Overview
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, Ben Folds, Paul Kelly 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 25 through Saturday, March 9.
At this stage the Zoo Twilights team has only announced one act on the 2018 bill: Cat Power. In her return to Melbourne (she was last here in 2016), the American musician will perform hits off her new album Wanderer — which will be released on October 5 — on a yet-to-be-announced date, as the sun sets over the zoo.
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 25 until March 9. The full lineup will be announced on Wednesday, October 24 (we'll let you know when it's up) and tickets go on sale at 8am on Tuesday, October 30 at zootwilights.org.au.
Image: Ian Laidlaw.