William Crighton Shares New Single ‘Beautiful Country’

The track is the latest single taken from William Crighton’s upcoming fourth studio album, Colonial Drift.

Image supplied

Australian singer-songwriter William Crighton has shared another taste of upcoming album Colonial Drift in the form of new track ‘Beautiful Country’.

Following the previously released single ‘Further Down the Road’ and its B-side ‘Sex, Death and Choices’, Crighton’s latest is a psych-rock ode to country, incorporating didgeridoo and vocal harmonies.

Co-written with his wife, Julieanne Crighton and Luke Davison, “‘Beautiful Country’ is a celebration of the beauty and power of this country,” explains William. “I never feel alone in the bush. Sometimes I fail to hear, but she's always calling and always there. It was a great honour to have our dear mate and collaborator William Barton join us on Yidaki for this track too."

The track is accompanied by a music video directed by Julieanne Crighton that features William pushing a trolley through a stormdrain.

Arriving Friday 20 March via ABC Music (pre-order/pre-save here), Colonial Drift is the much-anticipated follow-up to Williams’ ARIA Award-winning 2022 record Water and Dust.

Written in collaboration with his wife Julieanne and recorded at The Grove Studios by Damian Charles and in William’s own home studio, Colonial Drift includes contributions from Jeff Lang, William Barton, Jim Moginie (Midnight Oil), Matt Sherrod (Crowded House), Chris Dale (Melody Pool, Ben Leece),  Reuben Alexander (Ratcat, Ben Folds) and more.

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Crighton is commemorating the release of Colonial Drift with a tour of Australia and New Zealand this April and May.

The tour kicks off in Brisbane with a gig at Old Museum on Saturday 11 April. This is followed by concerts at Adelaide’s Lion Arts Factory on Friday 17 April, Perth’s The Rechabite on Saturday 18 April, Lower Belford’s The Gum Ball on Saturday 25 April, Castlemaine’s Theatre Royal on Thursday 7 May, Brunswick’s Howler on Friday 8 May and Anglesea’s The Sound Doctor on Saturday 9 May.

Crighton then heads to New Zealand for two shows at Wellington’s San Fran on Wednesday 20 May and Auckland’s Tuning Fork on Thursday 21 May before returning to Australia for the last shows of the tour at Wollongong’s La La La’s on Friday 29 May and Sydney’s Crowbar on Saturday 30 May.

Tickets for all shows are on sale now at williamcrightonmusic.com.au.

Before the release of Colonial Drift, Crighton is supporting The Dead South on tour across Europe before returning to Australia for his own headline tour.

‘Beautiful Country’ by William Crighton is out now. Listen here. Colonial Drift drops on Friday 20 March via ABC Music (pre-order/pre-save here). Catch William Crighton at Lion Arts Factory on Friday 17 April. Tickets on sale at moshtix.com.au.

William Crighton Australian and New Zealand Tour Dates 2026

Saturday 11 April -  Old Museum, Brisbane, QLD

Friday 17 April -  Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide, SA

Saturday 18 April -  The Rechabite, Perth, WA

Saturday 25 April - The Gum Ball, Lower Belford, NSW

Thursday 7 May - Theatre Royal, Castlemaine, VIC

Friday 8 May - Howler, Brunswick, VIC

Saturday 9 May - The Sound Doctor, Anglesea, VIC

Wednesday 20 May -  San Fran, Wellington, NZ

Thursday 21 May - Tuning Fork, Auckland, NZ

Friday 29 May -  La La La's, Wollongong, NSW

Saturday 30 May - Crowbar, Sydney, NSW

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