Nick Cave will perform in Ballarat for the first time with The Bad Seeds at North Gardens on January 15, followed by a brisk volley of heavy hitters including Kim Churchill, Paul Dempsey, You Am I guitarist Davey Lane and Dallas Crane.

Cave and his band will give an outdoor performance on the banks of Lake Wendouree at Ballarat North Gardens fresh from the release of their new album Skeleton Tree.

The tour will see Warren Ellis, who hails from Ballarat, and Cave return to the areas they grew up in.

Lane and Melbourne rockers Dallas Crane will headline the Ballarat Beer Festival on January 21 followed by Something for Kate frontman Paul Dempsey on January 27.

Dempsey will bring his summer solo tour to Karova Lounge in one of a handful of regional shows.

The Red Hot Tour at North Gardens will round out a month of music on January 28 with John Farnham supported by Taxiride, James Reyne, Daryl Braithwaite and Shannon Noll. 

Groovers will still have somewhere to go before January 15 with dozens of New Year’s Eve events in town.

Suttons House of Music will induce Saturday Night Fever this New ear’s Eve with a 1970s themed dance and supper featuring Melbourne’s The Urban Cowboys. Tickets are $50 plus a booking fee and include a light supper.

To book visit www.suttonshouseofmusic.com.au.

Rock ‘n’ roll into 2017 at the Black Hat Daddies at Ballarat Mechanics Institute. Doors open at 7pm and tickets are $40. BYO food and alcohol.

For more information Georgia Cirak on 0434 143 647.

New Year’s Eve at Perfect Drop, Daylesford includes live music, three local djs and the option of Hugh Maxwell’s five course dinner.

Entry is free before 10pm. Call 5348 1100. 

Slice N Dice will head NYE Fire and Ice Masquerade Ball at The Bluestone.

Pre-sale tickets are $20 and include four complimentary drinks and a masquerade mask for the first 200. Doors open 8pm.

Tickets are available at the venue or visit moshtix.com.au.

For a full program of events this summer including details of how to book visit www.visitballarat.com.au.