Sydney's Twilight at Taronga Announces 2017 Program

No longer just the realms of Monica Trapaga residencies and kiddie-aimed pantomimes, Twilight at Taronga — the after-hours live music series that boasts perhaps the best view of Sydney Harbour as well as lots of adorable animals — has proven they've got some real cred when it comes to hosting outdoor gigs in the past few years. After all, they got Courtney Barnett to open the series last year — and this summer, they're back with a brand new lineup playing spesh live sets every weekend from Friday, January 27 through Saturday, March 11. Considering it includes the likes of Kurt Vile and Tegan and Sara and then Killing Heidi and george, it's probably their most diverse yet.

Yep, this year there's a definite throwback to late '90s/early '00s Australian music, with both Killing Heidi and george playing reunion shows, Jet making an appearance, and The Living End playing a 'stripped back' show with a string quartet. Random. In a complete 180, Kurt Vile will casually grace the stage on March 3, and Canada's Tegan and Sara are sure to draw some hardcore fans. Also taking over the lawns of Taronga Zoo's fully-licensed natural amphitheatre will be the likes of The Rubens, Martha Wainwright, Ball Park Music, The Jungle Giants and Teenage Fanclub. Plus, you can dag it up with ABBA tribute act Bjorn Again, who will be once again returning for two nights due to popular demand after the last two years.

The feathered, furred and finned have plenty to choose from this summer. Plus, all proceeds from Twilight at Taronga go back into the zoo's ongoing conservation work with Wildlife Witness to help fight against illegal wildlife trade.

Picnic-bringing is encouraged, but there'll also be incredibly delicious hampers available onsite — we tasted them, they're extremely generous and genuinely great. There's a bar on-site, and general nosh available from the canteen. Either way, it's actually the one of the best dates in Sydney — lock those tickets down.

TWILIGHT AT TARONGA 2017 LINEUP

Friday 27 January – PETER GARRETT & THE ALTER EGOS and KEV CARMODY
Saturday 28 January – JO JO ZEP & THE FALCONS and THE SPORTS
Friday 3 February – THE RUBENS supported by Bec Sandridge
Saturday 4 February – KILLING HEIDI supported by Abbe May
Friday 10 February – KASEY CHAMBERS supported by Thelma Plum
Saturday 11 February – BALL PARK MUSIC and THE JUNGLE GIANTS
Thursday 16 February – JET with special guests
Friday 17 February – george supported by Felix Riebl (Cat Empire) and Jack Carty
Saturday 18 February – JAMES MORRISON BIG BAND
Friday 24 February – BJÖRN AGAIN
Saturday 25 February – BJÖRN AGAIN
Friday 3 March – KURT VILE (US) supported by Mick Turner
Saturday 4 March – THE LIVING END 'TWANGIN' AT TWILIGHT' featuring special guests, supported by Gabriella Cohen
Thursday 9 March – TEGAN AND SARA (CAN) with special guests
Friday 10 March – TEENAGE FANCLUB (UK) supported by The Goon Sax
Saturday 11 March – MARTHA WAINWRIGHT (CAN) supported by Oh Pep!

Twilight at Taronga will return to Taronga Zoo from January 27 until March 11. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Tuesday, October 25 at twilightattaronga.org.au. 

By Lauren Vadnjal and Shannon Connellan. Image: Maclay Heriot.