The acclaimed songwriter and INXS co-founder returns to the Grand Ole Opry tonight to celebrate the release of his deeply personal 12-song collection exploring truth, hope, home and the lifelong search for meaning
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Friday, July 10, 2026 — Andrew Farriss, one of Australia’s most respected songwriters and artists, releases his new album, The Prospector, today through Rockingham Holdings Pty Ltd / AWAL (The Orchard).
Produced entirely by Farriss and mastered by Don Bartley, the 12-song Country/Americana collection represents a deeply personal new chapter for the INXS co-founder and contributing songwriter. Shaped by decades of international experience, the storytelling traditions of country and folk music, and the steady rhythm of life on Farriss’ New South Wales farm, The Prospector examines what people spend their lives pursuing—and what they may discover along the way.
“The Prospector’s not just about looking for gold or silver; it’s about looking at things in life, and that’s why I called it The Prospector,” Farriss recently told The Music.
Tonight, Farriss will celebrate the album’s arrival by returning to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. The performance follows his December 2024 Opry debut, when Keith Urban joined him onstage for a special performance of the INXS classic “Never Tear Us Apart.”
“I couldn’t believe it,” Farriss recently said of being invited to perform at the Opry on the album’s release date. “It’s beyond reality. I’m a very, very fortunate person.”
For Farriss, The Prospector is more than an album title. It is a statement of purpose—an exploration of the things people seek in careers, relationships, communities, faith and the world around them.
Across the album, Farriss draws parallels between the traditional image of a prospector searching the earth for something valuable and the emotional, spiritual and personal searching that defines the human experience. The songs examine ambition and belonging, hardship and hope, honesty and deception, the value of home, and the importance of remaining observant in a rapidly changing world.
“The important thing is to keep searching for the light, love and happiness rather than searching for the dark side of life,” Farriss says.
The album opens with “Gold Rush To Ghost Town,” a meditation on the cycle of promise, prosperity and disappearance that can shape towns, relationships and individual lives. “Southern Cross Shines” reflects Farriss’ connection to Australia, while “Rolling Home” explores the emotional pull between ambition and belonging—the dream of leaving, the ache of distance and the realization that home may hold more meaning than the world beyond it first promised.
Elsewhere, songs including “Honesty,” “Mending Fences,” “Before You,” “Something Stronger,” “Truth or Consequences,” “Someone For Everyone,” “Looking Everywhere,” “I’ve Got Eyes On It” and “I’ll See You Again” move between intimate reflection, character-driven storytelling and Farriss’ observations of modern culture.
“Truth or Consequences” was inspired in part by Farriss’ travels through the American Southwest and his interest in the history, landscapes and real-life characters of the region. “I’ve Got Eyes On It” examines conflict, power and the idea that not everything people see or hear is necessarily what it appears to be. “Looking Everywhere,” written with Nashville songwriter Jacob Reese Thornton, reflects the broader observational theme that eventually helped Farriss recognize the album’s central identity.
The record also includes songs written by Farriss alone as well as collaborations with Stephen Wilson Jr., Leigh Nash, Steve Bogard, Sam James, Jess Chalker, Ciaran Gribbin, Lawrie Minson, Ryan Necci, Jacob Reese Thornton, Buck Johnson and Wally Brandt.
The Prospector arrives with an expanding visual component that includes six official music videos and an additional lyric video. The previously released songs have introduced audiences to the album’s wide-ranging musical and narrative landscape while reinforcing Farriss’ evolution as a solo Country/Americana artist.
Farriss has recently been featured by CountryTown, MNPR Magazine, WCCB-TV Charlotte, Music Talkers, WOAI / News 4 San Antonio (Sinclair News), Noise11, That Eric Alper, musicradar, Cleveland.com / The Plain Dealer, The Music, American Songwriter, AOL and Scenstr.
The album marks Farriss’ second full-length solo release, following his 2021 self-titled debut. That project delivered high-rotation singles including “Come Midnight” and “Good Momma Bad,” while “You Are My Rock” reached the U.S. Billboard Indicator Top 100. In 2022, “With The Kelly Gang” earned a Golden Guitar nomination for Heritage Song of the Year, recognizing Farriss’ storytelling rooted in Australian history.
