By Jane Gardner<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve been lucky enough to have heard the new Ballan Community Street Band, then you\u2019ll know what an uplifting and fun experience it is.<\/p>\n
After receiving a small start-up grant from Moorabool Shire Council, Greendale resident Oli Hinton formed the band in early February 2023. <\/p>\n
Oli says he had no idea who would walk through the door on the first night, or what instruments they\u2019d bring.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, there was a bit of nervous anticipation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it was a fantastic first session, with 10 band members attending, bringing saxes, horns, clarinets and more.\u201d <\/p>\n
By the end of the first meeting, the band had mastered two new tunes and by the second rehearsal, the group had already practiced parading around the car park.<\/p>\n
Oli has played the baritone sax in many street bands over the years and was excited to bring together local people from different backgrounds to form the Ballan Community Street Band. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe have members from Ballan, Gordon, Myrniong and further afield. It\u2019s about being informal, inclusive and having fun,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe have no amplification, we learn simple tunes by heart and as the name suggests, we usually play in the street.\u201d <\/p>\n
Street bands play a mix of musical styles, including world music, Latin, folk, pop and jazz.<\/p>\n
Dressed in their street-themed black and flannel outfits, the Ballan Community Street Band had their \u2018world premiere\u2019 at the recent Moorabool Mushroom Festival (back in April) playing their set-list of seven tunes to an appreciative festival crowd, in the car park at the Ballan Community House. And word on the street is, the band\u2019s second performance at the recent Ballan Farmer\u2019s Market, was described by locals as \u201cbrilliant\u201d with a number of excited, happy children following the band around as they played.<\/p>\n
The Ballan Community Street Band meets every Monday fortnight (during school terms) 7 – 9pm at the Ballan Bowling Club in Cowie Street. The band is keen to welcome new members, particularly percussionists. There are no fees or auditions, just a basic ability to read music.<\/p>\n
For more information contact Oli on 0415 983 348 or oli.hinton@gmail.com or visit the band\u2019s Facebook page at https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BallanCSB\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Jane Gardner If you\u2019ve been lucky enough to have heard the new Ballan Community Street Band, then you\u2019ll know what an uplifting and fun experience it is. After receiving a small start-up grant from Moorabool Shire Council, Greendale resident Oli Hinton formed the band in early February 2023. Oli says he had no idea […]<\/p>\n