ARIA award-winning rock band Birds of Tokyo, who are set to tour with Keith Urban later this year, will perform live at the Australian Commercial Radio Awards (the ACRAS) on Saturday, October 29, when the event returns for the first time in three years.
Joining them at the radio industry’s gala night will be First Nations entertainer Mitch Tambo and chart-topping hip hop and pop artist ILLY.
Nearly 1,000 guests are expected to attend the black-tie event at the International Convention Centre in Sydney to recognise outstanding achievement across radio entertainment, music, news, talk, sport and podcasting.
Mitch Tambo
Formed in Perth, Birds of Tokyo have won fans across the country with classic songs like Lanterns and Plans, and have amassed 200,000 plays on radio across 35 songs in the last five years alone, hitting an audience of over one billion. They have won ARIA awards for “Rock Album of the Year” and “Most Popular Australian Band”.
“We’re looking forward to performing at the ACRAs for our radio friends. It’s great we can finally do this in the same room together,” the band said.
Singer-songwriter Mitch Tambo first came to notice when he performed a First Nations version of the John Farnham anthem “You’re the Voice” on the 2019 Finale of Australia’s Got Talent.
“We’re thrilled to have such a creative and diverse lineup of Australian music talent on stage to help us celebrate the return of the ACRAS, the industry is ready for a huge night,” said Ford Ennals, chief executive officer of awards organiser Commercial Radio & Audio.
See also: 2022 ACRAs finalists announced
ILLY
The 33rd annual ACRAS will be hosted by the WSFM breakfast stars Amanda Keller and Brendan Jones (Jonesy & Amanda).
Radio stars from across the country will join the hosts on stage to present awards, including:
Kate Ritchie, Tim Blackwell & Joel Creasey – Nova Network (NOVA Entertainment)
Carrie Bickmore & Tommy Little – Hit Network (SCA)
Abbie Chatfield – Hit Network (SCA)
Ben Fordham – 2GB (Nine Radio)
Ben Harvey and Liam Stapleton (Nova 91.9 Adelaide)
Jimmy Smith & Nath Roye – Hit Network (SCA)
Melissa Doyle, Cameron Daddo and Richard Wilkins – smoothfm (NOVA Entertainment)
Ryan “Fitzy” Fitzgerald & Michael “Wippa” Wipfli – Nova 96.9 (NOVA Entertainment)
Laurel Edwards, Gary Clare and Mark Hine – 4BC Brisbane (Nine Radio)
Tanya Wilks and Steve G – Triple M Newcastle (SCA)
Deborah Knight – 2GB (Nine Radio)
Jon Vertigan – 3MP Melbourne (ACE Radio)
Sofie Formica – 4BC Brisbane (Nine Radio)
The Federal Government’s Special Envoy for the Arts, Susan Templeman, will present the Best Community Service Awards.
The finalists for the Best On Air Team award (FM) are Jonesy & Amanda (WSFM), the Kyle & Jackie O Show (KIIS 106.5), Fitzy & Wippa (Nova 96.9), Kate, Tim & Joel (Nova Network) and The Christian O’Connell Show (Gold 104.3).
The Metropolitan Best On Air Team AM title will be a contest between FIVEaa Breakfast (David Penberthy and Will Goodings, FIVEaa, Adelaide); 3AW Breakfast with Ross Stevenson & Russel Howcroft (3AW, Melbourne) and Laurel, Gary & Mark (Laurel Edwards, Gary Clare & Mark Hine, 4KQ, Brisbane).
Entries for the ACRAS were received from 260 metropolitan and regional radio stations across Australia. Winners are peer judged by industry members. A highlight is the Hall of Fame inductee, acknowledging achievement and lifelong commitment to the Australian radio industry.
The ACRAS red carpet will start at 5pm AEDT on Saturday, October 29, with the awards ceremony at 6pm AEDT.
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Top image: Birds of Tokyo