It promises to be the year’s most unique boutique festival, and the playing times running 3pm to 10pm this Sunday, across four impressive stages, suggests a jam-packed day full of once in a lifetime entertainment options for everyone that makes it.
The Big 40, RTRFM‘s huge party to celebrate their 40th birthday at the Perth Concert Hall features highlights like Red Jezebel playing their classic 2004 album Revelations in full, Abbe May performing with the West Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra, Odette Mercy and Her Soul Atomics performing with a traditional Tongan choir, a gig by 90s post rock explorers Adam Said Galore, hip hop trailblazers Downsyde reimagining their catalogue with strings, Mt Mountain performing their epic album Dust front to back, and songs in Noongar language from Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse.
And then there’s the headline event: RTRFM – A Musical History, combining audio, photos and video from the station’s archives with key songs from WA music history. A collaboration between Dr Adam Trainer (researcher), Davey Craddock (director), Steven Aaron Hughes (projections) and Timothy Nelson (musical director), this one off show will guide the audience through RTRFM’s history with the help of a line up of guest vocalists and musicians.
Add to this DJs from some of RTRFM’s longest running specialist shows (including the reunion of Rok Riley vs Dan The Man), plus TURA and Difficult Listening joining forces for a stage that showcases the station’s more esoteric tastes.
Plus let’s not forget the Slightly Odway Orchestra featuring a number of supergroups putting their spin on WA songs written in 2017, and Kill Devil Hills, Rick Steele, Sunshine Brothers, Grace Barbe Afro Kreol all also hitting the stage. Phew!
Download the playing times HERE and put them somewhere safe.
The Big 40 takes place at Perth Concert Hall this Sunday.
