It’s happening again, bigger & better than ever: The 2016 Ballarat Backyard Tasters FREE live music concert series is just over the horizon!

Presented by the City of Ballarat every Friday evening through February (that’s the 5th, the 12th, the 19th, the 26th) from 6 – 9pm (new hours by popular demand) in Alfred Deakin Place, Ballarat Backyard Tasters bring you the very best of Ballarat: local live music, diversely delightful food & drinks, arresting artistry in Backspace Gallery and our NEW Backyard Artisan Market (select quality contemporary designer/maker goods for your shopping pleasure), tempting sweets from favourite community group cake stalls, the famous Tasters Cash Bar, special performances & demonstrations, the delicous company of your friends & neighbours…how better to celebrate & segue into the closing weekends of Summer?

BYO chairs & by all means bring a picnic if you’d like – just make sure you’re front & centre for the following frolics:
5 February
Welcome to Country
Namarilly Bagarook Indigenous Dance
Special Haka Response
Trappist Afterland – Space folk music with voice, strings & Tanpura drones
deborahN Trio – A little bit of jazz & a whole lotta soul
Ballarat Ska Orchestra – Groovin’ to that big Jamaican dance sound
Market Vendors
Lords & Lads traditional barbering
‘Rare Trades’ Backspace Gallery opening

12 February
Welcome to Country
Simon Carrol’s Spoken Word & Storytelling: Tales From the Land of Not Quite Right
Mini Monas – A’cappella contemporay music
Dream Tree – Rich acoustic sounds with a gospel flavour
Stray Blacks – Rocking beats from the heart of indigenous Australia
Motor City Sounds – Classic Detroit soul & blues
Market Vendors
Ballarat Rock & Roll Club Dance Demonstration
‘Rare Trades’ in Backspace Gallery

19 February
Welcome to Country
VOX – Challenging choral music; sacred & secular, old & new
Well Strung – Unique blend of classical & pop music
The Little Brass Band – A big brassy sound of beauty & humour
Los Locos – Quirky cocktail of Latin & surf music that spells Summer
Market Vendors
‘Rare Trades’ in Backspace Gallery

26 February
Welcome to Country
Anna Oliphant Wright – Alt-country & local Triple J Unearthed sensation
Market Lane – Women’s voices singing world & pop music
Full Swing – Celtic & indie strings & vocals
‘cut’ Backspace Gallery exhibition