Tones and I Announces Surprise Show After NRL Grand Final Fallout
The pop-up follows the breakdown of talks for Watson to headline the NRL Grand Final pre-show on Oct. 4.
Toni Watson, known professionally as Tones and I, has announced an impromptu acoustic performance set to take place at the Echuca Hotel in Victoria on October 2. This surprise show comes two days prior to the NRL Grand Final in Sydney, which was initially intended to be her headline act. Tickets for the event go on sale on September 30.
The announcement follows the collapse of talks for Watson to headline the NRL Grand Final pre-game entertainment, which was set to occur on October 4. The National Rugby League cancelled pre-game performances, citing "creative differences" and the intention to redirect the performance fee to grassroots football. NRL boss Peter V'landys later stated that a surprise pre-game act would indeed take the field, though no details were disclosed.
Various local acts, including Shannon Noll and Jon Stevens, had offered themselves for the slot. Tones had been approached to headline the pre-game show on September 5, but due to prior commitments with Macklemore and the last-minute nature of the offer, she was unable to accept. Despite her setback, Watson had previously become one of Australia's biggest global success stories with her hit "Dance Monkey," which topped charts in over 30 countries and stayed at No. 1 on the ARIA Singles Chart for 24 weeks.
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