It's a big responsibility opening the world-class Spilt Milk festival, but Ballarat's hometown heroes Meraki Minds are up to the challenge.
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The band were announced as one of several from western Victoria that will be playing on the big stage in Victoria Park in November.
Guitarist Sam Bailey said the band has been amped since festival organisers reached out via email.
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"The booking agency for Spilt Milk actually sent us an email, asking, being a local act, if we'd be interested," he said.
"At first we weren't sure how they got in contact, but we think it was word of mouth from local promoters.
"I'm a big sleeper, I sleep in til 12 or 1 everyday, they sent it at 10am and I woke up to 50-plus messages from the band saying 'what the hell?'
"It was a big ball of excitement to get that opportunity, we jumped on it."
Bailey added the thought of sharing the stage with Australian luminaries like Ocean Alley, Rathammock, and Winston Surfshirt was a thrill itself.
"There's three or four bands I adore that are there, I take massive inspiration from them," he said.
"So if I get to talk to them, or even see them - that's nuts."
The festival hits Ballarat not long after the iconic Karova Lounge closes its doors for the final time - Bailey said he was optimistic there'd be other opportunities and venues for young bands like Meraki Minds to hone their craft, but without Karova it would have been hard for them to get picked up.
"It's an original home place for music in Ballarat, it's a hole that will need to be filled," he said.
"When The Chats came down, we opened up for them there, we won a battle of the bands last year at Karova through SONIKA, and we headlined earlier in the year, fantastic show.
"You just look back and think of all the good times you spent with your mates."
The band's been busy, he added, and there should be some new music on the horizon before the festival itself.
"We want to get a good couple of two or three new songs on the setlist, and we want to bring something new for the festival," he said, adding an EP, Persuade Me, was released earlier this year.
"I want to write more stuff now, I'm in a bit of creative mood so if we can push out a few more tunes that'd be fantastic."
While the festival's now completely sold out, Bailey said he's hoping locals turn up to support on the day.
"We made sure we got mates (to go), I said do not miss this, we've definitely got a good group going," he said.
"I'm most comfortable on-stage - I worry I'll snap a string, or something will go wrong physically, but I'll be having fun and enjoying every moment."
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