The AFL has finally lifted the lid on its Pre-Game entertainment for the upcoming Grand Final, enlisting both Jimmy Barnes and the Black Eyed Peas to help whip the crowd up at the MCG in late September.
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Both acts will hit the stage prior to the game on September 29th, with Barnesy being backed by a full band – that will include famed Aussie singer-songwriter Diesel – and the Black Eyed Peas bringing the quintessential lineup of will.i.am, Apl De Ap, and Taboo.
Barnesy will also be appearing in the now-traditional post-game Premiership Party; the free concert that takes place from 7pm onwards that made Jack Riewoldt a star last year after he took the stage with The Killers to perform Mr. Brightside.
The AFL is pleased to announce The Black Eyed Peas and Jimmy Barnes will feature in the @VirginAustralia Pre-Game Show at the 2018 Toyota AFL Grand Final. pic.twitter.com/QYjVLkq0nn
— AFL (@AFL) September 14, 2018
Remarkably, the Grand Final will represent the first time the Black Eyed Peas have played in Australia since 2009. The gig will come just two weeks before the group releases Masters of the Sun, the band’s first album in eight years.
As for Barnesy, the Grand Final will represent a family affair, with daughter Mahalia slated to sing the National Anthem prior to the opening bounce of the game.
So there you have it, folks. The AFL gets Jimmy Barnes and the Black Eyed Peas, while the NRL gets Gang Of Youths.
Apparently at some point this year the two leagues swapped band bookers and no one really noticed.
The 2018 AFL Grand Final goes down on Saturday, September 29th.
Get around it.
