Hometown is Where the Heart is
There are some nights that feel bigger than the music.
The inaugural Her Hometown concert was one of them.
For many in the audience, the night felt like stepping back into a chapter of Ballarat's music history, when local bands packed venues, and friendships were forged through music. On Saturday night that same sense of community, camaraderie and love of live music found a new home.
As audience members filled Her Maj to bursting, familiar faces emerged from every corner of the city's music community. Many had shared stages, rehearsal rooms and late nights at the Bridge Mall Inn, a venue that shaped Ballarat's live music scene and nurtured generations of local artists before its closure. For one night, those connections were rekindled.
At the centre of it all was Epicure.
Their success resonated far beyond Ballarat, but on Saturday night it felt as though the whole city had gathered to welcome them home.
The evening opened with Daisy Kilbourne, whose captivating performance set the tone for the night ahead. Hailing from nearby Daylesford, Daisy brought a warmth and authenticity to the stage that felt right at home in a concert celebrating the incredible depth of talent found across regional Victoria.
One of the night's most memorable moments came courtesy of The Dead Salesmen. Armed with little more than Hap Hayward's vocals and Justin Ryda's guitar, they delivered a set that was stripped back, intimate and utterly compelling. Every song felt honest and unforced, the kind of songwriting that cuts through because there's nowhere for it to hide. In an age of bigger and louder productions, it was a reminder that great music often comes down to something much simpler: a story worth telling and the talent to tell it well.
As the night unfolded, the sense of occasion only grew.
Friends joined friends on stage. Former bandmates appeared from the wings. Musicians who had shared decades of history found themselves performing together once more. What could have felt nostalgic instead felt alive, growing with every song, every guest and every cheer from the audience.
Epicure frontman Juan Alban paid tribute to former bandmate Dan Houlihan, whose influence on the band's story remains profound.
Speaking to the audience, Juan reflected on conversations he had shared with Dan about getting the band back together and one day performing on stage. As emotion overtook him, the audience responded with warmth and encouragement, a genuine moment of connection and support that echoed throughout the theatre.
It was a powerful reminder that music is about more than performance. It's about friendships, shared experiences, the people who inspire us and communities that shape us.
That spirit sat at the heart of Her Hometown.
While the series was created to shine a spotlight on local artists and give them the recognition they deserve, its first outing revealed something even more important: the strength of the community behind them.
For a few hours, Her Maj became a gathering place for musicians and music lovers alike. Stories were remembered over a drink at the bar, friendships renewed and songs shared. The atmosphere is hard to fully capture in words, but everyone in the room felt it.
It was a gig that celebrated local talent, sure, but it also celebrated the connections that bind us.
And if the response to this first Her Hometown is anything to go by, Ballarat's music story is far from over.
