Jarrad Wrigley Tips His Hat to the Wild Side of Country

Country music has never been short on a little swagger, a few double meanings and songs that get considerably better once the sun goes down.

Jarrad Wrigley knows it — and with his new single Wear The Hat, he’s decided to have some fun with all three.

Following Borderline Crazy, Jarrad Wrigley returns with his second Star Maker single, and this time he’s leaving the serious stuff at the door. Wear The Hat is a rowdy, tongue-in-cheek country party song built around an old cowboy saying, a knowing grin and just enough innuendo to make sure everyone gets the joke.

Written by Wrigley alongside Adam Surace and Reece Mastin, the 2011 X Factor Australia winner, the song takes a playful swing at some of the larger-than-life characters that have always inhabited country music. Cowboys, cowgirls, big hats and questionable decisions are all welcome.

As Wrigley explains, the idea started with one particular piece of cowboy wisdom.
“There are a few sayings you hear in the world of cowboys and cowgirls, but one in particular carries a certain old-school rule that most abide by: ‘You wear the hat, you ride the cowboy’.”

And if that particular rule has somehow passed you by, Wrigley reckons the new single should bring you up to speed pretty quickly.
“Not everyone is expected to know that rule, and for those who don't, my new single Wear The Hat will tell you just about all you need to know.”

There's no attempt to disguise what kind of song this is. Wear The Hat turns the swagger up, leans happily into the double entendres and embraces the tradition of country songs that aren't supposed to be examined too closely the morning after. It's deliberately over the top, deliberately cheeky and definitely not taking itself too seriously. Behind all that fun, though, is a serious group of players.

Surace produced and engineered the track while handling much of the instrumentation, with Dave Ruberto on drums, Hamish Davidson bringing the fiddle and Errin Kelly adding backing vocals. Jacky McCormack mixed the track, with mastering handled by Wrigley's uncle Jeff McCormack, giving the recording a nice family connection along the way.

The new single also arrives as Wrigley prepares for a busy stretch on the road, with festival appearances ahead and one particularly important date already circled on the calendar.

During the 2027 Tamworth Country Music Festival, Wrigley will launch his forthcoming EP at the Longyard Hotel, bringing the new material to the place where Australian country music tends to take over just about every stage, pub and available patch of ground for ten days each January.

And Wear The Hat feels made for exactly that sort of environment. It's loud enough for the pub, cheeky enough for late at night and comes with a chorus that's unlikely to require much explanation by the second time around. A music video for the single is also on the way. Until then, there's really only one rule you need to remember.

If you're going to wear the hat, apparently you'd better know what you're getting yourself into.

ON THE ROAD OCTOBER 2026

10 & 11 Savannah In The Round Qld
16 Groundwater, Surf Parade Stage, Broadbeach Qld
17 PBR After Party, 5th Lane, Mackay Qld
23 Warwick Rodeo Qld
24 Coffs Coast CMF, Moonee Beach NSW

JANUARY 2027

Friday 15 Tamworth Country Music Festival Opening Concert, Toyota Park 7pm
Sunday 17 Toyota Star Maker Grand Final Guest Performance, Toyota Park 7pm
Tuesday 19 EP Launch, Longyard Hotel, Tamworth NSW 12noon
Tuesday 19 Music For McGrath, Tamworth Town Hall NSW 7pm