Missy Higgins to bring Second Act tour to botanic gardens Amphitheatre in Darwin Festival return

The full line up of Darwin Festival opening weekend acts will return to the George Brown Botanic Gardens for the first time in two years, including one of the nation’s most beloved artists.

Missy Higgins will bring her Second Act tour to the Darwin Amphitheatre as part of the 2024 Darwin Festival opening weekend. Picture: Nino Lo Giudice

The Darwin Festival is set to make its triumphant return to the city’s cherished Amphitheatre, with beloved Aussie songstress Missy Higgins among the exciting acts set to grace the stage.

The 40-year-old hit machine will present her two-act show celebrating the 20th anniversary of her runaway hit debut album The Sound of White, featuring top 20 singles Scar, Ten Days and The Special Two.

Higgins said she’d pull out all stops to make sure her return to the Top End was “well worth the wait” following a series of sold out legs of her Second Act tour throughout Australia.

“I have such a clear memory of playing outdoors in Darwin way back when The Sound Of White first came out,” she said.

“It was a really special night so I’m so glad we’ve finally found a way to bring this tour to the NT.”

Also returning to the George Brown Botanic Gardens will be the National Indigenous Music Awards, with the annual festival highlight looking back at 20 deadly years of Indigenous music.

Legendary Territory rockers Yothu Yindi perform at the 2023 National Indigenous Music Awards. Picture: Benjamin Warlngundu Ellis Baylis

NIMA creative director Ben Graetz said this year’s awards would be “the culmination of two decades of Indigenous musical brilliance”.

“Each year we come together to honour our diverse First Nations music from across Australia,” he said.

“I cannot wait to celebrate with everyone this year under the stars at Darwin Amphitheatre on Larrakia Country for a memorable night of First Nations musical excellence.”

Rounding out the headliners will be Ilbijerri Theatre Company’s epic rock ‘n’ roll theatre show, Big Name, No Blankets, inspired by tales from Warumpi Band founding member Sammy Tjapanangka Butcher.

Darwin Festival artistic director Kate Fell said all three opening weekend performances were a perfect fit for “one of the city’s most popular and loved venues”.

Opening weekend will kick off with epic rock ‘n’ roll theatre show Big Name, No Blankets, celebrating trailblazing music icons the Warumpi Band. Picture: Brett Boardman Photography

“The Amphitheatre has it all – picnic-style seating under starry night skies, brilliant acoustics, plenty of room to dance and lush tropical gardens,” she said.

Festival CEO James Gough said reintroducing the venue to the program showed the organisation’s “commitment to celebrating music, culture and the arts to the community and to visitors across Darwin”.

“It’s venues like this and other festival locations that attract visitors to the unmatched experience of Darwin Festival year after year,” he said.

The Amphitheatre series kicks off on August 7 and 8 with back to back performances of Big Name, No Blankets, followed by the NIMAs on August 10 and Missy Higgins on August 11.

Tickets are on sale from 9am on Friday at www.darwinfestival.org.au