A dip into Ballista, operating beneath Naarm's surface

Words like ‘boutique’, ‘curated’ and ‘intimate’ are thrown around regularly to describe their point of difference when compared with their larger, often more commercially minded counterparts, but for those attending these more tightly lipped occasions, the experience speaks for itself.

One of Naarm/Melbourne’s growing smaller-scale festivals is Ballista, which took place on Djab Wurrung Country this last December.

The weekend-long focus on Australia’s quicker, more abstract take on techno and more experimental dance sounds this year found a new home at a site previously used by Hopkins Creek, The Kulkurt Crater. With a lineup featuring Mikkel Rev, Roza Terenzi, Andy Garvey, Eastern Distributor and many more, Ballista’s fourth year was by all accounts a resounding success.

Looking back at an exciting new name’s most successful entry to date, we spoke with a variety of artists who played to understand what was in the water, and what other events can stand to learn from how it’s run.

What was so special about Ballista? Just the care for artists & punters alike. It was so well thought through & you just really felt such a caring vibe. There was 3-ply toilet paper in the bathrooms, amazing. The curation was gorgeous, everything flowed really beautifully. There were such amazing artists & such a focus on Australian artists, which is really great to see. Andy closing was just the cherry on top. The sun came up & everyone was still there, stomping around in the crater, it was gorgeous.

Ballista was a super refreshing experience. The crowd was so knowledgeable about the artists playing, bringing a passionate, considerate and wholesome dancefloor. The set programming allowed each artist to fully express themselves, and the sound system powerfully backed each artist's vision. The Ballista crew were also amazing, and put in so, so much work to ensure a smooth and safe time for all involved.

Ballista was my favourite festival of the Summer! I’ve never had such tired feet from being unable to pull myself away from the dance floor and the special musical journeys that unfolded across the weekend. Watching Eastern Distributor's and Andy Garvey’s respective sunrise sets, with the backdrop of a dawning sky being punctured by sharp percussions and esoteric melodies was so special. I still have fragmented loops from their sets stuck in my head to this day that I need to ask them for haha.

All of that was made easy to enjoy by how hard the Ballista crew worked to create a safe and fun space. Running a festival can be so incredibly hard with your attention split in many directions and to be able to still be a visible and friendly presence throughout it, checking in and making people’s wellbeing your priority is something I loudly applaud team Ballista for!

No commentary on an event like Ballista would feel right however, without speaking to the organisers themselves. Harry Dott (he/him) & Liam Davies (he/him), two of Ballista’s directors, spoke with us to reflect on what made this year what it was.

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Q: Ballista has found a new home in the site that Hopkins Creek used to sit in, a massive crater a few hours outside of Naarm/Melbourne. Can you give us a rundown on how this site came into your hands?

B: First and foremost, we’d like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we were lucky enough to gather on, the Djab Wurrung People of the Kulin Nation, and pay our respects to their elders, past present and emerging. Always was, always will be aboriginal land.

So we were in a bit of a grey area, scrambling for a new site, and it was seeming like Ballista might have to be put on hold for a year. Fergus, one of our directors, had a link through a friend of his dad’s which presented us with a possibility for a new spot. We were unaware at the time that it was the Crater. After getting in touch with the landowners Jenny and David, part of our team drove out to scope the site. Driving over the hill and down into the Crater that first time was something incredibly special, a new horizon. Todd and a few of the other Hopkins crew happened to be down there and so that’s where we first met. Since then Todd has been a huge help and this last event wouldn’t have been what it was without him.

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Q: We're so used to seeing events in the dense bush, but what does running an event in a crater provide that the bush doesn't?

B: We were over the moon to have found the Crater as our new site but the lack of trees was definitely in the back of our minds. I think I can speak for all of us when I say that this all changed after our first sunset in the crater. As darkness falls and the stars begin to shine, it feels like you are in an observatory. It’s truly a unique and beautiful spot.

Q: What were some of the highlights of Ballista this year?

B: One of the biggest highlights for me was seeing so many people connecting and reconnecting with each other. Many new friendships were made as well as old ones rekindled, and it is so special to see these relationships flourish. I also can’t leave out E-FILE’s beautiful live set which had many teary eyed on the dancefloor.

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Q: What were some of the biggest surprises or silliest stories?

B: To be quite honest I think the biggest surprise for all of us was how much we struggled to hit our break-even number. The programme felt very special to us and yet tickets just weren’t really moving the way we’d hoped. We pretty much lost all of our own personal savings and a week prior to the event I think lots of us had the mindset that this would be the last one we would run. By Saturday afternoon we had done a full 180 and decided we would absolutely have to run again in 2025.

Q: What did the intimate capacity you have mean for how the crowd interacted, both with the music & each other?

B: With fewer people, there's a greater sense of respect for both the space and each other. The intimacy helps cultivate a closer-knit community, where attendees feel more comfortable being themselves and a part of the event rather than just an attendee. I think the same applies to music, creating a welcoming environment where people can experience and accept new or unique sounds that they might not normally gravitate towards.

Q: I saw some incredible shots of Andy Garvey's sunrise set, what did that feel like?

B: Andy’s sunrise set was truly something special. The perfect soundtrack to bring in the new day and to close out the festival. As Precognitive Dreams by Dan White played and the sun rose behind the decks, we felt an air of connectedness between all those we’d shared the weekend with, a moment of culmination. The feeling that encompassed that space was indescribable.

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Q: What have you sought to do with Ballista's programming?

B: For this most recent edition, the goal was to showcase a large and diverse range of music and art—blurring genres and offering unexpected selections, while maintaining a consistent flow throughout the programme. For 2025, we’ve decided to feature fewer acts, giving artists the chance to really immerse themselves in their slot.

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Q: What do you think Ballista provides, first and foremost?

B: Ballista is all about creating an inclusive space for expression, and community. Our goal is to offer local underground artists a chance to share their talents alongside established acts in a festival environment, while ensuring that the experience fosters connection, learning, and enjoyment for all.

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Q: Now being a totally approved event, what are your plans for the future?

B: Future events will forever stay at an intimate capacity, prioritising the quality of the experience above all else. The single stage format will remain, featuring exciting bookings and extended set times as well as a deeper focus on production, installations and visuals, resulting in a more refined experience overall. We are incredibly excited for what’s to come!

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Jack Colquhoun is Mixmag ANZ's Managing Editor, find him on Instagram.