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| Aimee Hannan has been performing since she was a child. (ABC New England: Lara Webster) |
By Liana Boss and Lara Webster
ABC New England
Music is infused into so much of Aimee Hannan's life.
Walking into her home, visitors are met with a collection of guitars, and musical symbols decorate the top of her prosthetic leg.
Making her mark on the industry has not always been easy, but it is a pursuit led by her heart.
Aimee faced challenges with her health from a young age and some in the industry assumed her disability would hold her back as a performer.
But undergoing leg-amputation surgery about 13 years ago literally saved her life.
"I have Parkes-Weber Syndrome. Basically it was going to cause massive heart failure because my heart had to work overtime," she said.
"If I kept my leg I would lose my life. That was the option I was given.
"I'm actually stronger because I'm an amputee."
For the love of music
Aimee has been singing for as long as she can remember, and it didn't take long for country music to take hold of her heart.
"When I was about 10 I performed at a street festival singing Rockabilly Rebel and I won the competition, went out and bought my first guitar, and everything sort of went from there," she said.
"I feel like you can tell your story more through country music.
"I want people to be able to not only understand my stories but feel comfortable to share their stories as well."
Aimee has been travelling to the Tamworth Country Music Festival since she was about 12.
This year she's also calling the northern NSW town home.
"Being my first year as a local girl, and a Gamilaraay girl at that, there's an extra special spark in the air," she said.
Mickaela and Mick Curry are siblings known as The Curry Mob. (ABC New England: Lara Webster)
Typhoon, COVID, and country music
Every year as the country music festival hits town buskers from all backgrounds take Tamworth's Peel Street by storm.
Each singer has their own tale of trials and tribulations — from pint-sized guitarists to more mature song writers and balladeers.
Among the crowd favourites is The Curry Mob, a young brother and sister busking duo.
Mickaela and Mick Curry, also known and Mika and Blue, have an incredible story of resilience to share.
They say country music helped them get through a harrowing experience in the Philippines.
"A big typhoon wiped us out and so we had really no choice but to come back to Australia," father Mick Curry Senior said.
This was typhoon Odette in 2021. The family arrived in Australia almost two years ago.
"We started again with nothing but we're a family," he said.
COVID hit soon after the family moved back to Australia, but it was during the pandemic that the family's love of music was born.
"I taught myself how to play guitar during COVID. The kids picked it up off me and they're just off and running," Mick Senior said.
"They've outstripped me, they're going great guns. I'm the roadie now."
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| Mick, Michael, Joy and Mickaela Curry after one of The Curry Mob's busking sets. (ABC New England: Liana Boss) |
For the last two years Mickaela and Mick have been practising their art.
They may still be young, but they love country musicians well before their time — the likes of Johnny Cash, Slim Dusty, and John Denver.
Singing together is something that brings the sibling duo a lot of joy despite all they have endured in their short lives.
"It makes me happy and I feel like having a good time with it," Mick said.
"It's almost like my very good friend that I like playing with me."
"I like music, I've always loved it and it makes me happy too," Mickaela added.
The Tamworth Country Music Festival runs from January 17 to 26.
First published at ABC News, January 23, 2025
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