Street performers ready for encore

STREET performances across Geelong and the Bellarine will extend through until the end of the year in a showcase of several modes of entertainment.

Acts will include live music, circus theatre, puppet shows, and other roving street activations to entertain patrons at shopping and dining precincts.

The City of Greater Geelong’s arts and culture program will enliven multiple areas of the municipality thanks to the city’s It’s Our Backyard campaign.

The eight precincts around the Greater Geelong area set to benefit are the Geelong Waterfront, Pakington Street, Lara, Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove, Portarlington, Highton and Belmont.

Deputy mayor Trent Sullivan was happy to extend the city’s live entertainment initiative given the great reception it received over the last three months.

“We’ve had great feedback from our earlier entertainment initiatives, so it’s great that we can bring this back as our economy re-opens further through spring and summer,” Cr Sullivan said.

“Aided by the warmer weather, our open-air dining areas and public spaces will be attractive places for people to socialise and the roving performers will further add to the atmosphere.”

For musicians such as Rach Brennan, being able to go out and find a sense of normality will be a challenge but she remains excited to return to what she loves doing.

“It is going to be so lovely seeing so many of my fellow artists on the street and knowing that everything is starting to feel a little bit more normal again,” Ms Brennan said.

“Even over the last year-and-a-half, having these gigs has been super supportive to artists including myself and keeping ourselves afloat for things like paying our rent, but also for allowing us to do what we love which is playing music.

“It’s great that the council has prioritised artists because artists have suffered so greatly.”

Funding to support the initiative has been provided by the Victorian Government’s Outdoor Eating and Entertainment Package.

The full program will run until December 31, with performances to have a Christmas element from November 15.