I had a closer look tonight. Looks light Allianz stadium internals to me.
Kyle changes his tune on country music
Four more Top 30 singers shine on Australian Idol
Tonight on Australian Idol: judges Marcia Hines, Kyle Sandilands and Amy Shark faced their toughest decisions so far as the star-making series continues to shine on Channel 7 and 7plus.
With only 12 Golden Tickets left and a slew of super singers ready to make their dreams come true, a record 10 artists were put through to final deliberations, with four awarded a life-changing spot in the coveted Top 30.
Country music star-on-the-rise, Denvah Baker-Moller, even changed Kyle’s mind about the genre with her rendition of Pony by Kasey Chambers.
Kyle admitted: “I was never a fan of the country music genre, but my mind has been changed on this because there’s quite a few good country singers coming through the door. And if I like country, that’s almost a miracle. That’s how good they are!”
Named after John Denver, the 23-year-old from Rockhampton, QLD beat out four other fierce country competitors to progress to the Top 30.
Kyle declared: “You really have a good chance of taking this right through.”
Three more Victorian contestants received Golden Tickets tonight: 18-year-old Gab Hester, whose “awesome tone” on the Men at Work classic Down Under impressed; 25-year-old tradie and young dad Jackson Smith, with his signature rasp on Ed Sheeran’s Closed Eyes; and backing vocalist Jess Chalmers, 24, who showed she’s ready for the spotlight with her high-energy version of Domino by Jesse J.
Tomorrow night: With only a handful of Golden Tickets left, one voice stops the judges in their tracks.
Watch performance highlights:
On a wing and a Prayer
Young artists’ Golden Ticket dreams come true on Australian Idol
Tonight on Australian Idol: the second last day of auditions saw the most outstanding crop of singers yet, as nerves almost sabotaged the chance of a lifetime, a teen showed talent way beyond her years, and a family band broke rank.
For 23-year old Prayer Corby from Humpty Doo, NT, her dad Doug wasn’t just a good-luck charm, but part of her band.
“Dad is my best friend,” said Prayer. “He’s my Australian Idol.”
After finishing her audition of Big Jet Plane by Angus and Julia Stone, Prayer admitted: “I wasn’t as happy with that performance,” but judges Marcia Hines, Kyle Sandilands and Amy Shark were not left unimpressed.
Kyle shared: “As much as you were disappointed, I thought it was beautiful.” Amy agreed, recognising Prayer’s “beautiful tone.”
Marcia’s wise words resonated as she recounted: “A large part of being a musician is connecting to an audience. When you make a mistake keep it to yourself.”
On receiving her Golden Ticket and spot in the Australian Idol Top 30, a shocked Prayer said: “I’m just a little bit in awe of it actually. I did not expect it.”
Kiani Smith, 17 from Bribie Island, Queensland, earned a Golden Ticket after her unique performance of 2002 by Anne-Marie.
Amy acknowledged: “It’s pretty scary that you are that good at this age!” Kyle agreed: “I am 100 % behind you.”
The three remaining Golden Tickets of the night went to 24-year-old Kobe White from Victoria, who worked hard to overcome his nerves on Just The Way You Are by Bruno Mars; 23-year-old Olivia Britton, also from Victoria, who rocked the stage with I Kissed A Girl by Katy Perry; and 20-year-old singer Eli Parr, from Brisbane, who was the sole family member to receive a Top 30 spot after auditioning alongside his two brothers and cousin singing Story Of My Life by One Direction.
Watch performance highlights:
Kobe White, 24, Victoria - Just The Way You Are, Bruno Mars
Eli Parr, 20, Queensland - Story Of My Life, One Direction
Tomorrow night It’s the final day of auditions, will it also be the day that unearths Australia’s next music superstar?
1 Like
I have watched the previous eight seasons of Australian Idol, and I can’t remember so many members of one family auditioning in front of the judges at the same time, as was the case with the Parr family in tonight’s episode.
