The three-piece have the honour of playing three songs during the pre-game show before the Sydney Swans and Western Bulldogs play for the premiership flag on Saturday afternoon.

The match will be televised live and will also make it to a screen at the Yours and Owls music festival, as will the NRL grand final on Sunday evening.

Frontman of The Living End Chris Cheney said he was surprised when they got the call up for entertainment at the MCG as he didn’t think his band was “up there” with the greats who had held the spot previously.

“It’s just not kind of gig you think possible; you don’t set your sights that high,” he said.

“I kind of figured we might have a shot at it one day but I didn’t expect it to happen now. But it couldn’t be better timing as we’re back with a new record – obviously we have seven albums ourselves so [it’s] not like we’re fresh of the [rank]”

Cheney said backing it up on Sunday for the Yours and Owls festival shouldn’t be a problem as the band’s had their fair share of back to back tour dates.

“This one will be a breeze, I’m really looking forward to it actually. We  haven’t played a festival kind of gig for ages,” he said.

“There’s a lot of people who already know who the band is and that’s cool, it’s fun to play for them.

“The best thing for me is when you get the challenge of a whole bunch of people who are seeing the band for the first time and try and win them over.”

The Living End will be amongst an array of up and coming musicians like Stanwell Park’s Bec Sandridge and Windang duo Hockey Dad, as well as more seasoned professionals like 60s rock band The Sonics.

Those under 18 can still get in the spirit with a mini-festival of Hermitude, Hockey Dad, Skegss and Nucole Millar at Waves, Towradgi on Saturday afternoon.

But it’s not just about music. Across the two days Stuart Park will also host art installations, a “Forever Banquet” with an African market installation, artisan markets and gourmet cuisine.

Meantime, festival-goers will hopefully find lining up for food and drinks an easier experience with new RFID wristbands.

Rather than buying paper tickets, which often get lost by the end of the evening, patrons just buy credit to be loaded on the band with leftover cash refundable from October 9.

LINEUP:

Antwon (USA) * Ball Park Music * Bec Sandridge * The Belligerents * Big Scary * Black Mountain (CAN) * Bleached (USA) * Chastity Belt (USA) * Client Liaison * The Coathangers (USA) * COG * DMA’s * The Hard Aches * Hermitude * Horror My Friend * The Jezabels * Hockey Dad * Kilter * KLP * Ladyhawke * Little May * The Living End * Nicole Millar * Pagans * Pinheads * PUP (CAN)* Remi * Sampa The Great * Shining Bird * Skeggs * The Sonics * Stonefield * TEES * Thelma Plum * Tired Lion * Tkay Maidza * Totally Unicorn * Vera Blue