100% Home Grown, February 2026: The musical legacy of the Southern Highlands
In the Southern Highlands, music travels the same way stories do. It’s carried through pubs and halls, down back roads, across kitchen tables and into community radio studios. This February, 100% Home-Grown is celebrating that legacy by revisiting a collection of past featured artists whose songs continue to shape the region’s sound prove that “local” can still feel limitless.
Across February on Highland FM, our broadcasters will be spinning tracks that spotlight the breadth of the Southern Highlands musical scene. From heartfelt country storytelling to foot-stomping folk, blues, roots and rock-infused energy; these songs are a reminder that the Highlands does not just produce artists – It produces chapters in Australia
Spotlighted artists
Angus Murray was featured as Artist of the Month in May 2022. Raised in a musical family, Angus has been performing from a young age and brings a genre-spanning acoustic style that reflects the Southern Highlands’ next generation of live performers.
Ben Malone was Artist of the Month in October 2022. A Southern Highlands multi-instrumentalist, Ben has become a familiar face on local stages while also touring nationally, contributing to the region’s strong culture of versatile, collaborative musicians.
Dan Challis was the 100% Home-Grown Artist of the Month in September 2022. A troubadour-style songwriter, Dan’s music reflects lived experience and a strong touring ethos, contributing to the region’s reputation for thoughtful, story-led acoustic music.
Dr. Gumbo were the 100% Home-Grown Artist of the Month in February 2025. The band features Richelle “Bootsie” Booth (sax, flute, vocals, percussion), Stefan Sernek (accordion, vocals), James Kelly (guitar, vocals) and Adam Barnard (drums, washboard, vocals), delivering a high-energy blend of Cajun, zydeco, blues and jazz.
Jerikye Williams was spotlighted as Artist of the Month in June 2022. A Wiradjuri man with a love for classic rock’n’roll, Jerikye blends Indigenous heritage with blues, rock and jazz influences, bringing electrifying energy and cultural depth to every performance.
Jo Caseley was spotlighted as Artist of the Month in March 2023. A seasoned songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Jo’s work is defined by rich storytelling and genre-spanning performances rooted in decades of experience.
John Kane and Andy Gordon are long-time musicians whose collaboration reflects a shared love of place and groove-driven roots music. Drawing on years of experience across bands, studios and schools, their music captures the spirit of Kangaroo Valley and the wider Highlands community.
Peter Campbell was the 100% Home-Grown Artist of the Month in November 2025. A Southern Highlands songwriter known for poetic, socially conscious folk music, his work reflects decades of lived experience and a deep commitment to storytelling with heart and purpose.
Ron Callaghan was Artist of the Month in January 2025. A proud Walbunja and Dhungutti man, Ron’s music blends country, blues and rock with First Nations storytelling, reflecting both cultural heritage and a long career of community-focused music making.
Ross Webb & The Rusted Track trace their Home-Grown legacy back to October 2021, when Ross Webb was featured as Artist of the Month. With Ross at the helm, the band has played a key role in shaping the modern country and roots scene of the Southern Highlands.
Sara Berki was the 100% Home-Grown Artist of the Month in December 2021. Beginning her career in the Southern Highlands, Sara has gone on to national recognition, showcasing the region’s ability to nurture emerging country artists with global potential.
The Water Runners were Artist of the Month in January 2022. The band features John Littrich (guitar, vocals), Neil McCann (banjo, mandolin, vocals), James Turk (double bass), Danita Harris (violin) and Dom Littrich (percussion), and are known for their four-part harmonies and storytelling-focused roots sound.
Two If By Sea were the 100% Home-Grown Artist of the Month in March 2022. Made up of Rachel Johnston and Trent Arkleysmith, the duo combine folk, bluegrass and classical influences into harmony-driven music inspired by tradition and place.
We Mavericks were the 100% Home-Grown Artist of the Month in April 2022. The duo of Lindsay Martin and Victoria Vigenser are known for powerful harmonies and emotionally rich songwriting, helping carry the Southern Highlands folk sound to audiences well beyond the region.
Whether you’ve followed these artists since their first Home-Grown spotlight, or you’re discovering them for the first time, consider this your February invitation. Turn it up, lean in and hear how the Southern Highlands keeps leaving its fingerprints on the airwaves.
