Brad Cox has released a new single and is heading back on the road — a move that underlines his steady rise in Australian country music and his increasing presence overseas. The ballad, written for his wife, arrives as Cox prepares to launch a national tour that will revisit both his major-label hits and the independent songs that built his following.
New single signals a softer turn
Today Cox unveiled “What Are The Odds”, a slow-burning ballad that leans into intimacy rather than stadium-sized hooks. He says the song was intended for his wedding soundtrack — a personal detail that helps explain the restrained tone — but missed that moment by a couple of years.
The track highlights a quieter side of Cox’s songwriting: reflective lyrics about chance encounters and life’s unpredictable turns, carried by warm acoustic arrangements. For listeners and industry watchers, the single marks a deliberate reminder that Cox writes songs as much for storytelling as for radio rotation.
From the Snowy Mountains to national charts
Cox grew up in Jindabyne, in New South Wales’ Snowy Mountains, and now splits time between touring and life on a small property in central Queensland. His career pivot came in 2018, when he won the Toyota Star Maker competition at Tamworth — a springboard that led to a Sony deal and his self-titled debut.
Subsequent albums have steadily raised his profile. My Mind’s Projection reached No. 12 on the ARIA Albums Chart in 2020; Acres pushed him into the Top 10 in 2023; and after signing with Warner Music Australia in 2024 he returned to the Top 10 with Endemic Intelligence In Multiple Dimensions.
He also experimented with curating for listeners — launching the “Happy Hour Down Under” station on Apple Music in 2021 — though he no longer runs that channel. Industry recognition has followed: Cox is a four-time ARIA Award nominee and is now taking more consistent steps into North American markets after a recent appearance at CMA Fest in Nashville.
Touring, the engine of his career
Live performance remains Cox’s declared priority. He describes playing his own headline shows as the sustaining force in his career, the place where fans show up specifically for his songs rather than a festival lineup. That focus informs the setlists he’s taking on this tour — a mix of newer material and fan favourites from his independent years.
On new recordings beyond this single, Cox is cautious: he’s been writing and laying groundwork but doesn’t expect a new album this year. He says he’s planning the next 18 months carefully so any release will have space to breathe amid touring and international appearances.
- July 17 — Astor Theatre, Perth WA
- July 19 — Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide SA
- July 24 — Hotel Brunswick, Brunswick Heads NSW
- July 25 — Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane QLD
- July 29 — The Station, Jindabyne NSW
- July 31 — Forum, Melbourne VIC
- Aug. 1 — Enmore Theatre, Sydney NSW
- Aug. 8 — Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns QLD
- Sept. 19 — The Whitianga Oceans Festival, Whitianga NZ
- Oct. 10 — Strummingbird Festival, Ballarat VIC
- Oct. 17 — Strummingbird Festival, Newcastle NSW
- Oct. 18 — Strummingbird Festival, Sunshine Coast QLD
For fans, the dates are an opportunity to hear new material in the context of a full catalogue; for Cox, the tour is a practical way to cement momentum as he balances domestic success with growing international exposure.
Between shows, he retreats to central Queensland — a self-described quiet oasis where fruit trees and goats anchor him to home life. That contrast between small-farm tranquillity and life on the road seems to be shaping the music he’s releasing now: intimate, grounded and focused on the human details that can make a simple melody feel essential.
