COUNTRY stars are always keen to help out where they can and, at this year’s festival, they’re keen to assist the victims of bushfires across Australia.
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The biggest names in Australian country music are joining forces to lend support through song with a special concert at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre.
The one-off all-star show will be held at 12.30pm on Thursday, January 24.
The artists and musicians who will give their time for free to raise money for Country Relief – A Concert for the Red Cross Tasmania 2013 Appeal include Lee Kernaghan, the Wolfe Brothers, Morgan Evans, Marcus Meier and the Topp Twins.
The idea for the concert came from the generosity of rising country stars and Tasmanian locals the Wolfe Brothers.
The Australia’s Got Talent finalists rang their management, offering to give up their gig at the venue on the day if there was an opportunity for a concert like this, and many other country artists were quick to jump on board.
“We’ve just been told of the list of artists who are performing and confirmed and we are completely blown out,” Tom Wolfe said.
“We have many friends who have been affected by the fires here in Tasmania.
“To be able to help in our own small way feels right, and to be a part of such a massive line-up is a real honour for us.
"Country Relief – A Concert for the Red Cross Tasmanian Bushfire 2013 Appeal is going to be a special event, where artists come together in an effort to do what we can for communities facing hardship.
“What I can say to everyone who will be in Tamworth for the festival is that the list of artists who have volunteered to perform at this event is one of the biggest line-ups I have ever seen in one show.”
Lee said he wanted to make sure the affected families knew Australia was thinking of them, and that the artists wanted to support them as much as possible.
“When we see country communities affected by natural disasters like these bush fires it is overwhelming,” Lee said.
More major acts are set to be announced over the next few days, as well as special surprise guests at the concert.
While names are yet to be revealed, the promoter and Tamworth Regional Council have confirmed this event may be the biggest star billing of the 2013 festival.
The special concert event, which is set to be a major highlight of the 2013 Tamworth Country Music Festival, has been made possible by the support provided by Tamworth Regional Council which was essential for the concert to take place.
“I would like to congratulate and offer my full support to the wonderful efforts of all those involved in the organisation of the Country Relief – A Concert for the Red Cross Tasmania 2013 Appeal,” Tamworth mayor Col Murray said.
“Being a country man myself and based on a rural property, I have first-hand knowledge of the kind of devastation and heart ache caused by dangerous bushfires.
“I sympathise with the grief my fellow countrymen have experienced in the recent bushfires across Australia.
“The Tamworth region is predominantly a rural region and the country people of Tamworth are exposed to the dangers of fire on a regular basis.
“We understand and sympathise with our neighbours in NSW and across Australia and we would like to offer our support of this great cause.”
All ticket sales will support the Red Cross Tasmanian Bushfire 2013 Appeal.
Tickets are on sale from 9am today from www.visittamworth.com, by calling 6767 5300 or from the Tamworth Visitor Information Centre (corner of Peel and Murray streets).
More artists will be announced in coming days.
