EARTH HOUR UNPLUGGED 2011 at the Melbourne Zoo
EARTH HOUR UNPLUGGED AT MELBOURNE ZOO IS BACK IN 2011 WITH CLARE BOWDITCH AND JESS McAVOY
SATURDAY MARCH 26 Lights out from 8:30-9:30pm.
Another year, another Earth Hour, another great reason to visit the Melbourne Zoo. On Saturday March 26, the Melbourne Zoo will play host to its third year of Earth Hour Unplugged, this time with the loveable Clare Bowditch and band with support from Melbourne’s Jess McAvoy. Instead of sitting in darkness at home, grab your family and friends, arm yourself with a jam-packed picnic basket and get ready to be enlightened on the grassy knolls surrounding the Zoo’s bandstand for some amazing music.
This year, the Melbourne Zoo and Earth Hour Unplugged will be graced with the wonderful Clare Bowditch and band performing live. Bowditch is beautiful, talented and has sold tens of thousands of albums, thrilled us with her work for over a decade and not only won our hearts but won an ARIA. She’s one of Australia’s most gifted and respected musicians, artists and singers, known as much for her “voice” as for her singing. Clare’s sense of community is well noted, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the community, who surrounds her in her live shows. Clare’s eight-piece New Slang band, are a rare and marvellous sight and to catch them at full-stride, you’ll need to rally to the Melbourne Zoo for the Earth Hour Unplugged for one very special concert. Jess McAvoy has been playing in pubs and clubs in Australia since she was 16 years old, attracting rave reviews for her emotive and energetic performances and melodic hook laden indie/pop tunes. Since relocating to Melbourne in 1999, Jess has played shows with both local and international artists and has garnered national airplay on Triple J and Rage. For her latest release, Jess worked with Marty Brown (Clare Bowditch, Art of Fighting) for her CD ‘As The Sun Falls’ which was launched to a sold out crowd in Sydney and Melbourne. The addition of Jess McAvoy to the Earth Hour Unplugged line up, opening for Clare Bowditch solidifies a great night of music and entertainment and all for a great cause! In over 360 cities and towns across the world, Earth Hour sees people switching off their lights for an hour from 8:30pm to raise awareness about climate change, which is exactly what the Zoo is going to do.
Keeping up its reputation as a conservationist Zoo, a portion of the ticket price is put towards carbon-offsetting the event and to the conservation of its inhabitants. Stepping up their efforts in sustainability and contributing to a more sustainable Earth, the theme this year for Earth Hour is to go ‘beyond the hour’ and to make a difference not just on March 26th but the rest of the year. The organisers of Earth Hour, WWF-Australia, say that this year Earth Hour will focus on broader aspects of sustainability, giving everyone something to do beyond the hour of darkness. “We’re asking people to go beyond turning off lights and instead make an Earth Hour resolution to start something bigger,” said Mr Bourne, WWF-Australia’s CEO.
“Switching off your lights is a great first step, but your true environmental impact is much bigger than just your energy bill. Your environmental footprint is made up of things such as the food you eat, the transport and housing you choose, and the goods and services you buy.” Last year, Earth Hour Unplugged saw Melbourne’s favourite son, Tim Rogers perform a spectacular unplugged set with support from The Wagons and Melbourne natives Blackchords. Tickets go on sale on March 1 through www.zoo.org.au or 1300 ZOOS VIC. Limited tickets will be available at the gate but pre-purchasing is strongly recommended to avoid disappointment. Gates open at 5.30pm, music will kick off at 7.00pm. Selected wildlife viewing until 7pm. Food and beverages will be available for purchase on the evening. Due to changes in Liquor Licensing laws in Victoria, this is no longer a BYO alcohol event. No glass and no smoking, please. For more information about the event visit www.zoo.org.au. To measure your carbon footprint, visit www.earthhour.org.au.