I don’t really understand this change. In the article Brook Hall says
You might see someone brilliant at an audition and say ‘Wow, I really love them,’ but you might see not them for weeks
But even in this format where they come back to learn their fate (without singing again) we see them in their episode & don’t see them again until the top 30 episode.
So I don’t think it really did anything new cause even in the old way we see them in their audition episode & don’t see them again for ‘weeks’
It will be a “Top 30 Week” next week (Sunday to Wednesday).
Will it be the Top 12 the following week?
edit “30 will start, 9 will leave” was said at the end of the show, with promoting next week. So a whole week, to then have a top 21? Or did i miss hear what was said?
Top 30 starts on Sunday 11th
Top 21 starts Sunday 18th
3 Likes
This is the Australian Idol Top 30
Judges break the rules to fast-track unbelievable rapper on Australian Idol
Tonight, the final night of auditions cemented the Australian Idol’s Top 30, with 24-year-old TJ Zimba’s performance leaving judges Marcia Hines, Kyle Sandilands and Amy Shark ready to throw out the rule book.
The unique hip-hop artist from Karratha, WA – who writes, produces, and records his own beats – was handed a Golden Ticket immediately after his performance of Khalid’s Location, skipping the final deliberation round.
“We’re going to get in big trouble, but I don’t care. You’re too good,” Amy said. Kyle and Marcia agreed.
“Because of you we might get fired!” Marcia said. “He owned that stage, that’s what we’re looking for,” exclaimed Kyle.
TJ explained: “I’m most excited to show people why I do music, the reason I got into music and how I actually perform and portray that as an artist.”
Imogen Spendlove, 23, proved she has everything it takes to be an Australian Idol with her stunning performance of Whitney Houston’s I Have Nothing.
The factory worker from Melbourne gave Kyle goosebumps with her “absolutely beautiful” voice, while Marcia declared: “I think we’re looking at the next Australian Idol.”
Chenai Boucher, 26, returned to Australian Idol seeking redemption after she didn’t make it past auditions last year.
“I’m back because I believe in myself, hopefully this year is a new opportunity and opens some really big doors,” Chenai said.
The Melbourne personal trainer and business development manager received a Golden Ticket for her performance of River by Bishop.
Although Marcia and Kyle questioned if Chenai could tone down her “almost aggressive passion” and tap into her vulnerable side, Kyle admitted: “You’ve changed. You’ve learnt from last year. You were also good last year and man you’ve adjusted. Welcome to Australian Idol.”
Sunday night: The Australian Idol Top 30 take to the stage as the battle to find the nation’s next singing sensation is just getting started.
Watch performance highlights:
TJ Zimba, 24 WA - Location, Khalid
Imogen Spendlove, 23, Victoria - I Have Nothing, Whitney Houston
That’s correct. The top 30 week were held at Walsh Bay in Sydney across three days.
The top 21 week will be filmed this weekend (February 9-11) and aired across three nights from February 18 to 20.
1 Like
Is this year’s Oz idol better than 2023?
1 Like
Watch and find out 
1 Like
Here is my hot take that I’m surprised no one has mentioned yet…
Last year, all the auditions were either acapella or with a live musician accompaniment. The vocals were recorded through a lapel on the shirt and a hanging microphone above them.
This year, all the auditions are using a handheld microphone, which allows greater capabilities for mastering the vocals. They have now also allowed backing tracks.
The Voice has EQ/mastered/auto-tuned the pre-recorded episodes for years, so that’s why last years Idol series seemed more unpolished and viewers criticised the vocals.
This year, alongside expanding the age bracket by 2 years, they are carefully adjusting the vocals to make them better. The real test will be the actual live results shows towards the end of the series, as all other pre-records allow this method.
1 Like
Ricki-Lee has posted a video on Instagram showing a day at the auditions at the SCG, culminating with the top 30 contestants.
