Melbourne Zoo Twilights 2020
Summer is officially here with the return of Melbourne Zoo's gig program.
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, Cat Power and Ben Folds over the last few years. And this summer the event will return with a series of live sets every weekend from Friday, January 24 through Saturday, March 7.
Last month, Zoo Twilights announced famed LA composer and singer Randy Newman — who has won two Academy awards and seven Grammys, and is behind songs in nine Disney and Pixar films — as one of its headline acts. And, now, it's just dropped the full 2020 lineup. Aussie pop royalty Missy Higgins, Twilight regulars The Cat Empire, seminal Jamaican reggae group Toots and The Maytals, Perth noir-pop band Methyl Ethel and dance floor starters Confidence Man will all taking the stage this season.
A few big throwbacks are also on this year's program, including the pub-rock legends behind 'Great Southern Land' and 'Electric Blue' Icehouse, 70s English band 10cc — if you don't know the name, you'll definitely know their hit 'I'm Not in Love' — and US gospel queen and 99 Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Mavis Staples. UK-French avant-pop band Stereolab has also reunited after a ten-year break and will be treating to the crowd to its first live performance in a decade.
Bringing your own picnic 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 Mountain Pygmy possum.
MELBOURNE ZOO TWILIGHTS 2020 PROGRAM
Friday, January 24 — Confidence Man, supported by Wax'o Paradiso
Saturday, January 25 — Icehouse, with special guests
Friday, January 31 — Toots and The Maytals, supported by Systa BB
Saturday, February 1 — An Evening with Randy Newman
Friday, February 7 — Missy Higgins, supported by William Crighton
Friday, February 14 — The Cat Empire, supported by Emily Wurramara
Friday, February 21 — 10cc, supported by Russell Morris
Saturday, February 22 — Methyl Ethel, supported by Hatchie
Friday, February 28 — Julia Jacklin, supported by Weyes Blood
Saturday, February 29 — Meg Mac, supported by Fergus James
Friday, March 6 — Stereolab, supported by Mildlife
Saturday, March 7 — Mavis Staples, supported by Emma Donovan and The Putbacks
Tickets go on sale at 8am on Tuesday, October 22 at zootwilights.org.au.
Updated October 16, 2019.
Images: Ian Laidlaw
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