Animal Ventura

THE BIG GIG — LIVE & LOUD EVERY FRIDAY

Sponsored by Coopers Brewing

Your Friday nights = sorted. We're bringing the noise with epic live music every week at Australian Hotel Ballina. From homegrown legends to wildcards from beyond, The Big Gig is all about good tunes, great mates, and kicking off the weekend right.

This Week's Lineup

🗓️ Friday 24 October

🎶 Live on stage: ANIMAL VENTURA

💥 Free Entry

Get in early — tunes start from 8PM and the good vibes roll all night long.

Say hello to the wild, wonderfully rhythmic world of Fernando Aragones, a Brazilian-born, Byron Bay–based singer-songwriter who goes by Animal Ventura. With a foundation in samba circles and years of punk-reggae scrambles in Brazil, Fernando brings a unique mix of live looping, South American funk grooves, and coastal indie-folk vibes to every performance. Whether solo or looped-up full band mode, he crafts an immersive sonic trip that feels both globally inspired and beautifully Aussie. His “sinfully smooth vocals and dynamic melodies” have earned airtime on Triple J and gigs supporting The Presets, Art vs. Science, and The Beautiful Girls.

🍻 What’s On

• $15 Jugs of Coopers all night long

• Kitchen open from 5PM – 8:30PM slinging' Ballina’s best pub fare + Mexican favourites

  
  

🎉 Booking for the crew? We’ll shout the wine.

Round up the gang and lock in a table for 6 or more — and we’ll throw in a complimentary bottle of your choice:

🍾 Anna Spinato Prosecco

🍷 Faustino Rivero Blanco / Rosado / Tinto

Just book online, show up hungry, and we’ll handle the rest.

[Book a Table Now]

👋 Welcome To The Australian

We’re the pub where Ballina comes to play. Cold beers, live tunes, and proper good food — all served with a side of cheeky charm. Whether you’ve just rolled in from the beach or you’re kicking on ‘til late, there’s always a spot for you here.

Locally loved. Community proud. Never boring. Big tunes, big energy, and always a bloody good time.

This is The Big Gig. This is The Aussie. See you at the bar.