THE soulful twang of the United States\u2019 south is set to reverberate throughout the region with the return of the Ballarat Blues Festival.<\/p>\n
Following a four-year hiatus, the event\u2019s organiser and Clunes-based musician John McNamara is reviving the event with fuller chords and bigger bands.<\/p>\n
Gigs are set to played at four main venues and McNamara said the festival\u2019s return will outdo its predecessor.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re basically throwing the kitchen sink in,\u201d he said. \u201c2019 was a dipping of the toe.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had a lovely headline show with three acts. We had more than 200 people in at The George and you couldn\u2019t move at Aunty Jacks. It pretty much took up that whole alley.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe main difference will be the main event at the Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Taking place over two days at the end of next month, side shows will be held at Volta, Aunty Jacks, and Hop Temple.<\/p>\n
The lineup will include Chain\u2019s Phil Manning, Jimi Hocking of the Screaming Jets, Jarrod Shaw, Shane Gilbert, and Riding Northbound, as well as Brett Garsed, and Joe Creighton, both from the John Farnham Band.<\/p>\n
Ballarat Grammar and Clarendon College students will also perform in the event.<\/p>\n
The 2019 event\u2019s three headline acts of the McNaMarr Project, the Lloyd Speigel Trio, and Geoff Achison and the Souldiggers will return for the festival.<\/p>\n
With Blues Music Victoria\u2019s People\u2019s Choice Blues Legend Winner 2022 Andrea Marr MCing, McNamara said the main gig will set the event apart from other offerings in the genera.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got blues in bars, blues in cafes, all that kind of thing, but this is putting the acts on a big stage with big sound, great seating,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got so many acts to squash into the four-hour show, every act\u2019s doing 15 to 20 minutes so it\u2019s short showcase sets.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe last portion of the show will be a massive all-star jam with everyone on stage. There\u2019ll be seven or eight guitarists up there. It\u2019ll be a one-of-a-kind experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Ballarat Blues Festival will run from Saturday 26 to Sunday 27 August.<\/p>\n
With the rest of the gigs free, Saturday\u2019s Volta event will be $25 at the door while Sunday\u2019s Wendouree show will range from $55 and $62 and can be booked via bit.ly\/3qioTgq<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE soulful twang of the United States\u2019 south is set to reverberate throughout the region with the return of the Ballarat Blues Festival. Following a four-year hiatus, the event\u2019s organiser and Clunes-based musician John McNamara is reviving the event with fuller chords and bigger bands. Gigs are set to played at four main venues and […]<\/p>\n