Melbourne Zoo Twilights Announce 2018 Dates and First Headliner

No longer just the realms of year three excursions where your mum came as chaperone, Melbourne Zoo Twilights — the after-hours live music series that boasts perhaps one of the best summer nights out, as well as lots of adorable animals — has proven it's got some real cred when it comes to hosting outdoor gigs in the past few years. After all, the event has hosted headliners such as Kurt Vile, José González and Warpaint over the last few years. And this summer the event will return with a series os live sets every weekend from Friday, January 26 through Saturday, March 10.

At this stage the Zoo Twilights team have only announced one act on the 2018 bill: Ben Folds. In his return to Melbourne (he was last here in 2016), the American musician will play his two-part live show at the zoo on Friday, February 16 with support from the UK's Lucy Rose.

Picnic-bringing is encouraged, but there'll also be handy gourmet hampers available on-site, as well as a slew of food trucks to choose nosh from. Either way, it's actually the one of the best dates in Melbourne. Plus, all proceeds from Zoo Twilights go back into Zoo Victoria's ongoing conservation work to help fight the extinction of the Eastern Barred Bandicoot.

Melbourne Zoo Twilights will return to Melbourne Zoo from January 26 until March 10. The full lineup will be announced on October 18 (we'll let you know when it's up) and tickets go on sale at 8am on Tuesday, October 24 at zootwilights.org.au. 

By Lauren Vadnjal and Shannon Connellan. Image: Ian Laidlaw.