Live Music To Return To Australian TV On New Rove Show

Australia has been screaming for live music to return to its TV screens and that wish has finally been granted. 

Just weeks after ABC ruled out a return of beloved '90s show Recovery, it has been confirmed that a new variety programme filmed in front of a live audience and fronted by Rove McManus premiering this weekend, Saturday Night, will host live performances. 

Screening as part of Network Ten's pilot week launch this Saturday at 7.30pm, musical guests confirmed to appear include Sydney pop singer Delta Goodrem and Brisbane's Conrad Sewell.

As it is a pilot, just the one episode is confirmed for Saturday, with the network to consider TV ratings and viewers' response before green-lighting a full season. 

If successful, Saturday Night could return as a weekly show in 2019.

The news comes after some of Australia's favourite artists, including Phil Jamieson and Tex Perkins, called for live music to return to free-to-air television in Australia. 

Appearing on The Music Podcast late last year, Jamieson said, "It would be great to see live bands be able to perform on television in this country on free-to-air".

Perkins added that there is yet to be a music-based show to reach the same heights as the iconic Countdown series.

"Countdown, the original Countdown, it was, if I could use the term, a perfect storm," he said.

"Because it was perfect for the time. 

"[Countdown Revolution] did not work. I don't know why. Recovery was the closest thing to Countdown."