2 Likes
I noticed some auditions in Sydney didn’t use the handheld microphone, such as Kobe White. IIRC, he had the microphone at the piano but didn’t take it when Marcia asked him to stand up and sing without the piano. I could be misremembering but his vocals sounded just as well recorded as the auditions using the microphone.
Sometimes I wondered if the microphone was just a prop to give the contestants something to do with their hands, but it looks like it has a real transmitter in it.
It’s now or never
Four massive nights push the Top 30 to their limits on Australian Idol
Over four massive nights, the Australian Idol Top 30 will become 21 as the journey to uncover the nation’s next singing sensation enters its next phase.
From the thousands who auditioned, only the very best have been chosen to compete in the toughest round of the competition for judges Marcia Hines, Kyle Sandilands and Amy Shark.
Tasked with a series of epic challenges, contestants will be pushed to their limits as they sing for their lives.
With lifelong dreams on the line, the pressure will prove too much for some. Tears, triumphs and tensions will flare as the reality of performing in front of a live audience for the first time takes its toll.
One contestant’s bold move rocks the judges, while another has some explaining to do to Kyle.
At the end of the week, 21 contestants will be one step closer to being the Australian Idol.
Australian Idol Top 30
• Amy Reeves, 24, Broome, WA
• Bethany Byrne, 28, Mooroolbark, VIC
• Billy Menhennet, 20, Ballarat, Victoria
• Chenai Boucher, 26, Seaford, VIC
• Cynthia Negash, 19, Kurunjang, VIC
• Denvah Baker-Moller, 23, Rockhampton, QLD
• Drea Onamade, 25, Perth, WA
• Dylan Wright, 30, Bangalow, NSW
• Eli Parr, 20, Loganholme, QLD
• Gab Hester, 18, Rye, VIC
• Imogen Spendlove, 23, Melbourne, VIC
• Isaac McCallum, 23, Ulladulla, NSW
• Ivana Ilic, 20, Mill Park, VIC
• Jackson Smith, 25, Werribee, VIC
• Jake Carlson, 20, Mernda, VIC
• Jess Chalmers, 24, Melbourne, VIC
• Jesse Lazaroo, 18, Perth, WA
• Jet Cameron, 16, Fig Tree Pocket, QLD
• Jonathan Wells, 28, Melbourne, VIC
• Kiani Smith, 17, Bribie Island, QLD
• Kobe White, 24, Keysborough, VIC
• Kym Miaco, 28, Lightsview, SA
• Natasha Rose, 19, Moreton Bay, QLD
• Olivia Britton, 22, Wodonga, VIC
• Prayer Corby, 23, Darwin, NT
• Ripley Alexander, 19, Brisbane, QLD
• Saoirse Harding, 19, Gold Coast, QLD
• TJ Zimba, 24, Karratha, WA
• Trent Richardson, 22, Emu Park, QLD
• Tyler Hammill, 21, Sunshine Coast, QLD
Australian Idol Top 30 week
7.00pm Sunday and 7.30pm Monday – Wednesday on Channel 7 and 7plus
1 Like
Kyle: You tweaked your old fella. 
1 Like
I don’t like this ‘on notice’ idea. Some very bad acts are going straight through with them only sending one from each round to elimination.
1 Like
The on notice idea is OK, but it should have been tweaked so that more than one contestant per group are sent to elimination, if they have delivered mediocre performances.
1 Like
Synopsis for tonight
Australian Idol Top 30 week continues as the final challenge – the solo challenge – and last opportunity for our performers to secure a coveted spot in the Top 21 begins.
Singing for the first time in front of a live audience and accompanied by a live band, contestants must leave a lasting impression on the judges, as failure to do so puts them at risk of being put on notice and ultimately eliminated from the competition.
At the end of the solo performances, the weakest 3 singers will pack their bags and go home.
Who will rise to the challenge and take one step closer to becoming the next Australian Idol?
Tonight’s episode runs until 8.50pm, so it’s possible that some performances will be shown on Wednesday instead.