THE Radiators, aka The Rads, will be playing an absolute “hits package“ at Sounds of Rock frontman Brian Nichol told News Of The Area.

“All the songs that most people, and especially our loyal fans, know and love.”

With almost 45 years performing to their name, The Radiators love a big gig.

And Sounds of Rock is just that.

The big music festival is coming to Coffs Harbour in October with a line-up of Aussie music legends including Daryl Braithwaite and Ian Moss, and Aussie Rock favourites Baby Animals, Ross Wilson, Dragon, Wendy Matthews, Eurogliders and Rick Price.

These are the iconic names performing at Coffs Harbour Showground on Saturday 22 October 2022.

“If you love Australian rock and pop music from the golden years (70s 80s 90s) this festival is definitely for you,” Trevor Sands from NUI Events, the organisers, told NOTA.

“Big concerts like this are one big party…and not the place to be trying out rare back catalogue numbers, but we will be dipping our toe into some brand new songs, something we haven’t done for ages.

“We have been rejuvenated by the addition of our new guitarist, ex Mental as Anythings’ Martin Cilia.

“His input and impact has given the band a real lift when he stepped up and joined the Rads late last year.”

Looking forward to coming back to Coffs, The Radiators reckon Coffs is “such a great place and we always look forward to playing there”.

“Our Sapphire Coast audience always reacts with welcoming enthusiasm.

“We recently played the Moonee Beach Tavern, and it was a fantastic night, so we are hoping for yet another huge reaction from the locals.”

Keen to kick off in Coffs and be back in the business of playing their music, frontman Brian Nichol said, “It is gratifying to see venues starting to book live acts again after the horrendous lockdowns of last year.”

For The Radiators, memories of great gigs at Coffs are many.

“We have been playing there at heaps of different venues, for at least once a year since 1978.

“If pushed for a favourite I’d guess we’d say the famous, or is that infamous, Hoey Moey,” he said, laughing.

“It’s definitely the one gig we have played the most.”

After traveling past the Big Banana probably a hundred times over the years, The Rads finally visited Coffs Harbour’s iconic ‘playground’.

“Last time we were up for the Moonee Beach Tavern show we actually did the Big Banana.

“Our motel was next door, so we had no excuse not to.

“After sampling a delicious Banana Ice Cream, visiting the gift shop with all things pertaining to bananas, and walking through the actual Big Banana, we felt after over four decades, we had finally ticked off another item from our bucket list.”

Formed in a transition from a band called Big Swifty in the late 1970s, the young musos had no idea they would go on to forge a unique sound and influence thousands of teenagers throughout Australia as The Radiators.

Debuting in Sydney in September 1978 the Rads embarked on a formidable performing schedule playing over 320 gigs in the first twelve months alone.

The release of their debut album ‘Feel the Heat’ in March 1980 was much anticipated by their many newly won fans, so much so that they became the first Australian band to have advanced presales on their debut album.

The album included such gems as ‘Coming Home’, ‘17 (I wish I was)’ and ‘Summer Holiday’.

The band then released the controversial ‘Gimme Head’ on a four track EP entitled ‘You have the right to remain silent’, which also went Platinum.

See more on The Radiators at https://theradiators.com/.

By Andrea FERRARI