FOR the second year in a row, R U OK? ambassador and performer Travis Collins will lead the way in uniting country music fans around a common message - R U OK? - at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
The three times Golden Guitar winner and passionate suicide prevention ambassador will host a special R U OK? concert – Conversations in the Park - in Tamworth, on Saturday January 27.
It will follow after the 2018 Toyota Country Music Cavalcade.
Collins’ intention is to empower festival-goers with the skills to support anybody who might be struggling with life.
“R U OK? is a cause that’s very close to my heart. As an R U OK? ambassador, I’m really proud to be bringing, ‘Conversations in the Park’ to the festival again,” he said.
“I’ve seen so many of my own mates’ do it tough and bottle things up so now I make sure I call them while I’m driving, waiting at the airport or if I can swing by and visit, even better.
“We’ve got to make time for it. It’s got to become second nature to keep checking in on our family and mates, and giving them the space to feel safe to open up.
“I want the country music community – my other much-loved family – to walk away from this event feeling like they have the skills and confidence to do that.”
Collins will also perform along with Amber Lawrence and other surprise high-profile artists for an afternoon of great music and meaningful storytelling.
R U OK? CEO Brendan Maher said it was not always easy to talk about the things that keep us awake at night.
“If someone’s doing it tough, they won’t always tell you. In areas where there’s fewer services and more isolation – trusting our gut instinct and reaching out to someone who’s struggling will at least let them know that somebody cares,” Mr Maher said.
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“We’re grateful for the massive effort put in by Travis and the other artists who’ll be performing at Conversations in the Park, and can’t wait for the opportunity to connect with people from all across the country.
“We know this special event will resonate with festival-goers and hope they come away a little better prepared and more confident to have a hard conversation with someone in their world who’s struggling.”
- What: Free event, ‘Conversations in the Park’
- Venue: Small stage, Toyota Park
- Time: 12.30pm to 2.30pm
- Date: Saturday, Jan 27, 2018.