It’s an iconic image redolent of a freer, easier time; a time when loading a live band (and some bagpipers) onto the back of a flatbed lorry and driving them down Swanston Street was deemed ‘OK’ by the OHS gods.
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AC/DC’s trip down the main drag of Melbourne and into history is one of the inspirations behind the Biennale of Australian Art’s decision to build a mobile stage for the music program of the forthcoming arts festival, says Ballarat music historian and archivist Rex Hardware.
And while he’d love to recreate that evocative moment by bringing a group of musicians playing live on a truck down the historic Ballarat shopping strip, Hardware says the program will activate venues rarely used in the city for artistic purposes by instead parking and playing gigs across midweek and weekends around Lake Wendouree and the historic open space at St Andrew’s Church on Sturt Street.
Hardware and BOAA task force director Derek John are putting the final touches to the ‘BOAA Music Bandwagon’ in the lead-up to the biennale opening on September 21.
“We’ve fitted it out with a really nice PA system, which will be on the back of the flatbed,” says Hardware.
“It’s a former promotional shipping container and it’s going to look fantastic; it’s going to be driven around town, everywhere from the Eureka Park to Loreto Point to St Andrew’s Kirk, featuring DJs and local and Melbourne music.”
The music program is curated by Sheree Rich, assisted by Hardware. The former Girl Monstar lead guitarist has returned to her country roots in recent years and her two bands, The Grapes and The Mudcakes, will also be featured as part of BOAA’s orchestration.
Thirty-three bands are featured in the BOAA line-up, including three-time Aria award nominated Dallas Crane, performing the marvellously-named Art of Footy Party at The Mechanics’ Institute; Lisa Miller Rock n Roll Trio, featuring Lisa Miller, Shane O’Mara and Ben Wiesner playing songs from her extensive back-catalogue; Ballarat band Motor City Sounds playing the hits of Motown and recreating the atmosphere of the soul music scene of the 60s and 70s; and country and bluegrass favourites The ReChords.
Venues aside from the Lake Wendouree and St Andrew’s include The Mechanics’ Institute and the Mining Exchange.
“The great thing is,” concludes Hardware, “is this is something we really haven’t seen in Ballarat before, this travelling music bandwagon, which accompanies this fantastic art event.
“At St Andrew’s there’ll be a bar, there’s cinema, there’ll be other events. It’s a chunky piece of vacant land on Sturt Street, and we’re activating it for the first time.”