Curtain to bring bush tales to region

The sounds and songs of the Northern Territory will be freely flowing into the Kimberley as singer Tom Curtain launches his WA tour later this year.

The NT entertainer and songwriter brings tales of the bush with new album, Territory Time, starting his WA journey from Kununurra on November 22 and touring through Willare Bridge Roadhouse on November 24, Broome Rodeo Grounds on November 25 and Bidyadanga on November 26.

The tour will then continue south through Karratha, Wickham, Tom Price and Geraldton before arriving in Manjimup in mid-February.

Curtain will be joined by the Katherine Outback Experience Team featuring dogs and horses, and live music guest Ellen Amy throughout regional WA.

Curtain said the new album documented the slower pace of life in the top end, which could often annoy visitors because of the relaxed way of life.

“Travellers and visitors can get very frustrated because there could be something broken on their caravans and they have to wait, but it’s a bit of a mindset up here that we’re living on Territory time,” he said.

“When I first came up here and I was always rushing around, an old bloke gave me some advice to chill the hell out and just embrace it — there are still a lot of hardworking people, but every now and then, Territory time creeps in. Long days mustering cattle, breaking-in horses and sleeping under the stars every night inspired me to write songs and I couldn’t play guitar when I first came here, but started playing around camp fires.

“When they listen to it, I’m just trying to describe the scenery, the wildlife, the hardworking ringers on the cattle stations because the pastoral industry is a big sector up here.

“There are a lot of times where their backs are against the wall and they push on through, but you’ve just gotta keep trying.”