Live Music Across Moorabool in November
It’s been great to see regular live music and dj performances return to stages across Moorabool in recent weeks, and the trend continues in November.
This month there are 19 DJs, soloists and bands performing at our pubs and other venues, plus an additional 17 music acts performing as part of the Hide + Seek Festival.
That’s a lot of live music!
DJ Renee Tui
The month kicks off with DJ Renee Tui’s monthly residency at Bacchus Marsh’s Royal Hotel on Friday 1st. This month DJ Renee’s gig takes on a Halloween flavour, adopting the title Monster Mash Bash. Renee’s an absolute crowd pleaser, and isn’t afraid to mix hits from the ‘80s, ‘90s and 2000s, across r’n’b, pop, rock, country and dance, so come prepared to dance.
The Royal has also recently welcomed back its popular Sunday live music sessions, and will be presenting live acts, mainly solos and duos every Sunday from 1pm, in the beer garden where weather permits.
There’s another DJ night to watch out for this month, with DJ Backspin returning to the Courthouse Hotel, Bacchus Marsh on Friday 22nd. Backspin will be playing hits from the ‘80s to today in the Rooftop Bar, 8pm-1pm and entry is free.
Another local hotel upping the number of gigs lately is the Greendale Pub, and this month they welcome Melbourne singer guitarist Michelle Parsons back on Sunday 3rd.
Renowned for her rich versatile voice and on-stage presence, Michelle brings her own unique style and energy to renditions of classic covers, which usually sees the audience on their feet dancing.
Local Favourites
The following two Sundays the Greendale has some local favourites, Marty Luke on the 10th, and Bryan Sadler on the 17th. Both gents will be armed with guitars and a swag of popular covers, perfect for a Sunday session against the backdrop of the Greendale skyline.
Stoney’s Club in Bacchus Marsh has recently stepped back up to the live music plate, and this month presents live music every Saturday.
They’ll welcome Adam Tardrew on November 2, Brendan ‘Brunsy’ Bruns on November 9, Mick Sita on November 16, all at the very civilised time slot of 4pm-7pm, and then the Uncle Mickey Duo will play 8pm-11pm on the 30th.
From Friday 22 to Monday, Ballan welcomes Phoenix Rising, a three-day camping and dance party festival at Phoenix Park run by One Tribe Events and featuring music and dance, workshops, markets, bar, food stalls and chill spaces.
On the same weekend in Ballan the Commercial Hotel has covers act the Jukebox Heroes playing ‘60s-90s party anthems from 6.30pm-11pm.
On the Cup Day Holiday, St Anne’s Winery will have live music at their Pop Up Paella Day, and always have a solo singer/guitarist at their weekly Pizza Sundays, while live music, plus djs are promised for the Bacchus Marsh Cup Day Festival at Darley Park Reserve.
And there’ll be live music at some local markets too, including the Creative Kids Mini Market at Bacchus Marsh’s Big Apple Cafe on Saturday 16th.
The Big Apple Cafe has also started up the Vibe Open Mic nights, every second Friday from 7pm, and hosted by local musician, Lauren Camileri.
Also welcoming performers to take the stage is the popular Mount Wallace Hall Open Mic night, which comes around on the third Friday of each month.
Hide and Seek in Ballan
On to the various music events featured as part of this month’s Hide and Seek Festival, and the first day in Ballan on Saturday 2 November brings us a number of interesting performances.
There’ll be live music on the Rosie the Caravan stage in the centre of town between 11am-3pm including the Ballan Community Choir, Irish-flavoured Five O’clock Charlie, and singer/songwriters Fiona Ross, Jen Hawley and Caitlin French.
Also kicking off at 11, guitarist Tom Hughes will accompany a yoga and pilates session at The Studio.
From 12.30pm-1.30pm singer/guitarist Lauren Camileri will perform a lunchtime show live at Zest Licenced Cafe, while just up the street at Shezza’s Diner, David Cosma will lead a trio playing a mix of original tunes and ‘50s rockers. Expect the rock and roll dance community to be out in force for that one.
At 3pm, the best and brightest of Moorabool’s young musicians will take the stage at Ballan Mechanic’s Institute, showing the music and performing skills they’ve learned over the past six weeks as part of the Young and Local program. They’ll be presenting a mix of covers and originals until 5pm.
We’re not done yet in Ballan: Millfield Cafe Bistro is hosting a six-course degustation dinner from 6pm, with live music from Melbourne-based singer/songwriter, Ian Banks, before the Ballan Mechanics Institute hosts the Broadway to Ballan Musical Theatre cabaret sing along.
Hide and Seek in Gordon
On Sunday 3 November the Hide + Seek festival makes its way just up the highway to Gordon, where the young folkies the Gordon Gypsies will play a live Soup and Bowl lunch at Gordons on Gordon from 12pm-2pm. If you haven’t caught the Gypsies yet, this is definitely one to look out for.
Then at 3pm, it’s across the road to the Gordon Hall, where popular Melbourne swing outfit The Martini Set will lead a swing dance party, before the Ballan Community Choir perform at the Shambles Boot Shoppe from 4 to 5pm, and then the Gordon Ukestra perform unamplified and acoustic at the Gordon Hotel from 5 to 9pm.
Hide and Seek in Blackwood
The following weekend it’s over the Blackwood for Saturday 9 November, where the Post Office Cafe will host Gordon-based alt folkies, The Darlings Family Trust, performing original tunes with close-knit harmonies and lush electric guitar from 12pm – 3pm.
Then at 5pm, there’ll be a performance of The Village Square, a combination of music and storytelling featuring local guitarist Robbie Melville, cellist Zoe Knighton and narrator, David Wilkinson.
Finally - for the Blackwood leg – there’ll be the Your Stage Open Mic at the Blackwood General from 6pm to 9pm.
Hide and Seek in Bacchus Marsh
And for the final day of Hide + Seek 2024, we find ourselves in Bacchus Marsh, where the Rosie the Caravan Stage makes its second appearance for the festival, hosting music from jazz/blues songstress Jen Hawley, and Bacchus locals, the BaccBeat Jazz Band at the Village Green from 10am.
Then at the Local Taproom it’s your favourites local colonial folkies, Drongo and the Crow, playing live from 2pm – 4pm, before funky father/daughter duo, Geoffrey and Milla Williams close out the day with a performance of chilled out soul at the Royal Hotel, kicking off at 6pm. Geoffrey Williams has a very rich musical history, with five singles charting on the UK Singles Chart in the 1990s and a host of songwriting credits alongside artists the calibre of Michael Jackson and Teddy Riley to his name. These guys are not to be missed.
More information about these and other local events at our Events page
Got an event we’ve missed? Let us know.