Last year’s inaugural summer lunchtime concert series in Ballina Arts Centre attracted leading local music acts as diverse as Mike Absalom, Katie Cassidy, Eric Barrett, William Reape and David Walsh, among others.
An open call has now been issued for musicians and singers to take part in the 2025 summer series.
According to Audrey Robinson, Programme Co-ordinator and Assistant Manager at Ballina Arts Centre “The call is open to both experienced musicians and those who have never performed in front of an audience before.”
“The Music @ Lunchtime gigs take place in the informal and intimate setting of the centre’s mezzanine area. It’s the ideal venue for new musicians to experience what it is like to play in public, in a professional but relaxed setting, and for experienced musicians to test out new material.
“The programme was hugely successful last year, with full capacity at most of the shows, which included local singers, guitarists, harpists and pianists, and covered a range of genres from folk, jazz and pop music to original material and humorous songs,” she said.
This year’s Music @ Lunchtime events will take place every Wednesday in June and July, between 1.15pm and 1.45pm. The shows have been timed is so that people can come along during their lunch break and enjoy some live music with their sandwich!
Applications for this year’s programme must be over 18 years of age and should e-mail bacmanagmenttam@gmail.com by May 26 with details of the artist name, instrument played, genre of music, and any equipment required to be supplied.
The prospective act should also outline any previous performing experience and provide a link to an online/social media video clip of a performance. Ballina Arts Centre also welcomes information about the artist’s availability during June and July.
“We hope that the Music @ Lunchtime event will showcase local talent as well as provide the people of Ballina with an enjoyable and uplifting experience throughout the coming summer. We look forward to hearing from as many local musicians as possible and to welcoming you all to hear them,” said Audrey.
