Media Release

The Ballarat Beer Festival are thrilled to announce that the win- ner of their Home Brewed Band competition is solo artist and rising star, Demi Louise.

It was hot competition at The Eastern Hotel in Ballarat on Saturday, with four artists playing a set to secure their place as the opening act of the Ballarat Beer Festival next January. After a night of excellent entertainment to decide who would be the winner of Ballarat Beer Festival’s Home Brewed Band Competition, the festival are so pleased that the winner was Demi, a 20 year old local resident (she lives 20 minutes from Ballarat), as the festival prides itself on supporting local talent and providing opportunities for up and coming artists, as well as profiling established acts on the festival bill.

Music industry judges Doug Wallen (Mess & Noise/The Big Issue), Jenny Valentish (Time Out Melbourne), Lou Ridsdale (Lance Rock Publicity/Meredith Music Festival), and Ross & Jules (Power FM breakfast announcers) had a tough time deciding, given the caliber of the acts who went neck to neck on stage.

Demi Louise will perform a 45 minute set on the City Oval main stage and perform alongside the likes of Dan Sultan and Ash Grunwald who are also on the bill on the day.

Having already toured extensively in the past two years in Europe, USA and Asia, 20 year old Demi Louise, a self-proclaimed late bloomer to music, realised her passion for performance whilst supporting Dan Kelly in 2010 when she tasted her first pin-drop moment as the rowdy crowd hushed to listen to her perform. A love of writing poetry and listening to music as a young girl subliminally forged her pathway, and some of her influences range from Julia Stone, Joni Mitchell and Eminem. Having released just one EP and a small handful of video clips and singles to date, she is presently working on her debut album. Whilst Demi has only been performing for a short time, she has achieved a lot, includ- ing recently performing at CMJ New York, being invited to showcase in Seoul’s MU:CON & Zandari Festival in South Korea last month, her debut single ‘Ruins’ reached No 7 in the iTunes Singer Songwriter chart and No 9 in the AMRAP Great Southern chart, and she was one of four Australian artists selected by APRA/AMCOS for the London Song Hub songwriting camp this year where she worked with some of the UK’s top producers. Whilst she is still relatively young she has a maturity to her lyrics and a stage presence, many seasoned professionals admire.

Demi Louise stated, “It’s amazing to have won such a big opportunity, especially in my hometown! It’s a lovely feeling to be able to come home and open for such big Australian acts also, people that I have been following for so long. I can’t wait!”

With the final line-up now confirmed with Demi Louise opening, the stage is set for a brilliantly fun day out. The other acts include Way Of The Eagle (Jay Skubiszewski’s creative collaboration featur- ing Dan Sultan and The Cat Empire’s Harry James Angus); Ash Grunwald, Clairy Browne & The Bangin’ Rackettes; Chris Russell’s Chicken Walk; Buddha In A Chocolate Box, and Timberwolf.

With thousands expected to descend upon Ballarat township on Satur- day 24th January, there will be something for everyone’s musical taste buds on the day with seven diverse acts all delivering their sets on the one stage over a jam-packed nine hours of stellar musical entertain- ment. Music lovers and beer enthusiasts are encouraged to book early for the event.

Tickets (and drink tokens) available now via Ticketek www.ticketek.com.au or 132 849, or Ticketek outlets now.