country-pop artist Amy Solylo.Solylo has released one single, ‘He Wants Me (Dead)’ – and also an acoustic version of the song – and its combination of tongue-in-cheek self-awa
Jake Whittaker on new EP In My Blood
Jake Whittaker is a Queensland country rock artist who has been releasing music since 2023, appeared on Australian Idol last year, and has now released his debut EP, In My Blood – five tracks of upbeat, good-time country that in this new interview he describes as a deliberate antidote to sad music.‘People work really hard Monday to Friday and they don't want to go out Friday night a
Kaylee Bell on new songs and big plans
Kaylee Bell is from Aotearoa New Zealand and spent several years living in Australia, which means we can probably claim her … or at least share her! And she is certainly one of Australia’s favourite country music artists as her recent second win as CountryTown's Female Artist of the Year award proved. Her latest album, Cowboy Up, was released last year. Her new single is 'Me For Me', and
Darren Gillis is having a ‘Hell of a Time’
There’s a very healthy country-music scene in Western Australia, and not just in and around Perth. I’ve interviewed artists from as far north as Broome and as far south as Margaret River and several spots in between. Darren Gillis is a country rock artist from Western Australia's Wheat Belt, and I hadn’t interviewed him before we had this chat about his new single, ‘Hell of a Time’. The
Darren Coggan on always believing in love – and music
Many Australian music fans will know of Wagga Wagga-born Darren Coggan from his hugely popular shows featuring the music of John Denver or Cat Stevens (and he has a great story at that – you’ll have to listen to the interview to find out what it is!). These – along with his work in musical theatre, and as an actor – have kept him busy and touring the country for several years. Howev
Cassie Leopold on Darlinghurst’s new chapter and single ‘Pour Me Another One’
Sometimes we choose to change our circumstances and sometimes they get changed on us, and how we respond to those changes reveals who we are and also shows us the way forward. For Cassie Leopold founding member of Darlinghurst, there’s been a lot of change in recent times: the band went from being a four-piece to a two-piece, with Leopold and Pagan Newman, and now it’s Leopold on her own.&nbs
Allan Cameron on being worn in and ‘Worn Out’
Allan Cameron is a solo artist, songwriter and guitarist who was a founding member of SaltbushSix, Keith Urban’s first backing band. He has been releasing music independently for several years, and his latest single is ‘Worn Out (Australian Made)’, an anthem that is fundamentally about resilience – and worn in rather than worn out, as Cameron says in this new interview.The song grew from a pe
Trent Richardson on giving things a crack in life and music
Trent Richardson hails from Central Queensland, where he grew up on a property running camel rides, racing camels, ostriches, goats and sheep. He picked up a guitar three years ago, taught himself to play, and is now releasing his seventh single. In between, he made the semi-finals of Australian Idol in 2024 after an audition that was, extraordinarily, his first ever public performa
Shanleigh Rose on tackling scary subjects in song
Shanleigh Rose is an award-winning singer and songwriter from the Sunshine Coast hinterland in Queensland who has been releasing music for five years. Her latest single, ‘Like My Mama Loves Tobacco’, is the most personal song she has put out – and, as she tells me in this new interview, the one she almost didn’t.The chorus was written when she was sixteen, in a music room at school, after dis
Jayne Denham: raised to a higher key
Jayne Denham’s two most recent albums, Wanted and Moonshine, both reached number one on the ARIA country chart. She is one of Australia's most dynamic live performers and most beloved country rock artists. Her new single is ‘Hillbilly Halo’, and it is the beginning of something considerably larger.As Denham tells me in this new interview, her management arranged a meeting with Nashv
Beth Lucas on new single ‘What I Deserved’
Beth Lucas is an award-winning country music artist from Queensland who has been releasing music for several years. She has a new single, 'What I Deserved', and it is one of the most personally courageous songs she has written.Lucas grew up on the Sunshine Coast and has been based in the Brisbane area for around two decades, and part of its appeal has long been the possibilities it offers her
Rachael Fahim on her blockbuster debut album, Who You Are
At the start of this interview with country-pop artist Rachael Fahim, I say that she released her first album, Iconic, in 2019. Later in the chat she mentioned that Iconic was technically an EP, which makes Who You Are – released today, 1 May – her debut. The reason why I called Iconic an album is because it has seven songs, and they’re substantial songs. So
Nikisha Priest on the Ace Up Her Sleeve
Nikisha Priest is a country rock artist from the Lake Macquarie area of New South Wales who, at twenty years old, is already drawing on a remarkably deep well of musical training. Her new single is 'Ace of Spades' – and no, it's not a cover.Priest began singing lessons at six, privately with a family friend who within a year concluded she couldn't teach her anymore and referred her to the Con
