The Woodland Park Zoo is gearing up for its 40th annual ZooTunes concert series, a Seattle summer staple where the melodies meet the meerkats. This isn't just a fest for the audiophiles; every ticket sale funnels funds back into the zoo, supporting a trifecta of necessities: creature comforts, conservation, and educating the next generation of wildlife warriors.

According to The Seattle Times, the 2024 lineup is making a splash, stacking decks with titans from the indie rock realm, some pulling their weight from the lush backyards of the Pacific Northwest. Showered with nostalgia, fans are poised for aural bliss with acts like Car Seat Headrest on June 20 and the powerhouse tandem of The Decemberists on July 31 and Aug. 1. And let's not overlook Boise's own Built to Spill, ready to marry their time-proven sound with the cosmic spell of Yo La Tengo come August 15.

Mustn't we forget about the musical seasoning added by the return of ZooTunes veterans The Roots on July 21 and the raucous Violent Femmes on July 25, both ready to rock the green expanse of the zoo's North Meadow, as reported by FOX 13 Seattle. Jazz-pop aficionados also have cause for celebration, with Norah Jones gracing Seattle with her presence on July 29, providing a melodic escape for audiences across the King County border.

Spanning genres but sticking to its indie guns, the series welcomes the ethereal Cavetown on June 16, complete with dream weavers The Japanese House on August 12, and twee-scene staples Alvvays on August 19, a group with a Seattle-born rhythm section, KIRO 7 notes. As the series marches towards its grand finale, the country-tinged siren Elle King promises to close things out on August 21 with a bang, or possibly a strum, depending on her mood.