Midnight Oil cancels Darwin and Cairns concerts after frontman Peter Garrett tests positive for COVID

Midnight Oil canceled two performances on the band’s latest tour after frontman Peter Garrett tested positive for COVID-19.

The iconic Aussie rockers were due to perform in Darwin tonight and Cairns on Wednesday as part of their latest tour as a band and on the back of their new album Resist.

However, in a statement shared on the band’s social media and emailed to ticket holders this morning, the band said they had no choice but to cancel the concerts.

“Midnight Oil is deeply disappointed to announce that tonight’s show in Darwin and Wednesday’s show in Cairns are to be cancelled,” he said.

“Despite returning negative RATs, leader Peter Garrett returned a positive PCR test late last night after experiencing flu-like symptoms, so he must now remain in self-isolation for seven days.

The email said the band intended to resume touring on the Sunshine Coast next Saturday.

All affected ticket holders will be refunded.

Midnight Oil’s Resist tour kicked off in Launceston at the end of January.

The band have since performed at various locations in NSW, Victoria and South Australia.

Darwin’s show tonight was reportedly backed by Busby Marou and Emily Wurramara, while King Stingray was to be backed in Cairns.

Calls for event insurance program relaunched

Following the shock announcement, the NT’s peak music industry body reiterated its calls for the government to establish a COVID-19 insurance scheme for event operators.

In a statement shared on social media this afternoon, MusicNT said it was “deeply sympathetic” to the local commercial operators affected by the decision, which had “sent chills through the live events industry”.

“MusicNT again strongly calls on the Government of the Northern Territories to quickly engage with us and investigate a live event insurance scheme or risk a silent dry season,” the statement read.

“We have a model and it can be adapted to the conditions of the Territory.

“We all want to bring the music back, but those who take the risk of organizing concerts and festivals need support.”

MusicNT executive director Mark Smith said it was not cheap for companies to hold events in Darwin and that an insurance scheme would mean they could recoup some of their investment if events were cancelled.

“Part of what he does is say the government has your back,” he said.

“We all want to bring live music back, and we want to bring live events back. And for the Territory in particular, I think, those live events are the draw… that’s what’s going to bring tourists back.”

The NT government has been contacted for comment.