Melbourne Zoo Twilights Announce Full 2018 Zoo Gig Program

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 of live sets every weekend from Friday, January 26 through Saturday, March 10.

After announcing headliner Ben Folds for Friday, February 16  earlier this month, Melbourne Zoo has now dropped the entire Twilights program for 2018. Melbourne's Teskey Brothers will open the series with a set of Motown-inspired songs and a supporting set by Saskwatch. Twilights regulars Kate Miller-Heidke and The Cat Empire slot into the program, along with much loved local acts Hiatus Kaiyote, The Preatures, Cut Copy and Liam and Neil Finn. Brooklyn four-piece Grizzly Bear will be the only other international act to grace the zoo's stage.

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 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 2018 PROGRAM

Friday, January 26 – The Teskey Brothers, supported by Saskwatch
Saturday, January 27 – Cut Copy, with special guests
Friday, February 2 – Sunnyboys, supported by Painters and Dockers
Saturday, February 3 – The Cat Empire, supported by Allysha Joy
Friday, February 9 – The Preatures, supported by Ali Barter
Saturday, February 10 – RocKwiz LIVE!
Friday, February 16 – Ben Folds, supported by Lucy Rose
Saturday, February 24 – Neil & Liam Finn, with special guests
Friday, March 2 – Hiatus Kaiyote and Harvey Sutherland
Saturday, March 3 – Jet, supported by Spazzys
Friday, March 9 – Grizzly Bear, with special guests
Saturday, March 10 – Kate Miller-Heidke with String Quartet, supported by Odette

Melbourne Zoo Twilights will return to Melbourne Zoo from January 26 until March 10, 2018. Tickets go on sale at 8am on Tuesday, October 24 at zootwilights.org.au. 

Image: Ian Laidlaw.