Quickly becoming one of the leading summer concerts in Australia, music lovers and animal lovers alike collide in the heart of Sydney’s Taronga Zoo for the annual American Express Twilight at Taronga series. Dripping in impeccable talent, the line-up boasts artists from Grammy Award nominated singer-songwriter Aloe Blacc, Australian favourite Vera Blue, 90s Icons You Am I with Magic Dirt and so much more! An incredible event not to be missed, we’ve compiled a list of 7 songs to get you ready for one of the best live music events this Summer
1. ‘Lady Powers’ – Vera Blue
Say hello to Celia Pavey, best known as pop sensation Vera Blue. She started off as a small town folk singer, but since meeting her producer at a writing camp she became the electronica queen we all know and love. Her most recent track, a single edition of already released song ‘Lady Powers’, is the powerful, feminist anthem that has become a definite crowd favourite during her live shows. With an unwavering stage presence, an adoring fanbase and fashion sense set to kill the former Voice contestant is a dominant and admirable Australian talent and is an unmissable addition to the Twilight at Taronga concert series.
2. ‘Bloom’ – The Paper Kites
An indie-folk band originating from Melbourne known for their ethereal, moody sound, The Paper Kites released this track in 2011 however it suddenly shot to stardom after success in the US recently, hitting Gold status and joining the likes of INXS and Kylie Minogue who also hold this status. The track now amasses almost 160 million streams on Spotify and it’s no surprise why. The track boasts a beautiful, intricate fingerstyle guitar and delicate vocals that are both homely and memorable. The band itself have been laying low for the past 12 months, playing and songwriting across the world and releasing two brand new EPs ‘On The Corner Where You Live’ and ‘On The Train Ride Home’ released over the last three months. Labelled as Australia’s quiet achievers, the incredible band can’t wait to play on Australian soil again after having not played since touring alongside Passenger in 2017.
3. ‘I Need a Dollar’ – Aloe Blacc
Modern day soul singer Aloe Blacc and his popular track ‘I need a Dollar’ are our 3rd playlist track and it’s no surprise why. Anthemic and memorable, the song about the recession through the eyes of a child is a finger-snapping and soulfully funky introduction to Blacc. Released in 2010, the track unsurprisingly topped worldwide charts much alike to many of Blacc’s other tracks like ‘Wake Me Up’, a popular electronica track by late DJ Avicci. On the scene since 1995, Aloe Blacc is bound to me an incredible and unforgettable addition to the Twilight at Taronga concert series.
4. ‘Take a Chance on Me’ – ABBA
Whilst everyone’s favourite’s ABBA might not be performing at Twilight at Taronga, world famous ABBA tribute band Bjorn Again will be making an appearance and who knows, they may just be better than the real thing. Founded in 1988 in Australia, the Swedish parody band has been endorsed by the real ABBA and have been labelled as ‘the closest you will ever get to the real ABBA’ in the 21st century. Known as the musical to get young and old from their seats and dancing in the aisles, the band will be pulling up all of your favourite tracks and ensuring that nobody leaves without a smile on their face and the lyrics to ‘Dancing Queen’ imprinted in their minds.
5. ‘Storm Boy’ – Xavier Rudd
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dau9VQLP7IY
Australian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Xavier Rudd is an exceptional and integral part of the Australian music scene, serving up incredible musical creations following socially conscious themes such as spirituality, environmentalism and indigenous rights. Recognisable through his array of instruments, this folk musician has recently released new album Storm Boy six years since the release of his last solo project. Noted through his music as a champion for cultural understanding, often a campaigner for Indigenous recognition and condemning racism and intolerance, the notable and incredibly talented musician is bound to light of Taronga Zoo.
6. ‘What’s My Scene’ – Hoodoo Gurus
An Australian rock band formed in 1980, the Hoodoo Gurus are an integral part of the Australian music scene and if you haven’t sung the lyrics to this song at the top of your voice at least once before than are you even really Australian? Still powering through the Aussie scene, the band still produce foot-stomping, memorable tracks to an amass of die-hard fans from a variety of generations and have subsequently influenced Australian music for decades. The whole family are in for a riot of a time watching the optimistic, energetic Australian rock favourites.
7. ‘Supagloo’ Magic Dirt
There’ll be playing with You Am I on the opening night of the 2019 program, and they just don’t come much better than Magic Dirt. The legendary group have been impressing for almost 30 years now, with tracks like “Supagloo” off their 2000 record What Are Rockstars Doing Today still sitting high on our playlists…
American Express Twilight at Taronga Zoo 2019 Line-Up
February
Friday 1st – You Am I with Magic Dirt
Saturday 2nd – Bjorn Again
Friday 8th – The Whitlams
Saturday 9th – Hoodoo Gurus – SOLD OUT!
Sunday 10th – Hoodoo Gurus – NEW SHOW ANNOUNCED
Friday 15th – Xavier Rudd
Saturday 16th – The Waifs
Thursday 21st – Aloe Blacc
Saturday 23rd – James Morrison
March
Friday 1st – Do Re Mi
Saturday 2nd – The Paper Kites
Friday 8th – Vera Blue
Saturday 9th – Comedy Gala/ Umbilical Brothers + more to be announced
General public tickets from today at 11am. To find out more about the concert series and to grab your tickets, head on over to the website HERE.
