Music fest highlights ones to watch

A THREE-day festival championing local live music acts will be staged in venues across the city from the end of the month.

Twenty different Be_Hear/Now gigs will be held from Friday 30 June to Sunday 2 July, in traditional venues like Volta, and other more unorthodox spaces including Norwich Plaza, bookshops, and a deli.

Electro country act Confetti Western, rapper Sami, folk-rock and pop outfit Pyrex, acoustic folk soloist Cassells, and new duo Iridescence are set to headline.

Festival coordinator Sam Boon said the shows are a celebration of the future of Ballarat’s live music scene.

“Creative Ballarat’s aim is to develop these ‘ones to watch,’ who are the next artists coming through,” he said. “It’s about putting musos in the limelight as something Ballarat has to offer.

“We’re trying to celebrate as much local music as we can and draw audiences out to enjoy it.

“We’re activating unusual places, and different businesses are offering their spaces to allow musicians to come in, which is really supportive.

“For example, we’ve got a jazz and soul afternoon happening at Ellington’s Wine Bar on Sturt Street, with an all-local band upstairs, and a visiting soul DJ on vinyls.

“Norwich Plaza has been taken over as a gig venue as well, so we’re not just going to the usual music venues, although Ballarat’s music venues are putting on extra special events as well over the weekend.”

Mr Boon said he expects that placing performers in different spaces will expose the acts to new listeners, link potential listeners with their next favourite sound, and encourage young musicians to follow their passion.

“We’ve got so many wonderful spaces, and we’re trying to bring people out to them,” he said. “None of the gigs clash, so you can hop from one to the other.

“It hopefully inspires the next generation of artists to see that there’s things happening here, and that they don’t have to go to Melbourne.”

A Be_Hear/Now conference of networking, masterclasses and panel discussions coincides with the gigs.

A Friday night industry party is set for Volta, with a performance from Freya Josephine Hollick, before an official launch of The Eastern Recording Project on Saturday night.

Other artists on the bill include Thing from Spring, Lashes, Crank Williams, Haven City, and many more.

In previous COVID-impacted years, Be_Hear/Now has been digital-focused with the production of music videos, and streams.