Former Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett is usually busy with his life as a Federal MP these days, but he’s set to join a stellar line-up of over 20 performers at this year’s Sydney Festival. The Labor member for Kingsford Smith – also the Environment, Heritage and The Arts Minister – will join Sarah Blasko, Marianne Faithfull, Augie March frontman Glenn Richards, Liam Finn, Little Birdy’s Katy Steele and a host of others to bring, “the lore and fables of the pirates and sailors of the high seas to life”, according to festival organisers in a show dubbed Rogue’s Gallery.

The event – songs inspired by pirates and the sea – was conceived by actor Johnny Depp and director Gore Verbinski on the set of the blockbuster Pirates Of The Caribbean. It’s already had incarnations in the UK and Ireland, where it featured actor Tim Robbins (also appearing in Sydney), Martha Wainwright and Suzanne Vega.

Rogue’s Gallery will take place on the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House on Thursday 28 January, while other Sydney Festival events will include Al Green’s first ever Australian performance, as well as UK singer Laura Marling, American songstress Neko Case and Slumdog Millionaire composer AR Rahman.