This weekend Ballarat is braving the cold and getting out of the house for the Ballarat Laneway festival.
Kicking off this Friday night and powering through much of Saturday, is a weekend full of music as well as light and sound installations. But with so much going on, it’s a little hard to know where to start, so here is your guide to how to get as much out of the weekend as possible.
FRIDAY 15TH
Friday night’s music starts at 6:30pm, so before you get settled in food is on the cards, and the organisers of Ballarat Laneways have got you covered as they’ve hired the Beatbox Kitchen Burgers food truck for the event. The menu keeps it simple, with only two types of burger on offer, yet they manage to include a vegetarian alternative. Their burgers are highly praised, and they will be on site for the gig at Alfred Deakin Place. So Beatbox Kitchen is a great way to kick off your evening.
Once you’ve placed your order and entered a food coma, get prepared for the night to take off. Once dusk hits the Ballarat Laneway Lumieres light show will start up, illuminating areas around Alfred Deakin Place, Police Lane, Ballarat CBD laneways, and the George Hotel.
Stick close to Alfred Deakin Place, though, as that’s where the music will be happening. From 6:30pm to 9:30pm, performances from Gareth Liddiard, Gabriella Cohen, and Freya Josephine Hollick will fill the space.
To keep you going through the night there will be a Tiki Bar providing drinks, snacks, and a summery vibe.
SATURDAY 16TH
The Winterlude festival is keeping Ballarat busy this weekend, so there’s no shortage of things to do. A must-see is the Christmas in July program at Sovereign Hill. Open from 10am, get in early and see the 1850’s filled with snow, Christmas carols, and cheer.
If you can bear to pull yourself away from Sovereign Hill, get down to Studio g.a.s for their chocothon. Let your inner chocoholic free and enjoy their rich hot chocolates, complete with ice cream and marshmallows. And just when you think it couldn’t get more chocolatey, grab a choc-macadamia or raspberry and white chocolate brownie.
Making the most of the cold weather, Ballarat has also installed a popup ice skating rink. It’s quite the novelty, so it’s always busy, but well worth checking out just allow a bit of time to wait. It’s great fun for adults and kids alike, and a good excuse to get outside even though it’s winter.
The music resumes at 4pm on Saturday with an all-ages show back at Alfred Deakin Place. With performances from local legends Dewey and the Panel Beaters, Trucks, and Trillionayers, the night will get off to a roaring start.
A short walk from the performances is Fu Man Lou Dumpling Bar in Camp Street. Here you can enjoy a variety of Chinese food in a relaxed venue. Or if Chinese isn’t your thing, take a stroll down Lydiard Street, where you’ll find a few of Ballarat’s staple restaurants, such as Craig’s Royal Hotel and The Lane.
After dinner, we’re still not done yet! The music continues with Gold Class, The Dead Salesmen Duo, and Rhiannon Simpson and the Triple Deltas wrapping up the evening. Between sets you can also catch DJs Hipster Kill Team, so there won’t be a quiet moment through the night. The Beatbox Kitchen and Tiki Bar will be back on Saturday night too, so if you need refreshments you won’t have far to go.
With a weekend this jam-packed, winter is no excuse to be hiding indoors. So get your scarves and gloves on and get out into the CBD!
SET TIMES:
Friday the 15th of July
6:30-7:00
Freya Josephine Hollick
7:20-8:00
Gabriella Cohen
8:30-9:30
Gareth Liddiard
Gareth Liddiard, the frontman of Aussie rockers The Drones, brings to Ballarat Laneways the angry vibes of The Drones mixed with socially-conscious lyrics and dark humour. Influenced by Kurt Vonnegut, Gareth Liddiard’s alt-rock presence is sure to be worth getting out for.
Saturday the 16th of July
4:05-4:35
Dewey and the Panel Beaters
4:45-5:15
Trucks
5:25-5:55
Trillionayers
While being a relatively new band, psych-rockers Trillionayers are no strangers to the Ballarat music scene. Their band is made up of members from local favourites Horris Green, Bel Air, Junipers, Gangz, and Good Will Hunting, and that experience shows.
6:30-7:00
Rhiannon Simpson and the Triple Deltas
7:20-8:10
The Dead Salesmen Duo
8:40-9:30
Gold Class
Post-punk band Gold Class are something to behold, having recently released their debut LP It’s You, as well as finding a place in the 2016 Splendour in the Grass lineup. With their urgent, frenzied sound and intense vocals, Gold Class will bring an exciting end to Ballarat Laneways.
Ballarat Laneways happens on Friday, July 15 & 16 at Alfred Deakin Place and McCain Annexe.
Find out more about the event via the Facebook event. Main image sourced from Beatbox Kitchen.
Written by Madeline Browney
