The Southern River Band did not reject a personal offer from Coldplay. In 2023, Coldplay invited Western Australian acts to compete for a slot opening its Perth concerts; after fans tagged the band in nominations, singer Callum Kramer posted a sarcastic video declining to take part. Kramer later said the band had rejected the competition itself, not a chance to tour with Coldplay.
Why did The Southern River Band reject Coldplay?
The immediate prompt was a flood of fan tags and nominations. In an August 2023 report, PerthNow quoted Kramer thanking supporters, then joking that the band was “pretty f..king busy” and might not be able to do it. He added that an opportunity with AC/DC or Foo Fighters would be easier to accept, before saying Coldplay was not for them.
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The video was a sarcastic public response, not evidence of a private approach from Coldplay. In an October 2025 retrospective, PerthNow reported that Kramer told radio hosts Will and Woody the band did not expect to fare well in competitions judged by music-industry experts, and decided to turn the moment into publicity. He clarified that what the band snubbed was the competition.
Was there a direct offer to support Coldplay?
No direct offer to The Southern River Band is established by the contemporary reports or the later account. Coldplay was seeking one Western Australian act through a competition to open both Perth shows. The Music described it as a competition run with the WA Government’s Contemporary Music Fund and the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries; its August 2023 report said the winner would receive $15,000 in funding.
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That is different from a touring offer made to a named band. Contemporary headlines, including PerthNow’s, made the episode sound like a blunt refusal of Coldplay, but the later clarification points to a decision not to enter the selection process.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What was the competition offering?
| Detail | What was reported |
|---|---|
| Performances | Coldplay’s Perth concerts at Optus Stadium on November 18 and 19, 2023. |
| Support slot | One Western Australian act was to open both performances. |
| Funding | PerthNow and The Music reported $15,000 for the selected act. This was reported as competition funding or a prize, not independently verified here. |
| Audience | PerthNow projected 120,000 fans across the two nights; that figure is a reported projection, not an independently established turnout. |
| Competition timeline | PerthNow reported a September 4, 2023 closing date and an October 2 winner announcement date. These were historical dates. |
The reporting describes the opportunity and its headline figures, but does not establish the final selection or the precise eligibility rules. The 2025 account also notes that The Southern River Band later announced it would support AC/DC in Perth; that subsequent booking does not mean it had previously received an offer from Coldplay.
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