What's on in Ballarat

Pretty City came to The Eastern recently to play some tunes from their latest release Cancel The Future. The tracks that grabbed me from the album were ‘Television’, ‘Piece Of The Puzzle’ and the rather bizarre song called ‘Boots’. The psych-fuzz rock band from Melbourne played to a smallish crowd, but they loved the show. Who better to bring than master gunslinger from You Am I, the unfairly gifted Davey Lane and his band as support act. Lane has been in W.A recently with his band and they are firing on all four tonight with a great set including ‘Biggest Star’, ‘Love Is Not An Option’ and ‘You’re the Cops And I’m The Crime’. If you haven’t ventured along to The Eastern, you must as the band room is a real gem and it is one of the few pub rock band venues around in Ballarat.
Geoff Achison has just released an intimate eleven track album titled Sovereign Town. Due for release on August 25, there is no doubt most of the tracks will get a run if you can part with $23 and get along to the Cabaret Club on September 7. There is a stand-out track on the record also with Achison’s fabulous cover of Ben Harper’s great song ‘Walk Away’. Stage time is 8.30pm, but get along early for a few sherbets!
The following night, the classic sound of motown and soul will ring out from Cabaret Club as Motor City Sounds do their thing covering the likes of James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder and The Supremes. $20 to get in and take note that there is a courtesy bus that runs from the top of every hour from 7pm with the pickup and drop-off point being out the front of the old Suttons House of Music.
Hop Temple is still the coolest place in town where there always seems to be a cool vibe and a friendly atmosphere. There is even a meat tray raffle on a Friday night from 6.30pm. Happy Hour runs from 4-6pm and there are musicians playing on weekends. Saturdays from 1.30pm and Blues and Brews from 1.30pm on Sundays.
Fans of Athletic Brewery received a fright a few weeks ago with a commotion in the brewery early one Wednesday morning, but word from Pete behind the bar is that it is still business as usual, so get down and have a few pints of the Pale Ale to support our local businesses. The sun is about to re-appear so it’s good timing for a cold ale.
Written by Glen Anderson