Country music has always thrived in Australia, thanks to the bush ballads pioneered by poets Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson and continued by hard-touring singer/songwriters like Slim Dusty. A strong sense of place and history imbues these songs, whether the singer is name-checking their own musical heroes or specific corners of this vast, sunburnt land. Aussie country has broadened with each decade, welcoming vital doses of anthemic commercial rock (The Wolfe Brothers), sensitive Americana (Kasey Chambers), sultry R&B (Seaforth) and rebellious bluegrass (Mustered Courage). Developing at a grassroots level through regional gatherings like the Tamworth Country Music Festival and Deni Ute Muster, the country scene now encompasses more diversity than ever before, foregrounding female voices like Catherine Britt as well as Indigenous talent like Troy Cassar-Daley. Meanwhile, breakout stars like Keith Urban have taken the Australian sound to the international stage, showcasing its trademark mix of true-blue honesty and self-deprecating wit.