Peter Garrett and his alter egos to give free afternoon performance at St Kilda Festival

Peter Garrett graced Melbourne with a performance by his band The Alter Egos at the St Kilda Festival, giving fans a taste of both his solo work and iconic Midnight Oil classics.

The Sunday afternoon show, which featured Midnight Oil’s Martin Rosey as well, was a delightful experience for fans, with Garrett delivering a 13-song setlist that highlighted his latest solo album ‘The True North’ from 2024. Among the newer tracks, Garrett also shared unique interpretations of beloved Midnight Oil hits, such as a stripped-back rendition of ‘Beds Are Burning’.

Delving into the band’s history, the setlist included tracks from Midnight Oil’s second album ‘Head Injuries’ released in 1979, showcasing the band’s earlier days before their mainstream success. ‘Section 5 (Bus to Bondi)’, a pure Oils track, took fans back to the band’s pub days in Sydney, where they honed their craft before signing with Sony. The energy of these early songs still resonated, evident in the crowd’s response at the Stagedoor tavern in Sydney and Bombay Rock in Melbourne during the late ’70s.

Garrett, along with The Alter Egos, enchanted the St Kilda Festival crowd with a mix of new and old songs, including ‘Feeding Frenzy’ from Midnight Oil’s ‘Earth and Sun and Moon’ album, and ‘Innocence Parts 1’ from ‘The True North’. The setlist also featured tracks like ‘Homecoming’ from ‘A Version of Now’ in 2016, showcasing the breadth of Garrett’s musical journey over the years.

The performance culminated with a powerful rendition of ‘Blue Sky Mine’ from Midnight Oil’s ‘Blue Sky Mining’ album, leaving the audience captivated by Garrett’s magnetic stage presence and timeless music.

Overall, Peter Garrett and The Alter Egos’ show at the St Kilda Festival in Melbourne was a harmonious blend of new and classic tracks, showcasing Garrett’s evolution as a musician while paying homage to Midnight Oil’s storied past. Fans were treated to a memorable afternoon of music, solidifying Garrett’s status as a legendary figure in the Australian rock scene.