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Telethon: Birds of Tokyo’s Ian Kenny & Glenn Sarangapany to play opening show

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Simon CollinsThe West Australian
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VideoWith just five days to go, tickets to the opening and closing shows of Telethon 2021 are selling fast

Still flying high after rocking the AFL Grand Final in front of 61,118 fans at Optus Stadium last month, Birds of Tokyo frontman Ian Kenny now looks forward to a more intimate performance for Telethon.

Kenny and bandmate, keyboardist Glenn Sarangapany will play as a stripped-back duo at Crown Theatre during tonight’s opening show for WA’s biggest annual charity event.

Given both musicians have young children, Kenny joked that they should be billed as Dads of Tokyo but added that fatherhood brings into sharp focus the importance of Telethon.

“Telethon’s a great cause, and when you have kids … it hits you a bit more close to home,” the singer said as he called on WA music lovers to dig deep and donate.

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“We all want healthy kids but sometimes it doesn’t work out that way, so every little bit helps.

“If you’re able to, dive in and support it.”

Last year, Birds of Tokyo appeared on Telethon via pre-recorded footage of the chart-topping Perth band playing hit single Unbreakable with the WA Symphony Orchestra.

Kenny said it is a “big honour” to be part of this year’s live broadcast, adding that “(Telethon has) made a huge difference for WA families for a long time”.

WA band San Cisco.
Camera IconWA band San Cisco. Credit: Ian Munro/The West Australian

Top local acts San Cisco and End of Fashion join Bird of Tokyo at Crown Theatre as part of the opening show starting 6.30pm tonight, before more WA talent, including Noah Dillon, Timothy Nelson, Adrian Dzvuke and the Little Lord Street Band line up for the live music show from 10.30pm.

Kenny said that “WA pride” was at stake when Birds of Tokyo starred as the half-time entertainment at last month’s historic grand final.

“It’s probably the first time in about seven or eight years that I’ve actually had genuine nerves,” the West Coast Eagles fan admitted.

“It just had an extra significance to it, the whole historic weight of it and how special the whole things was.

“It hit us right in the guts.”

At Optus Stadium, Birds of Tokyo and WASO performed a surprise cover of Silverchair’s 2007 classic Straight Lines in between their own hits, Lanterns and Unbreakable.

Kenny said that they considered covering “an older, Australiana classic” but decided to go for a more recent favourite.

“We’re all fans of that band and Straight Lines is an incredible song,” he said.

“It was just incredible,” Kenny added of his band’s short set. “Rehearsals only go so far for an event like that.

“You put 60,000 people in there — the volume of human beings in that capacity is incredible.

“You’ve just got to savour the moment and enjoy it, because it goes quick.”

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