Arts in the Park

Arts in the Park 2008

Arts in the Park is a FREE summer music festival featuring talented performers from Ballarat and the region.

Come along to the McDonald Bandstand on the foreshore of Lake Wendouree, opposite the Botanical Gardens, for some great entertainment ranging from blues and roots to jazz and rock with a little bit of everything in between!

It's happening every Sunday afternoon between 1 and 3pm from Sunday 6 January to Sunday 17 February and culminates in an entire weekend of music on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 February. 

Arts in the park January 2008

Sunday, 6 January

1:00 - 2:00pm, Rhys Crimmin

The rhythmic pulse of the stomp box, the haunting drone of the didgeridoo and bluesy harmonica with guitar under his raw and powerful voice.

2:00 - 3:00pm, Rory Ellis

One of those quintessential Australian singer-songwriters-part bluesman, part soul-belter, with some red-dirt country and some home-grown folkie.

Sunday, 13 January

1 - 1:45pm, Goodbye Stereo

An indie pop band singing about life, love and things close to the heart - emotive and sweet with a touch of country.

1:45 - 2:15pm, Cam Ross

Melancholy, raw expressive melody-driven guitar and vocals.

2:15 - 3:00pm, Month of Sundays

A five-piece musical suite with upbeat and mellow grooves that stem from an acoustic sound, including seventies funk and straight rock.

Sunday, 20 January

1:00 - 2:00pm, James Moore

A solo acoustic performer blending blues, roots, folk and Indian into a smooth performance.

2:00 - 3:00pm, Ainslie Wills

A moody heart-driven three-piece presenting an electic set of originals with elements of pop, rock, jazz and improvisation.

Sunday, 27 January

1:00 - 2:00pm, Aurora Jane

An innovative new roots sound fusing funk, rock, reggae and world music, with stories from the Australian desert to the mountains of India.

2:00 - 3:00, Hip-Popatamus

A funky four-piece with Dani Fry, Stella Savvy, Barry Deenick and Wayne Parker creating soulful and upbeat originals.

Arts in the Park February 2008

Sunday, 3 February

1:00 - 2:00pm, Cellar Door Duo

A distinctive duo with honest harmonies, acoustic sounds and sweet vocals which emphasise their lyrical songs, contrasting love ballads with political opinions.

2:00 - 3:00pm, Sam Burke and the Wifeys

One of the young rising stars on the Australian folk scene fusing folk and classical music in a captivating combination.

Sunday, 10 February

1:00 - 2:00pm, Autumn Gray

A six-piece group combining guitar, piano, trombone, glockenspiel, ukulele and harmonica for a diverse and layered indie rock sound.

2:00 - 3:00pm, The Cohen Duo

A guitar and vocal duo performing jazz, pop, latin and soul, with melow female vocals accompanied by six-string guitar.

Sunday, 17 February

1:00 - 2:00pm, Sarah Dwyer

A vocalist who transports her audience back to te jazz clubs and dancehalls of the 20s to the 50s.

2:00 - 3:00pm, Oceans Baroque
A three-piece groove and soul band with catchy melodies.

Sometimes intimate, sometimes grand, they bring virtuostic yet subtle textures for their original sound.

Sunday, 23 February

9:00am - 1:00pm, Framers Market

9:00 - 11:am, The Bard

The Bard's songs are original, melodic and dynamic, and sometimes irreverent!

11:00am - 1:00pm, City of Ballarat Municipal Brass Band

Jazz, marches and various other popular items for a variety of tastes.

Download the complete Arts Park Program (PDF - 112KB)        

*Program may be subject to change                                   

Contact Details

For further information please contact Sahn Cramer, Arts and Cultural Development Coordinator by phone on

03 5320 5643 or email sahncramer@ballarat.vic.gov.au.