Singer Nat Conway shocked at conditions farmers are facing

NAT Conway, who will perform at the Hay Mate: Buy A Bale — A Concert For The Farmers, was shocked to see the conditions they were enduring after scouting locations for a new video clip. The government will crack down on scalpers trying to make money from the concert.

• Singers to headline drought concert
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WHEN the drought completely changed the look of Sydney dance pop singer Nat Conway’s new film clip, she decided to do everything she could to help farmers in need.

Conway will perform her new single, So Loud, for the first time in Australia at Hay Mate: Buy A Bale — A Concert For The Farmers at Scully Park in Tamworth on October 27.

The video was shot at the renowned Simeon Stud in Dural.

Singer Nat Conway was shocked at the horrid conditions farmers are going through after scouting locations for her new music video clip. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

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“Six months ago I went to scout the location and there was thick, green, knee-high grass everywhere but when I went back to shoot there was nothing but dirt,” Conway said.

“If that’s what it’s like so close to Sydney, it made me realise how hard it must be for drought-affected farmers out west.”

The drought is taking hold of farmers across the country. Picture: Nigel Hallett

While there has been some rainfall, it is not enough for many farmers. Some are still waiting for rain. Picture: Dylan Robinson

While Conway can imagine the barren farms around Tamworth, local farmer and INXS composer Andrew Farriss is living through the driest 18 months on record.

Farriss, who will play a mixture of INXS hits and his own songs at the Hay Mate concert, lives on a 1550ha farm an hour out of Tamworth. According to Farriss, the severity and length of the current drought has become a “test of character” for farmers across the state.

John Farnham is one of the headlines of the concert. Picture: Jay Town

Guy Sebastian is also set to perform. Picture: Annette Dew

As will The Veronicas. Picture: AAP Image Steve Pohlner

She will be performing at the concert late next month. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“City people need to pay attention because without food from farmers we’re all stuffed,” he said.

The concert line-up also includes John Farnham, Daryl Braithwaite, The Veronicas, Guy Sebastian, Jon Stevens, Aleyce Simmonds, Adam Harvey and Tim Wheatley. All profits will go to farming charity Rural Aid.

Time to rein in charity scalpers

THE state government will crack down on scalpers trying to make money from the drought relief charity concert.

Controversial website Viagogo is selling what should be $99 tickets for the October 27 Hay Mate charity concert for as much as $218 each.

However, there are still tickets for the Tamworth event on sale for the original price from official outlet Ticketmaster.

Viagogo’s prices flout laws that came into place this year stating tickets cannot be ­resold for more than 10 per cent of original face value .

“I’m disgusted that Viagogo continues to take NSW consumers for a ride,” Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said.