Funky Sunday is in session

BALLARAT’S newest event, Funk’N’Fest, is set to make its debut later this month and it’s being run by the same team behind the Beer Festival.

Set for Zoo Drive on 21 February, the day after the beer fest, a variety of funk artists and collectives will be playing you through the Sunday.

“I’ve been thinking for some time now about Sunday being a great day with all of the equipment sitting there, we should put on a music festival,” said organiser Ric Dexter.

“We don’t see a lot of funk, soul or RnB in Ballarat so I thought let’s do it.

“We’re unsure of numbers because it’s the first time we’ve run it but excitement has started to build so who knows.”

The line-up includes a range of Melbourne funk and soul sounds including Kylie Auldist, Mayfield, Lake Minnetonka, AZTX and Moreland City Soul Revue as well as Ballarat’s own Butterfunked.

“Butterfunked is about a seven-piece band from Ballarat and they’ve been playing in Melbourne quite regularly these days,” Mr Dexter said.

“I’m fairly involved with the music scene in Melbourne so I approached the bands I knew would spin heads around with their amazing talents.”

“Music will start about midday with experimental trio AZTX, then Butterfunked, Lake Minnetonka who are a big band sound, then Moreland City Soul Revue, Mayfield and finally Melbourne’s queen of soul Kylie Auldist to wrap it up.”

With a selection of brewers and food vendors along with plenty of chairs, tables and shaded areas for relaxing on offer throughout the event, Mr Dexter said it’s shaping up to be a very groovy day.

“A few of the brewers hanging around from the beer fest will be two locals; Dollar Bill and Red Duck, along with Blue Pyrenees Winery and two big Melbourne players; Hawkers and Colonial,” he said.

“We’ll also have a couple of the food vendors hanging around, so we’ll have slow cooked meats, ice cream, coffee, The Forge and the music is fantastic, it’s going to make you want to get up and dance no matter how old you are.

“It’s best to buy tickets online because of the COVID rules and if you buy a ticket at the same time as a Beer Festival ticket, get $5 off.”

For more information or to purchase a ticket, visit bit.ly/3ox1Pnx.