Peter Garrett has spent a lifetime exploring the beaten and unbeaten tracks that run through this country and its people. In March 2024 he will release a new solo album called The True North recorded with his band The Alter Egos. It’s a deeply personal reflection on his singular journey, drawing inspiration and sustenance from the living colours of Australia’s natural environment and the sights and sounds of modern Oz.
The core band involved in making the album was Martin Rotsey (Midnight Oil) on guitar with Heather Shannon (The Jezabels) on piano and keys, Evan Mannell on drums and Rowan Lane on bass. Freya Schack-Arnott on cello and Ollie Thorpe on pedal steel joined in too as did two of Peter’s daughters, May and Grace who sang on some of the key tracks.
“With the Oils, and even the first solo record, there was plenty of banging down the doors and speaking out about the things that need to change”, Peter reflects. “There’s still a bit of that in this album too of course but generally these songs are reflective of the special things we need to cherish; the natural world as well as our always spinning internal compass, that helps us navigate the unruly passage of life.”
Peter Garrett is one of our most prominent living Australians. A renowned activist, former politician, and lead singer of Midnight Oil he is a long-time campaigner on a range of local and global issues including improving the life opportunities of Indigenous Australians, ending the climate crisis, and the AUKUS agreement.