Sport and music can sometimes make for an awkward pairing, but as last year’s successful relaunch of the AFL Grand Final program proved, with a focus on homegrown stars like The Temper Trap, Paul Kelly, and Tim Rogers, it can also make for an unbeatable double.
Now another sporting body, Tennis Australia, is set to follow that winning serve with an ace musical lineup of Australian acts of their own for the Australian Open 2013, which kicks off in less than a week.
A collection of solo acts, bands, and favourites old and new will all grace the Heineken Live Stage on Grand Slam Oval for the Open, every night of the world-grabbing tennis tournament which runs from 14 to 27 January.
Headlining the entertainment for the finals on the last weekend of the tournament are the uber-talented Julia Stone and Wolfmother, who will be playing at the women’s and men’s finals days respectively. Ms Stone is still flush from an exhaustive 2012 touring schedule in support of her latest solo effort By The Horns, that took her home and abroad, while this March will see her embark on her Heavenly Sounds tour of the country’s cathedrals and churches.
Meanwhile ruffian rockers Wolfmother have been busy working in the studio on their long gestating follow-up to 2009’s Cosmic Egg, with frontman Andrew Stockdale teasing, “we are so close to having this record completed,” meaning that the centre court crowd may be among the first to get a taste of the new material live.
Also performing live on Grand Slam Oval are The Rubens, who’ve had an equally prolific twelve months and will be kick-starting proceedings on opening night of the Australian Open. Paul Dempsey, of beloved Melbourne trio Something For Kate, will perform the following evening in the solo setting, with sets from Darren Percival, Prinnie & Mahalia, and Evermore rounding out the opening week.
Heineken will be presenting a surprise act on the Saturday the 19th – dubbed Heineken Day – while the Sunday stage will belong to former Noiseworks and INXS singer, Jon Stevens. The second week will feature performances from Mark Seymour, cover band Rewind 80s, Jason Singh and Band, Bluejuice, and Darryl Braithwaite.
The hour-long sets will start from 6pm each night and are free to ticket holders to the Australian Open 2013 at the Heineken Live Stage on Grand Slam Oval, for tickets to the Open, head to Ticketek.com.au
Australian Open 2013 Grand Slam Oval Entertainment Lineup
Heineken Live Stage, Grand Slam Oval
All performances 6.00pm-7.00pm
Monday 14th January: The Rubens
Tuesday 15th January: Paul Dempsey
Wednesday 16th January: Darren Percival
Thursday 17th January: Prinnie & Mahalia
Friday 18th January: Evermore
Saturday 19th January: Heineken presents secret feature act
Sunday 20th January: Jon Stevens
Monday 21st January: Mark Seymour
Tuesday 22nd January: Rewind 80s
Wednesday 23rd January: Jason Singh and Band
Thursday 24th January: Bluejuice
Friday 25th January: Daryl Braithwaite
Saturday 26th January: Julia Stone
Sunday 27th January: Wolfmother
