Oils on the Water

About This Movie

So, there's this concert film from '85 called Oils on the Water, and it's a bit of a gem, really. It captures Midnight Oil performing on Goat Island, right in Sydney, to celebrate Triple-J's tenth birthday. The vibe is electric, with just 400 lucky folks in attendance—half competition winners, half staff and friends. The atmosphere is intimate yet charged, especially with some fans swimming across just to be part of it. The music is raw, and you feel the band's energy through the screen, blending their political stance with the sheer joy of live performance. It's not just a concert; it's a time capsule of that era, with an authenticity that you don’t often see in larger productions. Definitely a unique slice of music history.

Includes rare performances of early hits · Footage showcases the band’s energy and message · Cultural context of Australian music in the '80s