FIFTEEN acts featuring more than 40 of Victoria's best musicians have taken to the combined stages at the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute (BMI) for one of the city's most sort-after bushfire benefits.
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More than 350 music fans packed into the BMI on Friday night for the 'Ballarat's Best for Bushfire Relief' concert which featured a host of diverse acts including Motown collaboration Motor City Sounds, the alternative St Ivory and the Ballarat Ska Union.
With every cent - including booking fees - from tickets sold going to help bushfire affected communities as well as all profits from the bar on the night, thousands of dollars were raised for the effort to rebuild shattered communities and assist wildlife rescuers.
BMI Venue and Facilities Manager Sam McColl said Ballarat had opened its hearts and wallets for the victims of the fires.
"We sold out within four days, the response has been phenomenal," Mr McColl said.
Three stages were set up for the night, two in the Minerva Room and one in the Humffray Room.
Mr McColl said every artist performing on the night had donated their time, while crew members and security staff had also given their time free of charge.
He said so popular had the event been, the BMI had been forced to turn away some acts that were keen to participate simply because it did not have enough room to accommodate everyone who wanted to be involved.
Fundraising events nationwide have already raised millions for fire victims.
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