Ballarat Backyard Tasters

FREE City of Ballarat event presented by the Arts & Culture Unit Description Enjoy summer-into-autumn at the City of Ballarat's FREE Ballarat Backyard Tasters. Pack a picnic and enjoy free live music and dance with featured food & drink vendors also available each week. Backyard Tasters will be held from 5:30 - 8:30pm on 21 & 28 February and 7 & 14 March in Alfred Deakin Place, then on 21 March at the Museum of Australian Democracy @ Eureka (M.A.D.E.) The 2014 program includes: FRIDAY 21 FEBRUARY ALFRED DEAKIN PLACE Candi & Ben Fantastic emerging artists BRING IT with a set of diverse covers Sweet Mona's Choir Victoria's leading gospel & world music choir - deep, light, and spine-tingling! Geoffrey Williams World-renowned singer / songwriter brings melodies to lips & soul to hips Afro Diaspora Shake your boom-boom to compelling rhythm & grooves from Ghana The ReFashion Show Catwalk Ballarat's eco-fashions come to life, turning trash into flash! Backspace Gallery featuring the Inagawa Able Art Exchange Feature food vendors 'Round Town Bagel Burgers, sweets by local organisations, & cash bar courtesy of Sweet Decadence FRIDAY 28 FEBRUARY ALFRED DEAKIN PLACE Living Arrows Inspiring words & music exploring personal refugee experiences of our Afghani community Modern Vintage Dedicated to the early sounds of pop & soul - the finest music every written! ALEK Medieval hurdy-gurdy + electro-acoustics = dynamic + different Los Locos Quirky Spanish Latin sounds from Victoria's Surf Coast Jacques the French Waiter Serving quality performance: entrees, mains, & desserts! Backspace Gallery features opening of the Victorian Woodworkers Association's Create From A Crate Feature food vendors Le Petit Patisserie, sweets by community organisations, & cash bar courtesy of Sweet Decadence FRIDAY 7 MARCH ALFRED DEAKIN PLACE Stella Savy Expressive vocalist & multi-instrumentalist serving funk, reggae, soul, & ska Andrea Khoza & The Secrets Presenting the journey of life through anthemic melodies & world grooves Valanga Khoza Trio South African township vibes with soulful trombone & haunting vocals Aurora Jane This secret love-child of Jimi Hendrix & Ani DeFranco travels a diverse stylistic landscape Timothy Christopher Ryan Offering immersive theatre engaging audiences' senses, past, & future Backspace Gallery features the Victorian Woodworkers Association's Create From A Crate Featured food vendors 'Round Town Bagel Burgers, sweets from community organisations, & cash bar courtesy of Sweet Decadence FRIDAY, 14 MARCH ALFRED DEAKIN PLACE Joe Geia One of Australia's most influential Aboriginal composers & founder of the Black Arm Band Just Add Moonshine Bluegrass-inspired fast picking celebrating the hills 'n' hollers of the Ballarat region Mark with the Sea Full banquet mode featuring alt-country sounds & funky keyboards Motor City Sounds Old-school Motown & Atlantic R&B get your motors runnin' Alternative Oz Anthem Stella Savy and Joe Geia present an alternative Australian national anthem Backspace Gallery features the Victorian Woodworkers Association's Create From A Crate Featured food vendors Cafe Majiera, sweets from community organisations, & cash bar courtesy of Sweet Decadence FRIDAY, 21 MARCH - M.A.D.E. Kavisha Mazella Aria Award-winner & folkloric explorer rides the boundaries of beautiful music ContainART Mobile Gallery Launch Celebrate the opening of Ballarat's newest touring exhibition venue Ballarat SKA union Cranking originals with a Big Dance Sound Featured food vendor M.A.D.E. Cafe