Dark sounds on frosty fields

THE digitised sounds of electronica are set to oscillate the surrounds of Dean later this month as part of a brooding bill of dark synth, ambient, and goth music.

Called Dark of Winter, the event will feature half a dozen acts from Ballarat, Hepburn Shire, and as far as Castlemaine.

Set to take place towards the end of winter at the Dean Hall and Mechanics’ Institute, organiser Ben Andrew said the seasonal theme speaks to the expected atmosphere of the night.

“Think of a dark, foggy, bleak winter’s day. It’s going to be that coming through the speakers,” he said.

“It’s a country hall in the middle of nowhere and I thought that would work with the sort of isolated country feel combined with the darkness of winter and adding that retro electronic sound.”

The lineup’s local performers include Rocar Sanshin featuring Scotty Bo, Sach originally from Manchester, + -xoteq-, German act Terminal Sound System, and Unruh.

Dark of Winter is the sixth live music event Mr Andrew has organised since the start of last year and the first to be themed.

An electronic musician himself for the past five years, he said there’s been a lack in live music offerings and that part of the event’s aim is to promote the gigging opportunities in the region.

“There’s so many great unused spaces,” he said. “We want to tap into the rich resource of local musos who’d otherwise be playing in their bedrooms.

“It feels like there’s no local music like there used to be 10, 20 years ago, and it goes beyond just electronic. Live music broadly has gone into a vacuum.

“Places like Ballarat, you could count on one hand the amounts of spots doing live music on a weekend. This is something achievable that anyone can tap into and make happen.”

Dark of Winter will run from 2pm on Saturday 26 August at the Dean Hall and Mechanics’ Institute.

Tickets are $10 and can be booked at bit.ly/44Gcim and proceeds from the event will be donated to the Red Cross.