Red Hot Summer Tour Ballarat 2026: Our Concert Review

Australian Crawl, Men At Work and more took over Ballarat. Read about our Red Hot Summer Tour 2026 experience, the music, weather and Clunes stay.

We travelled down to Ballarat for the Red Hot Summer Tour on Saturday, 7 November 2026. It was a weekend away that Amanda and I had been looking forward to for some time. With Australian Crawl and Men At Work heading the line-up, this was always going to be a good day of Australian music. However, we didn’t expect quite the range of weather that Ballarat had in store for us. Rain, hail, wind and sunshine all made an appearance. Fortunately, the weather didn’t spoil the occasion. In fact, it turned into one of those weekends that we’ll remember for a long time. The concert was held at Victoria Park in Ballarat, with seven acts on the bill. There was something for different generations of Australian music fans, from the classic sounds of the eighties through to more recent Australian rock. We also made a weekend of it, staying in Clunes, around 30 minutes north of Ballarat.

Australian Crawl Red Hot Summer Tour Ballarat

Red Hot Summer Tour Ballarat 2026 Australian Crawl And Men At Work

The big attraction for us was Australian Crawl and Men At Work. Both bands have been part of Australian music history for decades. Having them on the same bill made this Red Hot Summer Tour a particularly interesting event. Australian Crawl’s appearance was especially significant. The group split in 1986, making this reunion a major event for fans who grew up listening to their music. James Reyne, Simon Binks and David Reyne came together to celebrate the band’s catalogue. They were joined by other musicians who helped bring the original songs back to the stage. Men At Work were another major drawcard. Led by Colin Hay, the band brought plenty of familiar songs from their early eighties success. For anyone who remembers hearing Down Under, Who Can It Be Now? and Overkill on the radio, this was a chance to hear those songs performed live. The combination of these two acts gave the Ballarat concert a strong Australian music theme.

Red Hot Summer Tour Ballarat 2026 Men At Work And The Full Line-Up

Although Australian Crawl and Men At Work attracted much of the attention, the supporting acts made this a full day of entertainment. The advertised line-up included several well-known Australian performers. However, Boom Crash Opera had to withdraw due to a medical condition. Joe Camilleri & The Black Sorrows stepped in as their replacement. The final line-up featured:

Ella Hooper: Opened the day and got the concert underway.
The Black Sorrows: Joe Camilleri brought another well-known Australian act to the bill.
Vika & Linda: Amanda particularly enjoyed their performance.
Eskimo Joe: Added some more recent Australian rock to the programme.
Birds of Tokyo: Provided another strong contemporary rock performance. Great cover of Handle with Care
Men At Work: One of the major attractions of the afternoon.
Australian Crawl: Our standout performance of the entire day.

It was a good mix of performers. Rather than relying entirely on the headline acts, the organisers put together a programme that kept the music going throughout the afternoon and evening.

Men At Work Downunder Red Hot Summer Tour Ballarat

Australian Crawl Were The Standout Of The Day

Of all the performances, Australian Crawl were easily our favourite. James Reyne was on fire. He sounded fantastic and brought back plenty of memories of the band’s early eighties form. There was something special about hearing these songs performed live again. Australian Crawl had a relatively short recording career, but their music has certainly stayed popular. The performance was everything we had hoped for and more. Seeing James Reyne, Simon Binks and David Reyne together again made the occasion even more interesting. For anyone who followed Australian Crawl during their original years, this was a performance worth seeing. Men At Work were also great. Colin Hay and the band delivered the songs that made them famous, and there was plenty of singing along from the crowd. However, Australian Crawl were the clear winners for us. Amanda had a different favourite. She particularly enjoyed Vika & Linda, whose performance was another highlight of the afternoon. It was interesting comparing everyone’s favourites afterwards. With such a varied line-up, there was something for almost everyone.

