That’s the sentiment behind this weekend’s Babsoutely Fabulous mini-festival, a fundraising event for the alternative performing arts venue, Babushka Lounge.

Owner Garth Horsfield said this Saturday’s event would feature seven local artists with a range of genres including the French “hurdy gurdy”, dark poetic country with Matt Malone, and reggae-ska with Stella Savy.

He said the alternative music fest would be a fundraising event for the venue, which he has planned to put on the market for sale in the coming months.

“We used to do events called Mini Day Out, which was our take on the Big Day Out. It was a fundraiser and we’d do one or two of them a year,” he said.

“This will probably be our final festival. It’s an attempt to do something different to the crowdfunding campaign we ran last year.”

Mr Horsfield said the event was aimed at raising not only support for Babushka, but the local alternative music scene.

French Hurdy gurdy player Alek, who has lived in Ballarat for four years, will play his last gig in the city at the festival before moving to the USA.

“The hurdy gurdy is a medieval instrument from Europe, especially from France. Mine is a little bit different because it’s an electro-acoustic one so I can play it into my soundcard and computer and I can use a MIDI foot controller to create the sound,” he said.

“So it make more rock music than medieval music.”

Well-known local reggae and ska performer Stella Savy said she would perform all original music with a drummer and a bass player, under a new group called Stella Savy avec frères (with brothers).

“Supporting live music is one of the best things you can do – not just for the venue but for your soul,” she said.

“Football is over – it’s time to get out of the house.”

Babsolutely Fabulous will be held this Saturday from 1pm to 1am, with a day pass $25 or students $16. Entry includes the chance to win a door prize, as well as an all-day barbecue and beer garden. The line-up includes Birahny, Matt Malone, Bathroom Scum, Stella Savy avec frères, Haystack, Dead Salesmen Duo and ALEK.

For tickets, visit www.babushkalounge.com