SongWays Stories

IMAGINE BALLARAT EAST: A new local area plan for Ballarat East, driven by the local community

Explore live music stories across Ballarat places and spaces...

Imprints: Storytelling the City

These musical pieces were made in creative response to historical Ballarat photography in the collection of the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute (BMI), as part of 2017 exhibition 'Imprints: Storytelling the City.' The exhibition was a journey through the photographic innovations of Ballarat inventor Henry Sutton, leading to a unique experience of the BMI’s Max Harris Collection of historic Ballarat images.

Curated by Amy Tsilemanis (BMI Curator and PhD candidate at Federation University Australia, Arts Academy and Collaborative Research Centre in Australian History) with Lorayne Branch, the exhibition was housed in the beautiful Mechanics’ Institute library and Reading Room. Supported by the Ballarat Arts Foundation, Federation University, and featuring guest artists Barry Gilson and Ellen Sørensen.

Creation Song (Barry Gilson) 2017

Barry Gilson is a proud Wadawurrung man (guli) and artist, bringing back traditional language through song and poetry. He has performed at large scale festivals Tanderum, Rainbow Serpent and White Night Ballarat and when not on stage is everyone’s favourite Ballarat East postie. Barry is a member of the creatively renowned Gilson family, descendants of the traditional custodians of the area, the Wadawurrung tribe, who would spend their winters in Ballarat, and were the first indigenous circus performers employed by the German circus that came to the Ballarat goldfields.

Presented here is ‘Creation Song’ that Barry describes as being about a 'the creation of man and woman in our dreamtime mythology. It ties together the spiritual, genealogical and historical and tells a tale of beginning. With the singing of songs and construction of verses I am re-learning an old language, a language that was forgotten but laps against my psyche'.

Tread Lightly (Ellen Sørensen) 2017

Ellen Sørensen is a New Zealand-born artist and singer/songwriter, telling stories both visually and melodically to connect with her wider world and the experiences of those around her. Since moving to Ballarat in 2016, Ellen has been involved in a variety of events, ranging from theatrical performance with Creswick Theatre Company to Ballarat’s first White Night, in which she exhibited art - and has also performed as her alter ego Shadow Feet at the BMI.

This piece of music was written with the understanding of someone who is getting to know and appreciate this city and its people, while acknowledging what has come and gone - knitting together the land and its inhabitants; past and present.

Save Civic Hall Poster Source: Merle Hathaway

Allan Steinman talks Civic Hall Live Music

history with Judith Buchanan

Voice FM 15 June 2017

Civic Hall Live Music Roster

Poster source: Judith Buchanan

Crosscurrents

Crosscurrents was an exciting open mic event which gave Ballarat musicians a performance space, sparking careers and inspiring a now famous festival - read the history to find out which one ...

Crosscurrents History by Jack Harvey - Nerrina Space & St Paul's Hall

Her Majesty's Theatre

Did you know that we nearly lost Her Majesty's Theatre? By 1963 the theatre was in a state of disrepair. Performers made their way from dressing room to stage holding umberellas to stop themselves from being rained upon! Here is a rare recording of Ballarat Light Opera Company director, Neil Case, making the case for saving Her.

Articles from Ballarat Light Opera Company:The First Twenty one Years - 1959 - 1980 Click on image to read!

Carousel, Ballarat Light Opera Company program 1963 Source: Ballarat Historical Society