News Alert |

Local Ballarat band Meraki Minds have been announced to perform alongside Triple J artist, Ali Barter, at the City of Ballarat’s first Summer Sundays event in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens on January 5, 2020.   

“It is great to see the extraordinary talent of Ballarat locals alongside the likes of Ali Barter. Fifty percent of the Summer Sundays line-up in 2020 will feature local Ballarat artists, reflecting the emphasis on artist development within the City of Ballarat Live Music Strategy,” Mayor, Ben Taylor announced.    

 Ali Barter, the Melbourne based singer-songwriter and former triple j unearthed winner, has announced an Australian tour to celebrate the release of her upcoming second album, ‘Hello, I'm Doing My Best’, which will see her perform at Summer Sundays.   

 “Summer Sundays is a homegrown Ballarat event that continues to grow in strength each year. The event activates the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, engages a selection of local food vendors and drives VFR visitation.  

“The calibre of artists performing at the 2020 event is testament to how highly regarded our Summer Sundays event is, and why it continues to grow each year,”  Cr Taylor continued.  

  Summer Sundays will triumphantly return to the Ballarat Botanical Gardens between 3.30pm and 7.30pm on Sunday 5, 12 and 19 January, 2020.   

  Proudly supported by Blue Pyrenees Estate Winery and Kilderkin Distillery, concert goers can indulge and take advantage of the excellent line-of-sight view to the stage. For those looking to relax even further with their family and friends, the Bean Bag Lounge is also returning.    A quality selection of food vendors will rotate each week, so follow @summersundaysballarat on Facebook to ensure you don’t miss out on the announcement of the delicious street food, refreshing beverages and sweet treats on offer.   

  The Summer Sundays concert series is presented by the City of Ballarat.   

 Ali Barter  

Ali Barter the Melbourne based signer songwriter, and former triple j unearthed winner, has announced an Australian tour to celebrate the release of her upcoming second album, ‘Hello, I'm Doing My Best’.  The process of Barter conceding to herself and recording ‘Hello, I’m Doing My Best’ became one and the same. And that process has resulted in a revealing collection of songs that track her most formative relationships: to her body, her instincts, sobriety and the old vices it counteracts, and the people she loves most. Barter describes this record as an act of purging her past, doing so with hindsight and a level of distance illustrates her growth, as both a songwriter and a person. She is able to understand and empathise with the girl inhabiting these stories, while also moving past the shame that threatened to consume her. That distance allows her to accept her sound and style and self just as they are.  Barter has toured extensively, completing two sold out tours, countless festival engagements and supported The Rubens, The War On Drugs, The Jezabels, Stevie Nicks, The Preatures, Chrissie Hynde and Liz Phair.  

Meraki Minds  

Meraki Minds are a five-piece Indie pop band renowned for their electric stage presence, formed during their high school years in Ballarat. Meraki Minds feature dreamy guitars, and harmonious female vocalists driven by groovy bass and drums.The band is inspired by some of Australia’s most influential contemporary groups such as The Jungle Giants, Saskwatch, Cub Sport and Ocean Alley.  The aspiring artists have brought their tunes out of the band room, with their debut single ‘Wild Talk’ in 2018, spreading onto the stages of Victoria’s rural festivals and Melbourne’s live music scene. Meraki Minds currently have their EP ‘Persuade Me’ and three singles released with new material in the works.   The band were selected to play the Spilt Milk Festival 2019 and have inspired a growing fanbase with their original and authentic music. Meraki Minds are ambitious; in pursuit to bring that Meraki sound to broader audiences.