Declan Kelly presents Diesel n'Dub

Dieseln'Dub is a live show of reggae roots versions of Midnight Oil hits, helmed by Declan Kelly (on drums and vocals) and featuring guest vocalists Emma Donovan, Alex Lloyd, Radical Son, Pat Powell and Tony Hughes. The band packs a powerful punch with the talents of Winston Stephenson (bass/vocals), Robbie Woolf (keys/vocals) and Ross Fotheringham (guitar).

The project was set up to raise awareness of Indigenous literacy issues and in the process raise funds for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

The concept for Dieseln'Dub draws influence from both the work of early Jamaican reggae singers who recorded dub versions of soul songs and, in more recent times, the work of The Easy Star All Stars who released dubbed out album versions of some of the most famous albums ever released - Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon”, Radiohead’s “Ok Computer” and, The Beatles’ “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.”

Reggae music has long been the vehicle for songs whose message is focused on raising the political consciousness of its audience - encouraging people to stand up to a negligent system, corruption within a government and imperialist repression. In turn giving a voice to “the oppressed.”

This project calls on the songs of one of Australia’s and the world’s greatest socially conscious bands Midnight Oil who released over 12 albums and along the way established themselves as one of the world’s most politically active bands.

The indigenous Australian community have always had Midnight Oil standing for their cause and in tunes like Beds are Burning have bridged a gap between white and black Australia and altered the mindset of the wider community to push for better conditions and acknowledge them as the first peoples of this land, a message which speaks internationally as well.

Declan Kelly heads this project to infuse an albums worth of “Oils” songs and convert them into authentic Reggae and Dub gems.