Leslie Massey
Country music is a genre that has been influenced by Celtic and English folk music, the Australian bush ballad tradition, and to a lesser extent, popular American country music. While country music is extremely popular in the US, it has not traditionally been as mainstream in Australia. However, country music has a dedicated following in Australia, particularly in regional and rural areas, and the country music scene is slowly working its way out of its cliches. Australia is currently the third-largest market for country music, with artists in the Top 500 US Country Songs streamed over 1.1 billion times by Australians in the first half of 2023.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country music popularity in Australia | Less mainstream than in the US |
| Where is it popular? | Rural and regional areas, outer metro Queensland, Tasmania |
| Popular Australian country musicians | Adam Brand, Adam Harvey, Amber Lawrence, Caitlyn Shadbolt, Slim Dusty, Lee Kernaghan, Melinda Schneider, Gina Jeffreys, Beccy Cole, Keith Urban, Jean Stafford, Tex Morton, Smoky Dawson, Dougie Young, Roger Knox, Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley |
| Popular Australian country songs | When the Rain Tumbles Down in July (1946), Waltzing Matilda (1895), Pub With No Beer (1957), Lights on the Hill (1973), I Honestly Love You (1974), True Blue (1981), Boys From the Bush (1992), Not Pretty Enough (2002), A Bar Song, I Had Some Help, Austin, Pink Skies, I Remember Everything, Something in the Orange, Last Night, Lies Lies Lies, Fast Car, Thinkin’ Bout Me |
| Popular non-Australian country musicians in Australia | Morgan Wallen, Taylor Swift, Luke Combs |
| Australian country music festivals | Tamworth Country Music Festival, annual country music festival in outer metro Queensland |
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What You'll Learn
Country music is more popular in rural Australia
The history of Australian country music is rich and diverse, with influences from Celtic and English folk music, Australian bush ballads, and, to a lesser extent, popular American country music. Artists like Tex Morton, who arrived from New Zealand in 1932, helped establish a distinct Australian style of country music, focusing on themes related to the Australian outback and the lives of stockmen, truckers, and outlaws. Smoky Dawson, another pioneer, gained fame as a yodelling, whip-cracking, knife-throwing, singing cowboy in the 1940s and 1950s.
Country music has also been particularly popular among Aboriginal Australian and Torres Strait Islander peoples, with pioneers like Jimmy Little and Georgia Lee in the 1940s and 1950s. Artists like Roger Knox, dubbed the "godfather of Koori music," further solidified the presence of Aboriginal country music as a sub-genre.
While country music in Australia may not have the same level of mainstream support as in the US, it has a dedicated following, and its perception is shifting. Artists like Lee Kernaghan, Melinda Schneider, and Gina Jeffreys have achieved success within the genre. Additionally, the Tamworth Country Music Festival is a significant event in the Australian country music scene, showcasing the talent and passion of Australian country artists.
The influence of American culture and the perception that Nashville is the pinnacle of country music success have impacted the Australian country music landscape. However, a small percentage of artists continue to embrace the uniquely Australian style of storytelling through music, honouring the foundation of country music.
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Australian country music has distinct styles
Australian country music has evolved a style distinct from its US counterpart, with influences from Celtic and English folk music, Australian bush ballads, and Aboriginal country music. The genre's pioneers include Tex Morton, Smoky Dawson, Buddy Williams, Slim Dusty, and Johnny Ashcroft, who brought a uniquely Australian flavour to their music.
Tex Morton, a New Zealander who arrived in Australia in 1932, is known for establishing a distinct Australian bush ballad style. He shifted from American songs to songs about Australia, such as "I'm a Happy Go Lucky Cowhand." Smoky Dawson, often regarded as Australia's first singing cowboy, also contributed to the genre with his yodelling, whip-cracking, and knife-throwing performances.
Australian country music has a broad range of styles, including bluegrass, yodelling, folk, and contemporary pop-country. Traditional bush ballads, such as Slim Dusty's "When the Rain Tumbles Down in July," have strong narratives, memorable choruses, and a pick n' strum beat. Contemporary bush ballads, on the other hand, may employ finger-picking and strumming rock styles, as seen in Lee Kernaghan's version of "Leave Him in the Long Yard."
The influence of rock and roll has been significant in the evolution of Australian country music. While some artists resisted outside influences in the 1950s and 1960s, by the 1970s, many embraced a more modern sound. The arrival of rock and roll also impacted the airtime given to country artists, with cross-over pop-country styles regaining popularity in the 1990s.
Aboriginal Australian and Torres Strait Islander musicians have created a sub-genre called Aboriginal country music. Jimmy Little, Georgia Lee, Dougie Young, and Lionel Rose are some of the pioneers of this sub-genre. Contemporary indigenous Australian music continues to cover a range of styles, including country, with Yothu Yindi bringing indigenous music to the mainstream with their hit song "Treaty."
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Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders embrace country music
Country music has been particularly popular among Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders, with a sub-genre often referred to as Aboriginal country music. This popularity is documented in Clinton Walker's Buried Country, which showcases significant Indigenous musicians from the 1940s to the 1990s. The book highlights pioneering artists such as Jimmy Little, Georgia Lee, Tom Foster, Dougie Young, and Lionel Rose. Artists like Archie Roach and Kev Carmody combine folk-rock and country music with themes of Aboriginal rights issues.
