Can’t think of anything to do when it’s lights out for Earth Hour? While Monopoly over candlelight may be fun for the whole family, the Melbourne Zoo has a better idea! They are brand new participants in the worldwide Earth Hour 2009 event on Saturday 28th of March and are holding a live acoustic concert in the lush surrounds of the Zoo gardens and exotic animals with Melbourne’s finest blues n’ roots performers, C.W. Stoneking & The Primitive Horn Orchestra, as headliner.

Supporting C.W.Stoneking is a special guest – and personal favourite of C.W.’s – Mamie Minch, all the way from the US and Melbourne’s Dirt River Radio.

Keeping in with the Earth Hour ethos, it will be lights out from 8:30-9:30pm and to make it an extra green event, a portion of the proceeds from the event will be put towards neutralising the carbon emissions produced by the concert.

C.W. Stoneking draws influence from pre-war blues, jazz, 1920s calypso, folklore, and personal experience to produce his original songs. Accompanied with his trusty steel bodied dobro guitar, tenor banjo and brass band, the 'Primitive Horn Orchestra' and Stoneking's songs range in style from lonesome field holler blues, to cheeky hokum duets, to full blown 'jungle jazz' epics. C.W.’s critically acclaimed second album, Jungle Blues, has him short-listed for the coveted Australian Music Prize, with a winner to be announced on March 13.

It will be a great opportunity to bring along your picnic hamper and participate in Earth Hour 2009 by having a relaxing summer evening chilling out to the sounds of blues’ and roots musicians.

Lights out from 8.30-9.30pm. BYO food and drink. Gates open at 5.30pm, show starts at 7pm. Animal viewing until 7pm. Tickets at the gate, from www.zoo.org.au or 1300 ZOOS VIC.