Ballarat band establishing a strong foothold in Victoria

WHAT makes the Ballarat band, Old Melbourne Road interesting is their local roots in Dunnstown, their Irish Australian heritage and the Murphy family’s involvement in the Ballarat harness racing community.

Murphy brothers, John and David, boys Patrick, Lachlan and Sean along with three other members Paul Brit, Brendan Spratling and Stephen Russell have built the band from a fledging group over five years ago to today’s highly successful local band.

Together they have have steadily won over a loyal rural Victorian following culminating in a highly successful tour of Ireland last year and more recently hitting the Melbourne scene with a gig in a popular inner Melbourne venue.

Bridie O’Reillys in Chapel Street, South Yarra were looking for a spark to ignite their Irish bar on a Friday night and OMR were looking for a good Melbourne base where they could build a following for their style of Irish folk rock music.

Cracking the Melbourne scene was always going to be a challenge but in late October they had their first gig with approximately 200 punters risking a new genre but ultimately embracing the unfamiliar but addictive sound.

A second opportunity presented in December and regular future gigs are now a possibility.

Also in December the band helped welcome in the new ownership of the Ballarat Munster Arms Hotel as well as celebrating the year’s end at the Brown Hill Hotel and a New Year’s Eve gig at Kryal Castle as part of a family fun event where OMR helped lead the festivities.

There’s more to come though. Old Melbourne Road will play the Dunnstown Irish Festival set for 16 and 17 March.