Adelaide Festival Opening Weekend Rounds Out with Free Neil Finn Concert

A crowd of around 15,000 is expected to help ring in the 2017 Adelaide Festival's mammoth opening weekend tomorrow (Sunday March 5), as music legend Neil Finn performs a free twilight concert on the Adelaide Riverbank.

One of the world's greatest living singer-songwriters and front man of legendary bands Crowded House and Split Enz, Finn will perform hits from throughout his career in a 90 minute set under the stars in the beautiful surrounds of Parc Palais, the Adelaide Festival's official hub.

The first concert of Finn's recently announced national tour, this will be the only chance for Adelaide audiences to see him on home soil, and for free.

Finn's concert will round out the opening weekend of the Festival, which has already seen the critically acclaimed premieres of Barrie Kosky's opera Saul, Canadian dance theatre work Betroffenheit, Germany's Schaubühne Theatre's Richard III and the stunning restaging of Sydney Theatre Company's The Secret River in the Anstey Hill Quarry, directed by Neil Armfield, as well as the official start of Adelaide Writers' Week in the Pioneer Women's Memorial Gardens.

It's all part of the debut program of world class theatre, music, dance and visual art from Artistic Directors Rachel Healy and Neil Armfield.

"We're thrilled that one of the world's great musicians and songwriters, Neil Finn, will lead this celebration of all that is joyous about Adelaide in March, and we invite the city to gather together by the river as we celebrate the opening of our first Festival," Ms Healy said.

Mr Armfield said: "As the sun sets and the stars come out over the beautiful Parc Palais, you'll be able to say 'I was there!' It will be unforgettable."

2017 ADELAIDE FESTIVAL OPENING WEEKEND CONCERT: NEIL FINN
Sunday, March 5
Parc Palais, Adelaide Riverbank

Gates open 1.00pm, entry from King William Road.
Concert runs 6.00pm to 7.30pm
Bars and food stalls open from 1.00pm.

FREE admission. Low chairs permitted. Capacity strictly limited to 15,000. No pass-outs.
No smoking. This is a licensed event, strictly no BYO alcohol.

This is an outdoor event that will play rain or shine, but in case of severe weather please refer to the Adelaide Festival website and official social media channels for updates on the day.