A TAMWORTH artist and her musical mate are spearheading a Tamworth Country Music Festival fundraiser for mental health.
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Allison Forbes is no stranger to the festival spotlight and she’s using her voice to give one to those suffering from mental illness.
Together with her friend Ryan Daykin they’ve put together the Music for Mates concert supporting the R U OK organisation.
Festival goers are invited to attend the concert at The Albert Hotel from 1.30pm on Wednesday where a stellar line-up of stars including Golden Guitar and ARIA winners will take to the stage. All are donating their own time and musical super powers for the cause.
Tickets are $20 with Forbes naming the big event a highlight on her festival calendar.
“All of the proceeds are going to R U OK? and to help the work that they do and help people start the life changing conversation of getting their friends to talk to them if they need to,” she said.
“We have a whole bunch of awesome artists that we’ve managed to get together somehow and they’re all going to be doing a couple of songs each.
For Forbes, the project was personal.
“I had someone who I knew quite well pass away from suicide last year and It affected a lot of my friends and a lot of friends in the music circle,” she said.
“We were moved to do something, we decided to put this together and we wanted to get R U OK? involved and they’ve jumped on board and supported it.
“It’s going to be a really awesome afternoon and the most important $20 anyone will spend during the festival.”
Forbes herself also had a busy festival schedule with plenty of gigs around the city. For her, the Festival is about good music and great friends.
“It’s exciting, I’m feeling pretty good about it,” she said.
“I’ve really tried to push the Medicine Show Sessions which is something that I came up with a few years ago. I’m taking a bit more of a hosting role this year, I have some great artists that’ll be jumping up and doing the sessions.
“The whole idea of it is a chilled out, acoustic songwriter’s show, it’s more about people connecting with the songs.
“It’s a really comfortable atmosphere and is upstairs at the Tudor Hotel.
“It’s a nice environment for people to sit in the cool, have a rest from the crowds and just chill out and listen to some really awesome music these people have written.
“It’s a nice thing to know that there are little places all through the town where you can actually chill out and get away from all of it and sit back and listen to some great original music.”
For more information on where you can catch Allison Forbes, check your daily gig guide or visit https://www.facebook.com/AllisonForbesMusic/.
*If you or someone you know is having a difficult time, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
