Despite a strong focus on promoting Australian music the last two years, the AFL have decided to ditch local talent for the Grand Final this year in favour of international singers for the match’s high-profile musical entertainment.
The footy season’s day of days will star Welsh crooner Tom Jones and chart-straddling British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, who will both perform as pre-game entertainment and at a post-premiership after party open to the general public following the Grand Final match.
Beyond the 74-year-old ‘What’s New Pussycat?’ hit-maker and Ed ‘The Most Powerful Figure In Black & Urban Music‘ Sheeran, the AFL has also booked Olivia Newton-John to sing the national anthem, while Mike Brady will also be wheeled out to perform a new version of his novelty 1979 footy classic, ‘Up There Cazaly’.
As well as downgrading Aussie artists from the marquee performances, AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan also explains to The Age that the musical entertainment will be pushed back to its traditional pre-game slot for the 2014 Grand Final after experimenting with a half-time show format for the past two premierships.
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In the wake of the disastrous backlash to 2011’s Meat Loaf monstrosity, the AFL decided to change its entertainment focus, providing The Temper Trap, You Am I frontman Tim Rogers, and Paul Kelly for the 2012 Grand Final. Following a successful reception, the then-pleased AFL declared they’d be keeping the new format.
Last year upped the all-Aussie ante, providing the commercial appeal in Birds Of Tokyo’s pre-bounce performance, while the reunited Hunters & Collectors graced the half-time stage, performing a set that included their synonymous footy anthem ‘Holy Grail’.
Speaking to the Official AFL website today, Mr McLachlan explains that booking Tom Jones and Ed Sheeran is to “have performers to please everyone.”
The AFL CEO adds: “To have two iconic international stars perform at the Grand Final is befitting the biggest event on the national sporting calendar. Sir Tom Jones’ record as one of the greatest and most enduring singers ever speaks for itself while Ed Sheeran is arguably the hottest property in music today.”
“Having spent some time in Australia recently I know just how popular the game is and how big an event this will be.”As well as ensuring “the entertainment on Grand Final day will resonate with a wide spectrum of our fans,” the AFL has also put a freeze on ticket prices to this year’s premiership.
Sheeran, whose new album X has been a consistent seller Down Under (and is currently #9 on the ARIA Albums Chart), explains that accepting the invitation to perform at the Grand Final was an easy choice. “It wasn’t a hard decision to agree to perform on such a big stage for the biggest sport in Australia,” Sheeran says in a statement. “Having spent some time in Australia recently I know just how popular the game is and how big an event this will be.”
Meanwhile, Sir Tom Jones said he was “thrilled” at the chance to perform in front of a touted crowd of over 100,000 footy fans at this September’s final. “I also know that Australian football has really passionate fans so it’ll be great to be a part of the atmosphere and excitement on the day,” he adds.
Mushroom’s Michael Gudinski, producer of AFL Grand Final entertainment, called the British-flavoured Grand Final entertainment “a great combination of music for all generations,” in the same statement.
“Sir Tom Jones has been entertaining audiences since the early sixties, with 17 number one singles to his name, more than 100 million albums sales and countless sold-out tours. He is a true music icon. Ed Sheeran, in comparison, is a newcomer but he’s making big waves in the music business, with two number one albums already under his belt in just three years. He is one of the brightest stars on the music scene at the moment.”
The 2014 AFL Grand Final is set to take place on Saturday 27th September.
