Big music name to hop into Wildlife Park gig

SET among the kangaroos at the Ballarat Wildlife Park, a handpicked selection of local and national talent will be hitting this week’s Summer Sunday roving stage.

Top of the bill is Ella Hooper, who audiences would know best as the front woman of hugely successful band Killing Heidi.

Since branching out from the group, Hooper’s made a name for herself as a master of many genres from pop to rock, country to folk, and anything in between, and always manages to put on a great show.

Another act on the line-up is regional singer and songwriter Connor Toomey whose soaring vocals and soulful melodies will transport you to another place.

Although his lyrics touch on heart wrenching and devastating moments in time, the emerging artist’s stories are wrapped in rich, untouched vocals sure to lift the audience’s spirits.

The final addition to Sunday’s line-up is rock act, Hayley Mary who debuted onto the scene in 2019 with her eccentric EP that attracted widespread praise and support on streaming services.

Currently touring solo without her band, Mary said it’s been a bit of a learning to play her songs that are usually full of energy and sound in a more stripped back way.

“I’m just touring solo because it’s difficult in a post-COVID world to fly everyone out to every show,” she said.

“I’ll adapt and be able to do these solo things whenever I can.

“I wanted my EP to sound like a memory of your parents dancing in the kitchen, and your dad is Roy Orbison and your mum is Cyndi Lauper… It’s got that with a bit of Australiana, rock and indie feel.”

After playing only a handful of shows during COVID lockdown, Mary said she feels excited for these little bursts of shows as part of the post-COVID boom.

“I feel like there’s a lot of potential for a new age of excitement after such horrible collapse of society as we know it,” she said.

“I’m just excited to do anything, it’s nice to bring back the magic after it’s been taken away for a little while.

“Ella, I obviously know very well, she’s an amazing wonderful and colourful force, I’m excited to meet Connor and play with the both of them.”

Along with the event at the Ballarat Wildlife Park, the show will be livestreamed on the Summer Sunday’s Facebook page, visit facebook.com/summersundaysballarat for more info.