YOUNG COUNTRY DUO THE CURRY MOB DRAWS CROWDS AT TAMWORTH

BY LUKE BEESON

If you’ve been walking Peel Street this week, you’ve likely heard them before you saw them.

Mika and Blue Curry, known as the Curry Mob, have been busking daily at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, pulling in steady crowds and fresh attention after Ngaarda Media social video gained strong traction online.

“We were a bit blown away,” one of them said, reacting to the number of views and comments. “We didn’t expect that.”

The brother-and-sister duo say the pace has been full-on. “Yeah, a little bit tired from busking,” they said, before laughing and adding that the crowds keep them going.

Last year, the pair won the Junior Golden Gig talent search at Tamworth. They said it was the first award they had ever received and it shifted how they saw themselves as performers.

“It was the first thing we ever won, so we were pretty excited and surprised,” they said. “After that, we just decided we’d come back to Tamworth every year.”

That return has already led to new plans. After the festival, the Curry Mob hopes to head south. “After Tamworth, we’re thinking of going down to Victoria,” they said. “There’s a place called Shepparton where we’re hoping to do a gig.”

Their music draws from well-known country influences. “My favourite artist is John Williams, but my second is Slim Dusty,” one said. The other added, “I like John Denver and Dolly Parton.”

On stage, they say their personalities balance each other out. “I like the crowds and when there’s a lot of people,” Blue said. “I like playing and singing.” Mika described herself as the nervous one, adding with a grin that she also “keeps him out of trouble”.

Despite a packed schedule of busking and club performances, they still look for simple breaks. “We go for a swim down the river,” they said. “It’s better than being hot.”

Music stays with them even when they stop performing. “I’m always hearing it,” one said. “He talks in his sleep and sings.” The response was immediate: “Yeah, I sing in my sleep.”

The online attention hasn’t changed much at school or at home, they say, but people do notice. “Yeah, people ask for photos,” they said quietly.

As Tamworth rolls on, the Curry Mob plans to keep playing wherever they can, building confidence one set at a time. If you stop to listen, they’ll likely be there again tomorrow, guitars in hand, ready to sing.