Iconic Australian rock band Midnight Oil lead today’s line-up announcement for WOMADelaide’s new sunset concert series from Friday 5 March until Monday 8 March 2021 in King Rodney Park, Adelaide.
Over their 28-year career and 11 studio albums, ‘the Oils’ have had five #1 albums, 11 ARIA Awards, been inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame and received two Grammy nominations. Midnight Oil, who performed at WOMADelaide 1997 and have not played in Adelaide since 2017, will close two of the four nights, in what are sure to be sold-out events in the limited capacity venue.
The band’s Saturday night show will feature an exclusive set of classic songs from their immense back-catalogue. Monday night will see the official world premiere of Makarrata Live, a unique concert presentation of songs from their acclaimed new #1 mini-album, The Makarrata Project, as well as classic Oil’s songs which revolve around themes of Indigenous Reconciliation. This special event will feature prominent First Nations artists who collaborated on The Makarrata Project, which seeks to elevate public awareness of The Uluru Statement.
“We’re pleased and excited to be renewing our connection with WOMADelaide with these two very different shows. It’s an event with which our band has had a long and strong connection”, said Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett.
“Lots of the songs which have struck the deepest chords with our audiences over the years, like Beds Are Burning, Jimmy Sharman’s Boxers, The Dead Heart and Truganini, revolve around Indigenous issues so we’re particularly inspired to be playing a special set for Makarrata Live that combines older songs like those with newer songs that share similar lyrical themes.”
Friday night will feature the farewell WOMADelaide appearance by one of Australia’s most acclaimed singer-songwriters, 2020 ARIA Hall of Fame inductee, Archie Roach.
Coming to prominence with the release of his debut 1990 double-ARIA Album Charcoal Lane, Archie Roach shone a stark light on the impact of the forcible removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. Since then he has earned the love and respect of fans and musicians alike; and been made a Member of the Order of Australia and 2020 Victorian of the Year.
This year Uncle Archie released The Songs of Charcoal Lane, a re-imagining of the heart-wrenching songs of the original album, 30 years on, and this will be the nucleus of his WOMADelaide performance.
“We are delighted to once again welcome back Midnight Oil and, for a record seventh appearance, Archie Roach to WOMADelaide next year” said Director, Ian Scobie
“2020 has been a year of extraordinary challenges, but in being able to present artists of the stature of Midnight Oil and Archie Roach, along with all the artists announced today for our reconfigured event, we are certain that WOMADelaide will truly be unmissable over the festival long weekend next March.”
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