Ella Hooper has eyes on the past, present and future
Ella Hooper is one of Australia's most beloved musical artists and one of its finest live performers. Best known as the frontwoman of Killing Heidi, the band she fronted with her brother Jesse from the age of sixteen, she has since released two acclaimed solo albums. Her 2023 country-leaning record Small Town Temple marked a significant creative turn, and she has followed it with tw
Justine Eltakchi on her magical, moving debut album, Big Dream Baby
The music of Sydney-based singer-songwriter Justine Eltakchi came to my attention because she released a country music single, ‘If I Could’, with Timothy James Bowen. She isn’t a country artist per se – in that it’s not one of the genres she has mostly written in, for artists such as Casey Donovan and Abby Christo. But truly Eltakchi could create songs in pretty much every genre and be g
Melanie Dyer on new single ‘Golden Girl’ and life in Nashville
Melanie Dyer is one of Australia’s most-streamed country music artists, and she’s also been nominated for three Golden Guitars and three APRA AMCOS Most Performed Country Work awards. Currently resident in Nashville, Tennessee, Melanie has released a new single, the heartfelt ‘Golden Girl’.Dyer has long been an in-demand co-writer – you can find a playlist of songs she’s co-written on Sp
Kingswood keep the ‘Faith’ as they gather pace towards new album and tour
A fair while ago I separately interviewed first Alex Laska then, months later, Fergus Linacre, the two founding members of Kingswood. At the time I hadn’t seen the band live, but I certainly like what I heard of their recorded music (which includes a Christmas album – I recommend it!). At the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January 2024 I saw them play on the back of a truck in the ca
Whiskey Jack and Kiera Jas on their single ‘Remain Strange’
Whiskey Jack is a singer-songwriter from Perth in Western Australia and Kiera Jas is an artist from Margaret River, south of Perth. Separately they have very successful solo careers, with Jack’s single ‘Wild Card’ named WAM Country Song of the Year in 2025 and Kiera the winner of the 2023 Nannup festival award. Together this alt-folk duo have released the single ‘Old Expressions’ la
Mackenzie May on her standout debut EP, All the Little Things
Mackenzie May is an artist from Central Queensland who, at just twenty years old, is already having a landmark year. In January she was a Toyota Star Maker Grand Finalist at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, she performed at CMC Rocks with a full band, and she has just released her debut EP, All the Little Things — a seven-track collection that represents her most substantial sta
Mack & Cook on new single ‘A Sign of the Times’
Mack & Cook are Lizzie Mack and Murray Cook, two of the best credentialled musical artists in the land. As a duo they released their first single, 'Time Goes By', last year and their latest single is 'A Sign of the Times'.The two have a long history together, most recently as the driving force behind the Soul Movers, now performing as Murray and the Movers. Mack & Cook came about part
New releases round-up 12 April 2026
As it’s been a little while since I’ve had a chance to bring you some news, some of these releases are from March. Melbourne duo The Smith & Western Jury have released their foot-stomper 'Rolling the Dice'. The song was inspired by a trip we took to Joshua Tree in California, where a trailhead sign warned: ‘Don’t die today’. Wagga Wagga artist Nathan Lamont is at the vang
Sara Storer, Shane Nicholson & Shane Howard on their special show, For the Sake of the Song
Sara Storer has won 22 Golden Guitar Awards, amongst many other accolades. Last year she released her eighth studio album, the outstanding Worth Your Love. Shane Nicholson has won ARIA Awards and 18 Golden Guitars, and in addition to making his own wonderful albums, he produces others. Shane Howard is one of Australia’s most esteemed musical artists. He founded the band Go
Bud Rokesky on his outstanding second album, Dusk
Bud Rokesky is a singer-songwriter from Brisbane who released his first album, Outsider, in 2023, and if you’re a fan of that album you’ve probably never stopped listening to it, because there’s such richness in it. Then he embarked on a project in 2024 to release two singles a month, and released an album’s worth of material. Now he has a new album, Dusk, with all-new songs – none
The triumphant return of Beccy Cole with her album Through the Haze
Sunburnt Country Music began in earnest – under another title – in late 2011, but its roots were in 2003, when I was in a country music covers band and we played the Tamworth Country Music Festival. One of the songs in our set list – possibly the only Australian song, come to think of it – was ‘Lazy Bones’ by Beccy Cole. It first appeared on her second album, Wild at Heart, released in 2
Savanah Solomon finds her ‘Someday Somewhere’
