Missy Higgins confirms Second Act tour is coming to the Top End for Darwin Festival

Ahead of her to return to the Territory, singer-songwriter Missy Higgins reveals what she enjoys about the Top End and sheds light on the emotional meaning behind her latest album.

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

After months of touring across various states and cities, Missy Higgins is coming to Darwin for the finale of her Second Act tour.

The highly-respected artist will touchdown in August to perform in the Top End – one of her “favourite places” – to perform at the Darwin Festival.

“There’s something about those tropical climates where people are just a bit more relaxed,” she told the NT News.

“There’s a lot of joy and a good sense of community in the audience where you get that feeling that a lot of people know each other and it’s a really special experience.”

Since releasing her first album 20 years ago, Missy Higgins said she had performed in Darwin “maybe 10” times, and confessed she had her favourite local spots.

“I always end up going to the same cafe that we love, the same little spot on the beach and the same market – we tend to go to our usual places that we love,” she said.

“We love going to the night market, having dinner, watching the sunset on the beach and just kind of walking around the balmy weather.”

Missy Higgins said her Second Act album had been fuelled by the emotional experience of separating with her husband who she shares her two children with.

“The album is really dealing with moving into the next big chapter in my life and what that entails,” she said.

“And I guess that’s why it’s called Second Act because that’s where I am age wise – moving into the second act of my life.

“So there’s a lot of reassessing of who I am and my identity and what the future might hold.”

Missy Higgins says she is “more productive” than she’s ever been. Photo: Nighthawk Creative

Despite greater time constraints in juggling her professional and parental duties, Missy Higgins said she was “more productive” than she’s ever been.

“Before kids, I used to have the luxury of choosing ‘the zone’ I would be in before I started writing (songs), but now I literally just have to do it in the few hours to myself that I get between school drop offs and picks ups which has actually helped,” she said.

“The thing that I used to struggle with was not having parameters to work within and so that would lead to kind of crippling procrastination, but now I just know that I have to use the hours that I have.”

For the fans awaiting her in Darwin, Missy Higgins said she hoped her songs would resonate with people on an emotional level.

“I think I’ve learned over the years that the more honest and open and raw I can be in my music, the more it connects with people and the more helpful it ultimately is to the world.”

Missy Higgins will perform and the Darwin Amphitheatre on Sunday, August 11.

For tickets, visit www.darwinfestival.org.au/events/missy-higgins/