“The Werewolves are driven by Zevon Hiltz’s searing guitar lines, blues vocals and Sam Cope’s soulful Hammond organ runs. Individually the band is made up of four skilled and talented musicians, together they form a voluminous and rich wall of a sound”.

Greg Phillips – Australian Musician Magazine

The Three Gringos. Three stars, from two stages on one stage.

Blues Roulette is bringing John-Luke Shelley, Jesse Valach and Nathan Beretta (NSW) together again!

The Three Gringos had an amazingly successful east coast tour and were poised to release their first record in 2020.. we all know what happened then.

The Ballarat Beer Festival will see the boys in full flight, and together again. three of Australia’s best blues front men with the power house rhythm section on Blues Roulette!

During his celebrated musical career, Michael Meeking has shared the stage with Mick Thomas, Boom Crash Opera, Tim Rogers, Nick Barker, Mia Dyson and Glen Tilbrook. Michael has enjoyed regular radio airplay from stations around the country including 3RRR, 3PBS, Double JJ and ABC radio. Regularly shortlisted for the Australian songwriter’s award his music is filled with soulful alt-country roots rock with chiming guitars, strong upbeat melodies and big choruses.

Michael has released 3 solo albums and 3 albums with his band the Lost Souls. A new album with the Lost Souls is due to be completed in mid 2021. After six years of musical success in the U.K. Michael returned home and re-formed The Lost Souls with Julien Chick on bass, Chris Gates on guitar, and Dave Kleynjans on drums.

“Not only a gifted songwriter and performer, the hard-working Michael is one of the genuinely decent people floating around in this thing called the music industry” – Neil Rogers, Triple R

Americana UK declared that Michael has “The rock swagger of The Faces, only more refined and performed better.”

UK’s Maverick Magazine said of Michael’s album ‘Ride On’: “It’s a bit like listening to your favourite bits of your entire record collection in just 40 minutes.”

The Music’s Jeff Jenkins stated: “The Meeking might not inherit the earth, but he will impress with his passionate country rock.”

Get ready for a dose of electrifying, hip-shakin’ rock’n’roll with Melbourne’s own high-soaring Riflebirds.

The five-piece band’s latest collection of lightning in a bottle has been released: Live At The Espy – a killer set of tracks recorded at the legendary Esplanade Hotel with enough foot-stompin’ goodness to get you up and moving.

The new live Riflebirds album follows three highly acclaimed studio releases: Ain’t Ever Going Home (2018), World Feels Wide (2016) and the debut record Detours & Collisions (2015).

Channeling the spirit of keyboard-guitar led bands such as The Faces, Radio Birdman and The Heartbreakers, the band’s high-energy sound is created by Rowan Roebig (vocals, guitar), John Kenyon (guitar), Rod Collins (vocals, bass), Damian Toussaint (keyboards) and John Jessen (drums).

From Brunswick to Ballarat to Byron Bay, the band have played at some of the best-known live music venues and festivals in Australia. Festival appearances include NightJar, Leaps & Bounds, Darebin Music Feast, Spring Fling and Ballarat Beer Festival – and you’ll often see them on the bill at Melbourne’s legendary live venues such as The Labour In Vain, The Retreat, The Rainbow or The Espy.

They’ve toured up and down the east coast and beyond, sharing stages with the likes of Ron Peno, Dallas Crane, Dan Brodie, Ben Salter and Freya Josephine Hollick.

“Cracks the whip from the get-go” Beat Magazine.

• Blue Pyrenees

Professor Pilsner (aka Pete Mitcham) is the Editor In Chief of The Critics’ Choice – Australia’s Best Beers, a contributor to The Beer Lover’s Guide to Australia, and host of beer dinners and tastings through his company, Beer Blokes. A conversation with Prof Pilsner is a rich, bubbly journey through beer’s ongoing evolution.

Beer Diva, Kirrily Waldhorn has been involved in the industry for 20 years. She is one of Australia’s go to beer educators and is Dan Murphy’s Beer Ambassador. With experience in presenting on radio, TV and a heady list of consultancy, writing and judging in the beer industry, she brings 15 years’ worth of brewing knowledge to the classroom.

Ok, so it’s not beer related, but it is crazy fun! Think of it as a cross between group flash-dancing karaoke and lip sync battle. Come along and join the off-key singing, two left feet dancing or just be an amused bystander. Prizes will be awarded.

The best dressed punter will win a case of Hawkers or Rover beer. The winner will be announced around midday.

No family festival is complete without face painting!

Have your tiny budding geniuses kept active with plaster and bead work and painting.