News Alert |

A line-up of 100 per cent local entertainers will be the first to take to the stage at the newly restored Civic Hall this Saturday night.

Tickets to the Civic Hall’s first event following its 2002 closure were sold out in less than two weeks.

Begonia Ball guests are in for an evening of fabulous live entertainment, with the headlining acts bringing local 1950s-inspired performances to the stage.

Begonia Ball entertainment

1950’s vintage car display – Shannon’s Ballarat Enchanted Caravan served by Kilderkin Distillery and Red Duck Brewery Ballarat Rockers The Beaufort Municipal Brass Band Wang Murrup (Crow Spirit) Wadawurrung Dance Group Word of Mouth (Federation University Australia Arts Academy)

Headlining acts The Seb Big Band Ballarat-based Seb Big Band is a versatile modern 18-piece big band comprised of local professional and semi-professional musicians. The band previously performed at Civic Hall in the 1980s for a variety of events including the Begonia Festival and South Street.

Crank Williams Let Ballarat’s Crank Williams take you on a tour of the musical 12 step program of alternative country, blues, Americana and good old-fashioned cowpunk. Crank will be joined on the night by the lovely Patsy Decline for a night of duets that trawl the highs and lows of love won, love lost and good old-fashioned love on the run

The Peter Daffy Trio The Peter Daffy Trio is a classic raw rockabilly three-piece with Andrew Scott on upright bass, Lochy Dear on electric guitar and Peter Daffy on vocals and acoustic guitar. Their repertoire expands to 1950s swing and Latin dance.

Local television personality Bruce Roberts will MC the night, and Ballarat caterer Peter Ford has designed a 1950s-inspired menu specially for the ball.

Guests are also encouraged to dress for the evening in formal wear inspired by the 1950s.

Quotes attributable to Ballarat Mayor Samantha McIntosh:

“This event has been designed with our community in mind, it is about telling those stories of the fabulous events hosted at the hall in its heyday as well as showcasing to you its potential to host events, exhibitions and performances into the future.

Just look at The Seb Big Band – during the eighties you were bound to come across one of their performances at the Civic Hall and now they’re back on the stage performing for us once again in celebration of the hall in all its glory.

This wonderful new space will provide our local creatives another platform to showcase their work and Saturday night marks the beginning on an exciting new era for this landmark Ballarat building.

I look forward to sharing this special evening with the people who know this building best – the community.”