Australian Country

tagStarted 1936Peak 1990s-2010sLast big hit still activeFrom Australia

Located in 1 route

Country & Western → International / Regional Country

Australian-accented country running from Slim Dusty's bush narratives to modern Tamworth-festival mainstream. Drawls about the outback, drought, droving and small-town life over twangy guitar, fiddle and pedal steel, with a strong storytelling streak and, in the alt wing, raw confessional songwriting.

History

Sparked by Tex Morton's yodeling in the 1930s, Australian country crystallized around Slim Dusty's bush ballads from the 1940s. The Tamworth Country Music Festival (from 1973) and the Golden Guitar awards built an industry; later Lee Kernaghan, Kasey Chambers, Troy Cassar-Daley and Keith Urban carried it to the charts and abroad.

Defining artists

Slim DustySpotify YouTube
Lee KernaghanSpotify YouTube
Kasey ChambersSpotify YouTube
Troy Cassar-DaleySpotify YouTube
The McClymontsSpotify YouTube
Tex MortonSpotify YouTube

Essential listening

Boys from the Bush — Lee KernaghanSpotify YouTube
Not Pretty Enough — Kasey ChambersSpotify YouTube
Take Me Back — The McClymontsSpotify YouTube
Bigger Than Both of Us — Troy Cassar-DaleySpotify YouTube
The Captain — Kasey ChambersSpotify YouTube

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Sources

Wikipedia: Australian country music
Tamworth Country Music Festival / Golden Guitar Awards records
Wikipedia: Slim Dusty