Birds of Tokyo headline AFL GF with John Butler, Eskimo Joe and Stella Donnelly

The AFL grand final entertainment will feature an all-Aussie line-up including John Butler and feature spots from Men At Work’s Colin Hay and Baker Boy.

When Birds of Tokyo were leaked as the AFL grand final headliners last weekend, frontman Ian Kenny’s phone lit up with a similar message from his mates.

“Just don’t Meatloaf it!”

“Every time the grand final comes around, everyone remembers that happened. The poor bugger just had a bad gig and unfortunately it was in front of a lot of eyeballs,” Kenny said.

“It actually pains me that he had to go through that as a performer but at the same time, that just won’t ever happen again, right?”

Birds of Tokyo have grand final form having played the pre-match gig in 2013. Picture: AAP.

The Birds of Tokyo are one of the bands most likely to dodge the great grand final gig curse.

They have history with the AFL GF having performed at the pre-match show in 2013 and have played enough big outdoor events to be match fit for the challenge of convincing 60,000 people in Perth Stadium they are worthy of the coveted half-time slot.

For the pre-match entertainment, the AFL has assembled a starstudded line-up of artists based in Western Australia including John Butler, Eskimo Joe, Abbe May, Stella Donnelly, The Waifs’ Donna Simpson and Vikki Thorn and Indigenous duo Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse.

Proud west Australian John Butler will be part of the pre-match show. Picture: Supplied.

Other artists to feature during the opening show are Men At Work’s Colin Hay and

proud Yolngu man, rapper and Young Australian of the Year, Danzal Baker aka Baker Boy.

Footy music man Mike Brady will beam in his traditional spot from Melbourne.

Like many of Australia’s musicians, the Birds of Tokyo are big AFL fans with Kenny and the band revamping the West Coast Eagles club song last year.

Birds of Tokyo will be down a man with Adam Spark (second from right) stuck in Sydney. Picture: Supplied.

“Over our career, we’ve had a few times to be a part of these magic moments where Australian sport and music comes together,” Kenny said.

“From a performance point of view, these stadiums are a beast of their own because you’re talking 60,000 people, not to mention 3.2 million sets of eyeballs watching on the TV and the band welcomes those challenges; it’s not our first rodeo.”

Their ranks have been depleted by one member, with guitarist and producer Adam Spark stuck in locked-down Sydney. Other east coast members made it over in time to quarantine with drummer Adam Weston, based in Queensland, getting out just in time for rehearsals at the ground next Thursday.

Frontman Ian Kenny and his bandmates will be joined by the WASO. Picture: News Corp Australia.

The Perth band has lined up a rather large crew of special guests, with the famed West Australian Symphony Orchestra performing and Spark helping to create the orchestrations.

The setlist will feature a selection of their biggest hits – think Plans, I’d Go With You Anywhere and Good Lord – but they have resisted indulging using the grand final stage to premiere their new single Superglue, released this week.

That song was written and recorded by the five musicians during various states of lockdown from their respective home studios around the country and features guest vocalist Bonnie Fraser of punk band Stand Atlantic.

“I think the next opportunity we will get to play the new single live for the first time will be when we’re all back together for the next show or whatever comes up after the grand final,” Kenny said.

As for the ubiquitous trolls raring to unleash social media hell on them after their performance next weekend, Kenny says go your hardest.

“I haven’t bitten once in my whole career of 17 years, I really don’t give a shit and that stuff makes no difference to why we choose to do the things we do,” he says.

“We’ve got thick skins.”

The grand final is a dream gig for Stella Donnelly. Picture: Supplied.

Indie singer songwriter Stella Donnelly capture the excitement most artists experience when they get the call-up for a grand final gig.

““Every year when we watch the AFL grand final my Dad says, ‘it could be you next year love’, and I say, ‘Dad, you know I can’t play footy!’ she said.

“But in all seriousness, I can’t believe I have been given this opportunity, I am a lifelong fan

of the game so to be on that stage performing will be a huge spin out, and to be doing it with John, Gina, Guy, Donna and Vikki makes it even more special.”