Rural Fire Service volunteers to be honoured guests at Bankwest Stadium concert

Australian rock bands Cold Chisel and Hoodoo Gurus are set to play to a full house at the first ever concert at Bankwest Stadium with the crowd including Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteers and their families who will be honoured guests at the venue.

As part of their first ever outdoor summer tour, Cold Chisel will be joined at Bankwest Stadium on Friday 24th January by Hoodoo Gurus, Birds of Tokyo and Busby Marou.

NSW acting Minister for Sport, Geoff Lee, has announced that Venues NSW, which owns the Stadium on behalf of the NSW Government, has donated more than 2500 tickets to volunteers as a “thank you” for their extraordinary service and sacrifice during the current bushfire crisis.

Acting Minister Lee advised “it’s just another way we can say thank you to the men and women who fought so bravely to battle blazes across our State. 

“This is a small gesture that we hope can bring some joy to the firies that have shown extraordinary courage and sacrifice in the face of devastation.

Cold Chisel frontman Jimmy Barnes said the band was looking forward to seeing RFS bravehearts at the concert "we've been really moved by the sacrifices that these courageous volunteers have made in this desperate time.

“We're excited to have them join us for this great night of rock & roll - and to raise our voices and say 'thank you'."

Hoodoo Gurus have never shared a bill with Cold Chisel, so this show provides the RFS volunteers and fans in general with a unique opportunity to witness two of Australia’s most-loved bands performing some of their greatest hits live.

Hoodoo Gurus singer/guitarist Dave Faulkner added “the ongoing bushfire emergency has made this a very hard, grim summer for so many Australians, and especially the RFS volunteers.

“They have endured unbelievable conditions defending communities and the price they have paid is beyond reckoning. We only hope that… the healing power of music will give some of them a brief respite from the trauma they have experienced. In our own small way, we’d like to honour them for the sacrifices they have made on all our behalf.”

NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons noted “it’s been a devastating and tragic fire season and NSW RFS members have been working tirelessly for months to protect the community. Despite this adversity, there’s been incredible generosity shown by the Australian people.  

“We’re grateful to Venues NSW and the NSW Government for offering our members tickets to the Cold Chisel concert, so they can take time out to enjoy a night off with these Aussie rock legends.”

Fans attending the concert will be able to donate directly to the NSW Rural Fire Service and the official tour charity Foodbank, which has been providing relief for fire-affected communities. Cold Chisel has already pledged a six-figure sum to fire services and other support networks.

Cold Chisel have been playing to rave reviews around the nation since the tour started on New Year’s Eve.  Their album Blood Moon debuted at #1 on the ARIA Chart in December and the band’s album All For You – The Best of Cold Chisel has just been announced as the second highest selling Australian album of the past decade.

Image courtesy of Venues NSW