Katherine's own country music star Tom Curtain has shot to the top of the country music charts.
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His latest single, In The West is today at No.1 on the country's Australian airplay chart after spending two weeks at No. 5.
Whether it is the catchy banjo licks or another terrific music video, the Golden Guitar winner has penned and performed another hit with co-writer and producer Garth Porter.
When he's not writing songs about his life, he's living the songs he writes, as a horse and dog trainer who also runs Katherine Outback Experience with his wife, Annabel, in Katherine, NT.
Although times have been hard in regional, rural and remote areas, Tom is always looking for the positives.
"After touring through the country again in 2019 and 2020 and seeing small communities and townships smashed by the drought, fire and floods, I wanted to write a song that celebrates the good times out here in the bush," he said.
"Co-written with Garth Porter, In The West highlights the fact that, although people in the country endure a lot of hardships, it's also an amazing and inspiring place to live and work."
Lifted from Tom's album, We're Still Here, the song is a hit with live audiences because of the positive messages and imagery throughout.
The title track of that album also hit No. 1.
"We travel and tour in a lot of regional Australia, and the audience out there can associate with the lyrics, and it's also an upbeat, fast-moving song that really gets them on their feet," he said.
"I'm trying to inspire people to hang in there and really look at what is around them.
"At times the bush can be really tough, but it's also an amazing place and we can be grateful of where we are, where we work and the mates that we have out here - we are pretty grateful people and it's good to really highlight that fact."
The accompanying film clip features footage they shot as they travelled through South Australia earlier this year and, in true Tom style, additional imagery came from mates who sent footage that really accentuates the way of life out in the bush.
"We've got people sending in phenomenal footage from everywhere," Tom said.
"Thanks so much for all the support out there and all the radio stations around the country for playing the song," Tom posted online after learning of the No.1.
"A massive thanks also for the love towards the video clip for this song - really means the world.
"My publicist, Rebecca Gracie, The Country Journo, for being instrumental in getting the word out there really appreciate your hard work, Garth Porter who produced and co-wrote the song with me and of course my amazing wife Annabel who is unbelievable!
"Thanks again and have a cracker!"
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