From Territory 'redneck' to accidental country star

Curtain has just finished one of his renowned live shows in a dusty arena at his Katherine home in the Northern Territory, breaking-in rogue horses, teaching dogs new tricks and playing music to an audience of Top End tourists.

The four new pups look set to become a part of his family, a menagerie of horses, dogs and children that hit the road for half the year as Curtain takes his lively show to small towns right around the nation.

"My daughter turned four and she said to me, 'Hey dad, we might as well just keep these because there's four of them and they'll be for my fourth birthday," Curtain tells AAP of the puppies.

"We'll see about that."

It's not unusual for him to pick up the phone while riding a horse, mustering cattle or chasing his dogs around.

Curtain, who runs the Katherine Outback Experience tourism venture while also making Golden Guitar-winning country music, quietly stays connected with fans he's met on tour.

He played to 40,000 people across 65 shows in 2024, mostly in rural outposts that rarely get live events.

Many audience members open up to Curtain about their experiences living through droughts, floods, livestock market slumps and isolation, so he often gets fans' phone numbers to keep in touch.

"I try to ring one person a day just to check in and see how they're doing," he says.

"They just get so stoked I'm ringing. You can hear it in their voice, they're lifted right up.

"I'm just a redneck from the Territory that trains a few horses and dogs, I'm not anyone special but I've done it accidentally."

That brand of self-effacing kindness runs right through his sixth studio album album, Here's To You, released on Friday.

The title track and new single, featuring alt-country singer Laura Frank, is a tribute to the hard-working and resilient people he's met during his years on tour.

One inspiration for the song was a farmer from Western Australia, who told Curtain about his fears for the future as the live sheep trade is phased out.

"He was just starting to tear right up, this big, strong powerful bloke standing in front of me," Curtain recalls.

"But he was still rocking up to work with a smile on his face and the passion and drive to keep his guys motivated and work through everything.

"I really wanted to tip my hat to blue collar fellas who do exactly that - they're hard-working people and they're so down-to-earth and compassionate."

Curtain will get back in his caravan to begin a 70-date tour from October, undoubtedly collecting more stories and songs at every stop.

"I love travelling to little towns, tiny communities, the people there are tough.

"It's about creating an event where they catch-up and just let their hair down for a few hours and be grateful that they're still alive and kickin'." 

Australian Associated Press