Earlier this year, INXS received its first nomination for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and was honored with the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music at the 2026 APRA Music Awards.
As a co-founder and contributing songwriter of INXS, Farriss helped shape one of the most influential bands in modern music. The group sold more than 70 million records worldwide and achieved ten Australian Top 10 singles, seven U.S. Top 10 singles, three Grammy nominations, a BRIT Award, multiple MTV Music Awards, seven ARIA Awards and induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
With The Prospector, Farriss honors that creative legacy while establishing a distinct body of solo work rooted in country, Americana, folk traditions and lived experience.
“I’ve been songwriting since I was a teenager,” Farriss says. “The challenge is always there to get it right.”
THE PROSPECTOR TRACK LISTING:
- Gold Rush To Ghost Town — Official Video
- Southern Cross Shines — Official Video
- Rolling Home — Official Video
- Honesty
- Mending Fences — Official Video
- Before You
- Something Stronger — Official Video
- Truth or Consequences
- Someone For Everyone — Official Video | Official Lyric Video
- Looking Everywhere
- I’ve Got Eyes On It
- I’ll See You Again
THE PROSPECTOR ALBUM INFORMATION
Artist: Andrew Farriss
Album: The Prospector
Release date: July 10, 2026
Genre: Country / Americana
Label: Rockingham Holdings Pty Ltd
Distribution: AWAL / The Orchard
Producer: Andrew Farriss
Mastering: Don Bartley
Formats: Digital album, CD and vinyl
UPC / Barcode: 199806738337
Listen / purchase: andrewfarriss.ffm.to/theprospector
ANDREW FARRISS ON TOUR:
- 07/10 Nashville, Tenn. / Grand Ole Opry
- 07/20 Lexington, Ky. / WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour
- 08/06 Brisbane, QLD / Black Bear Lodge
- 08/07 Central Mangrove, NSW / Blues on the Mountain
- 08/08 Canberra, ACT / Smith’s Alternative
- 08/09 Pakenham, VIC / Cardinia Cultural Centre
Tickets and additional information are available at AndrewFarriss.com/tour.
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ABOUT ANDREW FARRISS:
Andrew Farriss is one of Australia’s most respected songwriters and artists, and the co-founder and contributing songwriter of INXS. His present-day creative world is shaped by global experience, narrative songwriting and the steady rhythm of life on his New South Wales farm, where he raises cattle, grows grain and writes.
In 2024, Farriss reached a major milestone when he made his Grand Ole Opry debut, with Keith Urban appearing as a special guest during his performance. The night placed him on one of the most respected stages in music and marked an important step in his evolution as a solo artist.
Farriss’ solo work reveals a personal and character-driven side of his songwriting. His 2021 self-titled debut album delivered radio favorites including “Come Midnight” and “Good Momma Bad,” while “You Are My Rock” reached the U.S. Billboard Indicator Top 100. In 2022, “With The Kelly Gang” earned a Golden Guitar nomination for Heritage Song of the Year for its storytelling rooted in Australian history.
Earlier in his career, Farriss helped shape one of the most influential bands in modern music. INXS sold more than 70 million records worldwide, achieving ten Australian Top 10 singles, seven U.S. Top 10 singles, three Grammy nominations, a BRIT Award, multiple MTV Music Awards, seven ARIA Awards and induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
INXS received its first Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination in 2026 and was honored with the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music at the 2026 APRA Music Awards.
Farriss continues to write and produce for other artists. His work has earned recognition including an ARIA Award for Producer of the Year and induction into the Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame.
CONNECT WITH ANDREW FARRISS
Website: AndrewFarriss.com
Facebook: facebook.com/AndrewFarrissMusic
Instagram: instagram.com/Andrew_Farriss
X: x.com/Andrew_Farriss
TikTok: tiktok.com/@andrew_farriss
YouTube: youtube.com/c/AndrewFarrissMusic
Spotify: Andrew Farriss on Spotify
Apple Music: Andrew Farriss on Apple Music
