Country music can be a bit hit and miss for me. I’ve found plenty of local artists I love through this blog, but there are probably just as many that don’t gel with me. Someone I’m really excited about is Bud Rokesky. There’s something so subtle and honest and what he does. There’s a folky vibe to his brand of country, a focus on telling stories with his lyrics that resonates with me. His latest single “Newtown,” which comes with the also excellent B-side “Oars,” is the perfect gateway into his material.
“Newtown is about leaving something behind and letting go – even though you may not want to,” Bud explained. “In the end you can only control how you react at the time, and the perspective with which you look back at it. I truly believe you can learn from every experience and turn it into a positive.”
If you love this, there’s more where it came from. Bud plans on releasing two tracks a month in this A-side/B-side format for the foreseeable future.
“When thinking about a follow-up album to Outsider I had a list of 24 or so songs to choose from, except they seemed so varied from one another that I found it difficult to find a common selection, not to mention I really wanted to release them all. I thought- what would be the best way to introduce them to everyone, in a way they could follow along with the different changes in sound or style from song to song?” he said of the plan for monthly releases.
Bud is currently supporting Brad Cox on his Aussie tour. There are limited tickets available for all the remaining shows:
9 May 2024 – Broken Hill Civic Theatre, Wilyakali Country/Broken Hill (supporting Brad Cox)
10 May 2024 – Mildura Arts Centre, Latji Latji Country/Mildura (supporting Brad Cox)
11 May 2024 – Swan Hill Town Hall, Matakupaat/Swan Hill (supporting Brad Cox)
14 June 2024 – Northern Festival Centre, Tarparrie/Port Pirie (supporting Brad Cox)
15 June 2024 – Chaffey Theatre, Erawirung Country/Renmark (supporting Brad Cox)
16 June 2024 – Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre, Berrin/Mount Gambier (supporting Brad Cox)
22 August 2024 – Gympie Music Muster, Kabi Kabi Country/Amamoor
Photo credit: Maclay Heriot