Back Roads: Feb 20

In the season final of Back Roads Heather Ewart is on a musical road trip with singer-songwriter Josh Arnold, hitching a ride on one of his small-town tours through western Queensland.

Josh is a Golden Guitar winner who has worked with some of the biggest names in the Australian country music industry but it’s the children of the outback who are the stars of this show.

The episode starts in the iconic tourist town of Birdsville. Next stop, Heather and Josh head north to Dajarra and on to Camooweal on the edge of the Northern Territory border.

In 2011, Josh gave up the big stage for the bush classroom, to help kids in small towns find their voice through music. Collaborating with the students – and some of the more seasoned locals – to write the lyrics for a town anthem. The locals get the chance to share their unique story with the world and star in their own music video.

Josh is a small-town boy himself, growing up in Tara on Queensland’s Darling Downs, and tells Heather how important it is for local kids to feel proud of their hometowns.

8pm Monday on ABC.