Following sell-out shows across Brazil and North America Midnight Oil now ready themselves their first European shows in over 15 years.
Live reviews for the first dates on their Great Circle 2017 Tour make it clear that the band has lost none of its musical and political potency. Here’s just a small taste of what the critics said:
“Proselytizers place the Australian band in the pantheon of great live acts, and justifiably so.” (Chicago Tribune)
“Midnight Oil brought the power and the passion, full force, as if they hadn’t been gone for the last 15 years. A fantastic show.” (BrooklynVegan)
“The Verdict? Something special just happened” (The Sydney Morning Herald)
“It’s no small thing to revive one of the biggest, most beloved and simultaneously most polarizing bands Australia has ever produced … sadly, in a sense, much of the material is more relevant than ever … audiences are in for one heck of a treat.” (The Guardian)
“Collectively, the Oils proved more than ready to take on all comers for the title of world’s most exhilarating live rock band.” (Illinois Entertainer)
The next leg of the tour includes 18 shows in Europe plus one in South Africa. Most of the band’s own dates are already sold out but limited tickets remain for Oslo, Stockholm and Johannesburg as well as for the encore plays in London and Paris on July 23 and 25. For full tour details see www.midnightoil.com/
In the meantime Midnight Oil has announced a slew of very special guests to join them around the globe over coming months.
In Europe, rabble rousing post-punk icons The Selecter have been added to the Sun 23 July Hammersmith Apollo date and Amsterdam will see Senior Citizens reprise their opening slot from the band’s unforgettable 1988 show. In Norway Midnight Oil will be joined by local classic rockers Mercury Motors while at the other end of the age spectrum Paris special guests will be teenagers The G (both shows).
Beloved Australian rockers The Living End will then feature on all four U.S. summer shows (ie: Los Angeles, New York, Cleveland and Minneapolis). The dynamic trio will also join Matthew Good in Toronto – Matthew has already been announced as part of the entire Canadian tour through August/September.
Triple J buzz band The Smith Street Band will open The Greek Theatre date in Los Angeles on August 19 making it a triple bill containing three generations of Australian bands.
Last but not least New Zealand’s The Nudge will open the proceedings in Auckland and Christchurch. The genre warping three piece will fuse infectious tribal rhythms and blues vocals with some psychedelic overtones to get these Kiwi shows off to a memorable start. Tickets remain on sale for both NZ gigs. Follow the links atwww.midnightoil.com/
Midnight Oil is still more than just a rock’n’roll band and in 2017 they will bring things back to where they all began. The circle remains unbroken.
