Melbourne Zoo Twilights Announce 2017 Program

This year they've got everyone from Kurt Vile to Killing Heidi.
Lauren Vadnjal
October 19, 2016

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 they've got some real cred when it comes to hosting outdoor gigs in the past few years. After all, they got José González to headline 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, 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 4, Warpaint will herald their new album on a Friday night, and Canada's Tegan and Sara are sure to draw some hardcore fans. Also taking over the lawns of Melbourne Zoo's fully-licensed lawns will be the likes of The Rubens, Martha Wainwright, Ball Park Music, The Jungle Giants and The Specials. Plus, you can dag it up with ABBA tribute act Bjorn Again, who will be once again returning 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 Zoo Twilights go back into Zoo Victoria's ongoing conservation work to help fight the extinction of the Eastern Barred Bandicoot.

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 — lock those tickets down.

MELBOURNE ZOO TWILIGHTS 2017 LINEUP

Friday 27 January – JO JO ZEP & THE FALCONS and THE SPORTS
Saturday 28 January – PETER GARRETT & THE ALTER EGOS and KEV CARMODY
Friday 3 February – HOODOO GURUS with special guests
Saturday 4 February – THE RUBENS supported by Bec Sandridge
Friday 10 February – BALL PARK MUSIC and THE JUNGLE GIANTS
Saturday 11 February – BJÖRN AGAIN
Friday 17 February – PAUL DEMPSEY supported by Melody Pool
Saturday 18 February – george supported by Felix Riebl (Cat Empire)
Friday 24 February – WARPAINT (US) supported by Big Thief (US)
Saturday 25 February – KILLING HEIDI supported by Abbe May
Friday 3 March – THE LIVING END 'TWANGIN' AT TWILIGHT' featuring special guests, supported by Gabriella Cohen
Saturday 4 March – KURT VILE (US) supported by Mick Turner
Wednesday 8 March – TEGAN AND SARA (CAN) with special guests
Friday 10 March – MARTHA WAINWRIGHT (CAN) supported by Margaret Glaspy (US)
Saturday 11 March – THE SPECIALS (UK) with special guests

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

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

Published on October 19, 2016 by Lauren Vadnjal
Tap and select Add to Home Screen to access Concrete Playground easily next time. x