This is sure to be one of the best music events of the year!

Community Radio Station RTRFM is not in the least bit embarrassed to announce its 40th birthday thanks to the era-spanning roll call of WA artists who have banded together to pop a cork and toast thier wrinkles on November 19 at Perth Concert Hall.

The Big 40 is a four-stage celebration of RTRFM’s rich history and its deep connection with all corners of the WA music scene.

- Advertisement -

In the main auditorium and much-loved verandah space, heavyweights from multiple genres will toast the station.

Highlights of this carefully-curated program include Abbe May performing with the West Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra, Odette Mercy and Her Soul Atomics performing with a Tongan choir, a rare-as-hens-teeth gig by ‘90s darlings Adam Said Galore, hip hop trailblazers Downsyde reimagining their catalogue with strings and an exclusive performance of Red Jezebel’s classic album Revelations. Plus, Mt Mountain performing Dust with special guests,  songs in Noongar language from Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse and a very special performance by WAM Hall of Famer Rick Steele.

As a nod to the station’s all-important role as a champion of the here and now, no less than four supergroups of current WA buzz-acts will perform on the Verandah stage as the Slightly Oddway Orchestra.

This will see members of Childsaint, Rag n’ Bone, The Love Junkies, Grievous Bodily Calm, PUCK, The Chlorines, Kitchen People, Jacob Diamond, Bells Rapids, Carla Geneve and Flossy all put their spin on WA songs written in 2017

Concluding this mega party is RTRFM – A Musical History, a specially commissioned projection and live show that combines fascinating 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 RTR’s unusual, sometimes rocky history, with the help of an all-star lineup of guest vocalists and musicians.

In true RTRFM fashion, The Big 40 also has plenty of hidden, subterranean gems. Throughout the night, DJs from RTRFM’s specialist shows will ply their wares in a tunnel and wherever there’s room to dance throughout the historic Concert Hall. Plus deep in the bowels of the venue, TURA and Difficult Listening join forces for a stage that showcases the station’s more esoteric tastes.

RTRFM General Manager Stu MacLeod says The Big 40 has been deliberately curated to celebrate both the past and future.

“Your 40th birthday is a time of your life when you think about the past and the future in equal measure. RTRFM’s The Big 40 not only represents the history of this incredible, amazing place, but also the future. It’s a way for us to showcase the last 40 years and the next 40 years at the same time, with the finest artists from our past and present, performing alongside each other and creating unique performances together that you simply will never find anywhere else. Party of the year!”