Midnight Oil to burn twice at new-look Womadelaide in 2021

Midnight Oil will start its new national tour at Womadelaide in March and perform another exclusive concert as part of the star-studded line-up for the revamped event at King Rodney Park.

Australian band Midnight Oil will begin its new national tour at Womadelaide in 2021. Picture: Daniel Boud, supplied.

Iconic Australian band Midnight Oil will perform two different concerts on separate nights at Womadelaide as part of the event’s new format.

The four-night sunset concert series at King Rodney Park from March 5-8 will also feature Archie Roach, Vika and Linda Bull, Lior, Sarah Blasko, Tash Sultana, Sampa The Great and the Teskey Brothers.

Midnight Oil will perform its greatest hits exclusively at Womadelaide on the Saturday, March 6, and premiere its new Makarrata Live concert with First Nations collaborators on the Monday, March 8, before a national tour.

Peter Garrett of Midnight Oil performing on the Village Green at Adelaide Oval in 2017. (AAP Image/MATT LOXTON)

The second show will feature tracks from its new number one mini-album The Makarrata Project, performed with guest Indigenous artists, and other songs with reconciliation themes from throughout its career.

The Oils previously played at Womadelaide in 1997.

“We’re pleased and excited to be renewing our connection with Womadelaide with these two very different shows,” said singer 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.”

The tour will be Midnight Oils’ first since the death of its longtime bass player Bones Hillman from cancer last month.

“Bonesy leaves giant shoes to fill but we’ll need to find a new bass player for this tour,” said drummer Rob Hirst. “On this issue Bones was clear: ‘The show must go on’.”

Archie Roach will make his record seventh and farewell appearance at Womadelaide in 2021. Picture: Supplied.

Australian performer Tash Sultana will play with a full band at Womadelaide on the Sunday. Picture: Ian Laidlaw

Roach’s show on Friday, March 5, will be his record seventh and farewell appearance at Womadelaide, built around his new album The Songs of Charcoal Lane, a reimagining of his 1990 classic.

Tash Sultana will perform with a full band at Womadelaide for the first time, hot on the heels of their February album Terra Firma, on the Sunday with Zambian-born, Botswana-raised Sampa The Great, who won this year’s ARIA Awards for best female artist, hip-hop, and independent release.

Pre-sale tickets are available from 9am tomorrow, with general public sales on Friday, at womadelaide.com.au

WOMADELAIDE 2021 SUNSET CONCERT SERIES

March 5-8, King Rodney Park, Adelaide, South Australia

FRIDAY MARCH 5 – Lior, Nigel Westlake and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra: Compassion/Archie Roach/Sarah Blasko

SATURDAY MARCH 6 – Vika & Linda/Midnight Oil

SUNDAY MARCH 7 – Sampa The Great/Tash Sultana

MONDAY MARCH 8 – The Teskey Brothers/Midnight Oil & First Nations Collaborators: Makarrata Live