Indigenous Australian musicians have interpreted and adopted Western musical styles since the 18th-century colonisation of Australia, often combining them with Indigenous traditions and musical heritage. This fusion of styles is evident in contemporary Indigenous music, which blends rock, country, pop, and other mainstream genres. Successful contemporary Indigenous country musicians include Troy Cassar-Daley, Warren H. Williams, and Roger Knox, known as the "godfather of Koori music".
The popularity of country music among Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders can be understood within the context of their cultural connection to "Country". In Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, "Country" refers to a deep relationship with the land, water, animals, plants, and people. This connection shapes their cultural identity, spiritual beliefs, and sense of community. Country music, with its themes of outback life, nature, and storytelling, may resonate with these cultural aspects.
While country music is less mainstream in Australia compared to the US, it has a dedicated following, particularly in the heart of the Australian country music scene, Tamworth. Aboriginal country music adds to the diversity of Australian country, which has developed a style distinct from its US counterpart, influenced by bush ballads, Celtic and English folk music, and Australian artists like Tex Morton and Smoky Dawson.
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Australian country artists influenced by American country music
Australian country music has been influenced by various genres, including Celtic and English folk music, the Australian bush ballad tradition, and popular American country music. Artists like Tex Morton, who arrived in Australia from New Zealand in 1932, helped establish a distinctively Australian bush ballad style, drawing inspiration from American songs and infusing them with Australian themes.
Slim Dusty, often regarded as the creator of the Australian country genre, blended Australian folk, American country influences, and outback culture to define the Australian country sound for decades. His song "Cunnamulla Fella" became so influential that it was honoured with a statue outside the Cunnamulla Shire hall.
Another notable artist influenced by American country music is Lee Kernaghan, whose music is reminiscent of 90s country. Kernaghan's songs focus on rural life in Australia, and he has actively supported charitable causes addressing issues like droughts and rural poverty.
Kasey Chambers, born into a musical family, is another Australian country artist influenced by American country music. Her music reflects the pop-country crossover style that gained popularity in the 2000s. Chambers' debut album, "The Captain", earned her the Most Performed Country Work award at the 2001 Aria Awards, and her second album, "Barricades and Brickwalls", propelled her to even greater fame, with the song "Not Pretty Enough" peaking at number one on the Australian ARIA Charts.
Nick Cave, an eclectic rocker, has been heavily influenced by the American country music artist Johnny Cash. Cave has recorded numerous country covers, including well-known classics on his 1986 album "Kicking Against the Pricks". Additionally, Cave collaborated with Cash on a duet of Hank Williams' "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" for Cash's "American IV: The Man Comes Around" album.
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Country music is gaining popularity in Australia
Country music is a genre that has been influenced by various factors, including Celtic and English folk music, the Australian bush ballad tradition, and popular American country music. While it has been popular among Aboriginal Australian and Torres Strait Islander peoples, with pioneers like Jimmy Little and Georgia Lee, it has also had a broader appeal. Artists like Nick Cave have been heavily influenced by US country music artists like Johnny Cash, and Cave has recorded several country covers.
Despite country music's dominance in the US, it has not always been as popular in Australia. However, this may be changing. According to Luminate's mid-year music report, streaming numbers in Australia rose by 55% compared to the previous year. Country music artists like Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs have charted highly on the ARIA Albums and Singles Charts. In fact, Australians have streamed artists in the Top 500 US Country Songs over 1.1 billion times from the beginning of the year to June 29, making Australia the third-biggest market for country music.
This shift in perception can also be seen in the comments of festival manager Barry Harley, who notes that Australian artists are increasingly influenced by the US country music scene. He observes that the sound of Australian country music is becoming more American, with a small percentage still adhering to the Australian 'stories to music' style. This shift is also acknowledged by artist Jonny Taylor, who has noticed a move away from the "horrible cliche of chewing straw in the fields."
Country music's popularity in Australia varies depending on the region, with greater popularity in rural and regional areas. However, it has also reached the mainstream, with several country songs charting in the ARIA Top 50. Artists like Keith Urban and Olivia Newton-John have contributed to the genre's popularity. While some still believe that moving to Nashville is the best option for country musicians, the perception and consumption of country music in Australia are undoubtedly evolving.
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Frequently asked questions
Country music is more popular in the US than in Australia. However, country music is currently experiencing a boom in Australia, with artists like Morgan Wallen, Taylor Swift, and Luke Combs making it into the ARIA Albums Chart. Australia is the third-largest market for country music.
Country music is more popular in rural and regional areas of Australia than in cities.
Australian country music has been influenced by American country music, but it has also been influenced by Celtic and English folk music, Australian bush ballads, and the Australian bush ballad tradition.
Some popular Australian country songs include "When the Rain Tumbles Down in July" (1946), "Waltzing Matilda" (1895), "Pub With No Beer" (1957), "Lights on the Hill" (1973), "I Honestly Love You" (1974), "True Blue" (1981), "Boys From the Bush" (1992), and "Not Pretty Enough" (2002).
Some popular Australian country musicians include Adam Brand, Adam Harvey, Amber Lawrence, Caitlyn Shadbolt, Slim Dusty, Keith Urban, Lee Kernaghan, Melinda Schneider, and Kasey Chambers.
