A Weekend in the Gardens

Overview

Back in March, the people behind A Day on the Green launched a new venture — a weekend of concerts in Melbourne's picturesque Royal Botanic Gardens. After bringing music lovers nearly 400 concerts over the past 15 years, they scored another hit with A Weekend in the Gardens. So much so, in fact, that they're bringing it back for another run.

To be held across November 17 to 19, the returning fest will once again serve up three days of music acts for punters of both the old and new. On Friday, you'll be able to enjoy all-round legend Paul Kelly, plus Steve Earle and Middle Kids. Come Saturday, it's all about Illy, Thundamentals, Spit Syndicate and Birdz, as hosted by Jesswar. Sunday brings Missy Higgins, Dustin Tebbutt, All Our Exes Live In Texas and Harry Jakamarra. BYO deck chairs and picnic rugs to the first and last night, but not the middle — it seems like the organisers don't expect the audience to be sitting down for that one.

Nearly 12,000 Melburnians went along last time, not only for the ace tunes, but for A Weekend in the Gardens' top-notch garden picnic vibes. For round two, they're setting up The Eatery again, an adjacent area featuring food Royale Brothers, Willy's Fried Chicken & BBQ, Black's Meats Smoked BBQ Goods, Hiro Poke Bar and Señor Churro, And if you're willing to pay $76, you can also snack your way through a Vietnamese hamper from restaurant Jardin Tan.

If that's not enough, there'll also be a the Native Cocktail Bar, serving up Bush Coffee (vodka, wattle seed syrup, cold brew coffee and coconut shavings), Native Spritz (gin, lemon myrtle & rosella shrub, quinquina, soda and gum leaves), Tiki Roundhouse (rum, native lime, ginger, soda with fresh pineapple, mint and absinthe) and Apple Iced Tea (whisky, tea, muntrie (native apple) syrup, rhubarb foam and crumbled biscuits) concoctions. Oh, and a dedicated Pimm's Bar on the lawn, offering up Pimm's Cups (what else?).

Image: Kerry Kissell