Two concerts going under the banner of Sound Relief were held last weekend to raise money for victims of both the Victorian bushfires and the Queensland floods where substantial loss of property (not to mention life) was sustained. These concerts were held concurrently with one in Melbourne on the hallowed turf of the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) which attracted 80,000 people and the other at the SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground) which attracted around 50,000 people.
Apparently they managed to raise something in the order of AUD $5 million which is to be split equally between the two disaster relief groups.
Coldplay and Kings of Leon both performed with Coldplay opening the Sydney concert, but more importantly from a musical perspective, there were a number of very high profile reformations for the event... specifically, Crowded House (with Liam Finn on drums), Split Enz, Hunters & Collectors and Midnight Oil (another lesser known outside of Australia, was Icehouse). Of these reformations, Split Enz were probably the highlight with an absolutely stellar performance that included Shark Attack, Six Months in a Leaky Boat, Dirty Creature and I See Red. Midnight Oil were also in possibly the best form I can recall seeing them, opening with Redneck Wonderland and moving through a powerhouse set that included Beds Are Burning, Blue Sky Mining and Power and the Passion.
Other great performances included Paul Kelly, Liam Finn (an absolute revelation), Jet, Wolfmother, Presets (very very good) the Hoodoo Gurus (apparently fresh from Glastonbury) and so many more I cannot remember now.
Hope you enjoy these few excerpts courtesy of YouTube (and when watching the Midnight Oil clips, bear in mind that the big shaven headed vocalist Peter Garret is now a Federal Environment Minister with the current Australian Government - also note the drummer Rob Hirst who I consider to be the greatest rock drummer since Keith Moon):
Midnight Oil - Redneck Wonderland
![](http://img.youtube.com/vi/FAe4-Jr6uDY/default.jpg)
Midnight Oil - The Power and the Passion
![](http://img.youtube.com/vi/j6oEaCOKxMo/default.jpg)
Crowded House - Better Be Home Soon
![](http://img.youtube.com/vi/3KZVk9yFfSA/default.jpg)
Crowded House - Weather With You
![](http://img.youtube.com/vi/evxiRQ452j4/default.jpg)
Split Enz - Message to My Girl
![](http://img.youtube.com/vi/3uLSBt0neVg/default.jpg)
Split Enz - I Got You
![](http://img.youtube.com/vi/x8PhBVCZ53I/default.jpg)
Hunters & Collectors - When the River Runs Dry
![](http://img.youtube.com/vi/Bvg9VDL4TbU/default.jpg)
The Presets - My People
![](http://img.youtube.com/vi/h1OJgmmHJhQ/default.jpg)