Red Hot Summer Tour Ballarat 2026 Rain, Hail And Shine All In One Day

If there was one thing that made this concert memorable apart from the music, it was the weather. We started the day with freezing temperatures and rain. Things then progressed to some seriously unpleasant wind before a hailstorm arrived. After that, we had a spell of bright sunshine. Just when we thought the weather had settled down, the temperature dropped again as darkness approached. Ballarat certainly delivered the full package. The weather was a good reminder of what can happen at an outdoor event in Victoria, particularly during spring. Fortunately, the concert continued and the weather didn’t stop the crowd enjoying themselves. The Red Hot Summer Tour is an outdoor event, so weather preparation is important. A warm jacket, rain poncho and comfortable footwear are all worth bringing. The official organisers also advise patrons to prepare for changing weather conditions. Their events proceed in rain, hail or shine unless conditions become unsafe. We certainly put that policy to the test on this occasion!

After The Hail

Victoria Park Ballarat Concert Location

The concert took place at Victoria Park, located in Ballarat, Victoria. The park provided an open-air setting for the event and plenty of room for concertgoers. The official event information advised general admission ticket holders to bring their own folding or camp chairs. Picnic rugs were not permitted. There were also restrictions on what people could bring through the entry gates. These included alcohol, umbrellas and most outside drinks, apart from sealed still bottled water. One important consideration was parking. Due to wet ground conditions, parking inside Victoria Park was unavailable for this event. Visitors were directed to look for local street parking around the Lake Wendouree precinct. For anyone attending a future event at the venue, checking the organiser’s information before leaving home is worthwhile. You can find the official information on the Red Hot Summer Tour Ballarat event page.

Staying In Clunes For The Weekend

Rather than driving home after the concert, we decided to make a weekend of it. We stayed in Clunes on both Friday and Saturday nights. Clunes is approximately 30 minutes north of Ballarat, making it a handy base for visiting the city. We have stayed in Clunes before, so we already knew the area and were happy to return. For caravanners and campers, staying outside Ballarat is worth considering when attending a major event. It gives you somewhere to relax before and after the concert without having to worry about a long drive home late at night. Clunes is also a good option if you want to spend a little more time in the Victorian Goldfields region. The town has a historic main street and is well known for its connection with the Victorian gold rush. It is also home to the annual Clunes Booktown Festival. We stayed at Clunes Caravan Park, which offers powered and unpowered sites, as well as cabin accommodation. The park also has a camp kitchen, amenities, laundry facilities and a dump point. You can check current accommodation details and contact the park directly through the Clunes Caravan Park website. For anyone travelling with a caravan, it is worth booking ahead when major events are taking place around Ballarat.

Is The Red Hot Summer Tour Worth Attending?

Based on our experience in Ballarat, absolutely. The Red Hot Summer Tour offers something a little different from a traditional single artist concert. You get several Australian acts performing throughout the day, with the opportunity to see artists you might not normally travel to see individually. The Ballarat line-up was particularly appealing because of the combination of Australian Crawl and Men At Work. Both acts have a strong connection with Australian music from the eighties. However, the supporting performers added plenty of variety. There are a few things worth considering before attending.

• Weather: Outdoor concerts can be cold, wet, windy or hot. Take suitable clothing.
• Seating: Check the ticket conditions and bring an approved folding chair if required.
• Transport: Plan your parking or transport arrangements before arriving.
• Accommodation: Consider staying overnight rather than driving home after a full day.
• Food and drinks: Check the current entry restrictions before packing anything to take inside.
• Tickets: Purchase through the official ticketing provider and check the event details for changes.

For caravanners, combining a concert with a couple of nights away makes a lot of sense. You can enjoy the event without having to rush home afterwards.

Our Final Thoughts On The Red Hot Summer Tour Ballarat 2026

All up, we had an absolute ripper of a weekend. The music was excellent, the company was good and the weather certainly gave us something to talk about. Australian Crawl were the standout performers for us, with James Reyne delivering a performance that exceeded our expectations. Men At Work were great, while Amanda’s favourite was Vika & Linda. The combination of the concert and our two nights in Clunes made for a very enjoyable weekend away. Would we attend another Red Hot Summer Tour? Without hesitation. The weather might have thrown just about everything at us, but it didn’t take away from the experience. Rain, hail and shine all in one day. What a weekend! If you’re travelling around Victoria with a caravan or planning a weekend away, keep an eye out for future Red Hot Summer Tour dates. It is well worth considering adding one to your travel plans.