News

October 8, 2017

OILS FLY A FLAG FOR THE REEF

Midnight Oil has set sail from Far North Queensland to support the preservation of Australia’s greatest living treasure – The Great Barrier Reef.

The band travelled 2 hours offshore from Cairns to unveil a “Coral Not Coal” banner on the spectacularly beautiful Vlasoff Sand Cay which sits in the middle of the reef. Epic photo’s and film taken at this location, plus on site interviews with band members and local marine science experts, will feature in TV and radio specials to air on Foxtel’s MAX and Triple M over coming weeks. For more info head to bit.ly/CoralNotCoal

As a further part of these efforts the Oils performed and recorded a special benefit gig at the Tank Arts Centre on Friday night. All proceeds from the show went to local research organisation https://www.greatbarrierreeflegacy.org/ who helped organise the sand cay expedition aboard local charter boats Aroona and Flying Fish.

Other environmental groups also had a strong presence at the Tanks gig including the Australian Marine Conservation Society whose efforts to stop the Adani coal mine include this petition which the band urged all attendees to sign on the night:
https://www.fightforourreef.org.au/midnightoil/

The band played a strongly themed set of songs that all had a direct link to the reef and the challenges it faces from unsustainable development and dangerous climate change.

Oils frontman Peter Garrett was particularly vocal with his onstage comments about the devastating potential environmental impact of the Adani Coal mine. He noted that reef tourism creates sustainable jobs in greater numbers than largely automated coal mines and does so without needing to divert a billion dollars of taxpayers’ money to an overseas corporation with a dubious track record.

Midnight Oil’s “Great Circle 2017” World Tour played the Kuranda Amphitheatre in the rainforests near Cairns last night and now heads to Townsville and Rockhampton for more sold out shows before hitting South East Queensland next week.

October 5, 2017

Postcards from Australia: Part 1

The Great Circle has carved its way through the Northern Territory with three memorable shows marking Midnight Oil’s return to their homeland. A low key visit to the remote settlement of Kintore last Saturday night saw the band reconnect with the remote community they helped immortalise in the lyrics to “Beds Are Burning”. Two nights later they brought the dead heart to life again with a two hour set in Alice Springs that drew critical raves like this and saw them covering Warumpi Band’s “From The Bush” as a local nod.

Then last night over 5,000 fans in Darwin were treated to an epic cover of the classic “Treaty” (co-written back in 1991 by members of Yothu Yindi with Peter Garrett and Paul Kelly) which featured a special guest vocal appearance from Witiyana Marika, along with Gwanbal Jason Gurruwiwi on the didgeridoo. Later in the night, in addition to their own classic songs the Oils played part of Tom Petty’s “Won’t Back Down” in tribute to the US rock legend who died 2 days ago.

The tour now heads to Queensland – starting on Friday night with a special sold out benefit gig for Australia’s greatest living treasure, The Great Barrier Reef.

Photo: Sean Richards