Savanah Solomon is a singer-songwriter from Western Australia who has released the singles 'Magnolia' and 'I Don't Know You Anymore', as well as the 2023 EP Where the River Meets the Sea. Her latest single is 'Someday Somewhere', and it is a warm, hopeful song with more than a few great lines in it.The song was written a couple of years ago, during a period of involuntary limbo. Solomon
Rising star Camille Trail writes us a ‘Postcard’
Camille Trail released her debut album River of Sins in 2021 and the EP Magic Trick in 2024. She is known for her thoughtful, articulate and often unflinching lyrics, delivered in a warm, distinctive voice. Her new single 'Postcard' marks a deliberate shift in direction while still being distinctively her.After a big 2024 that included a UK tour and appearances at Folk All
Dylan Wright on a Golden start to the year and ‘Those Nights’
Dylan Wright has two musical identities that most fans will know about – as a solo artist and as one half of Golden Guitar-winning duo Sons of Atticus – and, as it turns out, a third. But more on that in a moment ... Wright’s new solo single is 'Those Nights', and he has announced an extensive Songs & Stories tour running through New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and the ACT from the
Tom Busby goes solo for his Rockhampton Hangover
Tom Busby is well known to Australian music fans as one half of beloved duo Busby Maru. That duo remains very much a going concern, but Busby has now released his first solo album – the warm and deeply personal Rockhampton Hangover.Busby grew up in the Queensland town of Rockhampton, and after two decades of relentless touring and recording with Busby Marou, he and bandmate Jeremy Marou
Lindsay Waddington pays tribute to a great in latest single ‘Something of a Privilege’
Lindsay Waddington has a career spanning more than three decades as a singer, songwriter, producer and renowned instrumentalist. He has released thirteen solo albums, won a Golden Guitar, and built a YouTube channel with almost nineteen million views. His latest release, 'Something of a Privilege', is a tribute to Australian music legend John Williamson.The song began as a birthday present. W
If you haven’t heard of Two Tone Pony … you have now!
Two Tone Pony are a five-piece country rock band from the Central Coast of New South Wales. They released the album Born on the Road in 2024 and their brand new single is 'You Haven't Heard of Me Yet'.When I interviewed Two Tone Pony founding member David Kirkpatrick, he said that the song had its origins in, of all places, a ski lodge in the New South Wales Snowy Mountains when som
Sunburnt Country Music news - 15 March 2026
**NB on the audio quality: I record this news on video then strip out the audio track. It's not always optimal quality but I'd rather bring you this than nothing at all**Mentioned in this instalment:William Alexander - ‘Heart of a Drover’Beccy Cole - new album Through the HazeMelanie Dyer - ‘Golden Girl’Tori Forsyth - ‘I’m Not God’Matt Joe Gow - two dates at Kew Courthouse on 21 March (evening sho
Clancy Pye on the best things about ‘My Hometown’
Clancy Pye is an artist from the Central West of New South Wales who has released several memorable singles, including 'Hey Mama' and 'Days Like This'. Her latest is 'My Hometown'.Pye grew up in Oberon, a town of around 3000 people, half an hour from Bathurst in New South Wales. Oberon has no traffic lights, one main street and, as she notes in the song, a part-time cop, a detail that says so
Jake Davey on life, fatherhood, work and ‘Workin’ On Me’
Jake Davey is a multi-talented artist – a singer, songwriter, producer, videographer and photographer. He has released several infectious country-pop singles and the latest is 'Workin' On Me'.Since releasing his last single, Davey's life has changed considerably. He and his wife, Grace, are now parents to a son, Dalton, a development which is particularly significant given that a spinal cord
Sunburnt Country Music news - 27 February 2026
Mentioned in this episode:Kelly Brouhaha - 'This Is All For You' Amber Lawrence - 'That’s Cowgirl To Me'Charlotte Le Lievre - ‘I Yearn To Love Someone’Tom Busby - Rockhampton Hangover- interview coming upBrooke McClymont and Adam Eckersley - ‘Now I've Said It’ Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham - New Frontier EPSara Berki - ‘Where I'll Be (For Adeline)’Interviews coming up:Jake Dave
Melinda Schneider on her heartfelt new album Tender
Melinda Schneider first appeared on stage at the age of three and on a recording at the age of eight. Since then she has released fifteen albums and won six Golden Guitars. She runs her own label, Mpower Records, she's a keynote speaker and much more besides. Her latest album, Tender, is a moving collection of songs.There is a particular kind of courage required to make an album like Ten
Faith Williams on her ‘Holy Grail’ and forthcoming album
Faith Williams is an artist from the Central Coast of New South Wales who last year released an outstanding debut EP, Queen of Hearts. She is now set to release her first album later this year, and the first single from it is 'Holy Grail'.When Queen of Hearts arrived in early 2025, Williams released it independently and, as she says in this new interview, ‘I didn't have a lot o
