Sara Storer takes the stories of the Australian bush back on the road

There are few Australian songwriters who capture the people, places and everyday experiences of rural Australia quite like Sara Storer.

Her songs have always had a way of finding something meaningful in the ordinary, whether it's the character of a small country town, the realities of life on the land or the relationships that hold communities together. It's an approach to songwriting that has earned her a devoted following over more than two decades, and this October and November, she'll be returning to New South Wales for another run of shows on her "Worth Your Love" tour, joined by special guest Luke Vassella.

Since releasing her debut album "Chasing Buffalo" in 2001, Sara has built a career around telling Australian stories in her own voice. There's an honesty to her writing that doesn't rely on grand gestures or unnecessary embellishment. Instead, she draws on the language, landscapes and characters of regional Australia, giving her songs a familiarity that resonates with people who know those places and an insight for those who don't. Her achievements along the way have been considerable, including an ARIA Award for Best Country Album and an extraordinary 22 Golden Guitar Awards, placing her among the most decorated artists in Australian country music.

But awards only tell part of the story. What has made Sara such an enduring artist is her ability to write songs that feel genuinely connected to the country and the people she's singing about. There's a strong tradition of storytelling in Australian music, from the bush balladeers through to the contemporary singer-songwriters who continue to explore our national character, and Sara has become an important part of that lineage. Her songs don't simply describe rural Australia from a distance; they give a voice to its people, its humour, its hardships and the quieter moments that often say the most.

It's a quality that hasn't gone unnoticed by some of Australia's most respected musicians. John Williamson, whose own songs have helped define the sound of Australian country music for generations, has been particularly generous in his praise.

‘I have always been blown away by Sara's voice and her songwriting. In fact, if I am asked who is the one to carry the flame on the road behind me, I say Sara without a doubt.’

That's quite an endorsement from an artist who knows a thing or two about turning Australian stories into songs. Kasey Chambers has spoken about the purity of Sara's songwriting and its ability to reach people on an emotional level, while Lee Kernaghan has praised the way her music captures the spirit of the bush. *Rolling Stone* has also recognised her as one of the country's finest lyricists.

What makes those observations particularly relevant is that Sara has never needed to chase musical trends to remain interesting. Her strength lies in the songs themselves, in the details of a story and the way she delivers it. She has continued to build her audience by staying close to the things that first inspired her, while allowing her music to develop naturally over the years.

And there's something particularly fitting about hearing those songs in a live setting. Australian country music has always had a close relationship with the road, with artists travelling between regional towns, community halls, country pubs and theatres, often performing in places that rarely receive visits from the bigger touring productions. It's in those rooms that storytelling really comes into its own, where an audience can settle in, listen to the words and recognise something of their own lives in the music.

The next leg of Sara's "Worth Your Love" tour will take her through four New South Wales venues, beginning in Queanbeyan before travelling to Albion Park Rail, Abermain in the Hunter Valley and finishing at the Brass Monkey in Cronulla. Joining her for the shows is special guest Luke Vassella, adding another Australian singer-songwriter to the evening.

For longtime followers, the tour is an opportunity to reconnect with an artist whose songs have become part of the Australian country music landscape. For those discovering her for the first time, it's a chance to hear why Sara Storer has earned such respect from fellow musicians and audiences alike.

There's no shortage of artists writing songs about Australia, but the ones who leave a lasting impression tend to be those who understand that the best stories aren't always the biggest or loudest. Sometimes they're found in a familiar place, an ordinary conversation or a moment that might otherwise pass unnoticed. Sara Storer has spent much of her career finding those moments and turning them into music, and that's what continues to make her songs worth hearing.

Sara Storer – "Worth Your Love" Tour with special guest Luke Vassella

Thursday 29 October 2026 – The Royal Hotel, 85 Monaro Street, Queanbeyan, NSW
Friday 30 October 2026 – Oaks Hotel Motel – The Green Room, 249 Princes Highway, Albion Park Rail, NSW
Saturday 31 October 2026 – QIRKZ in the Hunter, 141 Cessnock Road, Abermain, NSW
Sunday 1 November 2026 – Brass Monkey, 115A Cronulla Street, Cronulla, NSW