Heavy hitters in the Victorian music industry will be bused to Ballarat this week to promote the city’s live music scene.
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Music Victoria, the state’s peak body for contemporary music, will bring musicians, agents, music journalists and bookers to Ballarat for a tour of live music venues and a performance showcase on Thursday.
The entourage, which includes Victorian artists Benny Walker, Dallas Frasca and Lachlan Davidson, will also visit Castlemaine, Bendigo and Echuca.
“It’s a tour of discovery and exploring opportunities throughout Victoria, especially non metro,” tour manager Nick Cooper said.
“We’re not taking the city folk to the country, we’re basically exploring with a full range across Victoria, it’s about showcasing the unique offerings that lie outside of the city.”
Mr Cooper, who grew up in Ballarat and played his first gig Karova Lounge “well before it was Karova Lounge”, said the city’s music history was “unrivaled”.
“If it was one word it would be pedigree, that history of Ballarat, it’s just unrivalled. I don’t think there’s anywhere quite like Ballarat’s music scene.”
Ballarat’s year of music has opened with a a line up of heavy hitters including Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, John Farnham, Xavier Rudd and The Cat Empire.
The city will also host White Night for the first time next month.
Australian Bureau of Statistics data released in January showed Ballarat topped the state in its attendance of popular music events.
A regional breakdown of engagement in the arts across the country showed Ballarat has a 44 per cent attendance rate at popular music events, followed by Bendigo at 38 per cent.
Ballarat beats the national average by 11 per cent.
The group will take a tour of the city’s live music venues before attending a private performance by Oliphant-Wright.
The private show will be followed by public gigs at Suttons House of Music and Karova Lounge.
Melbourne artist Ecca Vandal will headline at Karova supported by Ballarat bands Chapel and The Second Sex. The South African born performer, whose influences span jazz, punk rock and hip hop, will play Thursday, February 16. Tickets are $10. Doors open at 8.30.
The event is backed by the state government through Creative Victoria.