This was worth the wait.
Forty-eight bands across 22 stages, musicians playing on the streets, all jammed into a mammoth four-day weekend of blues music — Echuca Moama Winter Blues Festival was back and better than ever.
Echuca-Moama’s ‘no vacancy’ signs were shining brightly throughout the festival, a sight for sore eyes for many in the hospitality sector over the past two years of cancelled events and festivals.
Families and music lovers were treated to Glenn Smith’s ice sculpting prowess, as he ground down a gigantic block of ice into a stunning guitar.
And the sculpting wasn’t the only icy thing at the festival.
The mercury dropped to minus four degrees on Saturday morning, Echuca’s coldest day of the year.
Not even the sub-zero temperatures could keep crowds away, as thousands of high- energy blues and music lovers braced the cold and flocked to the twin towns to soak up the atmosphere and the talent of musicians from near and far.
It wasn’t just travelling bands up on stage for audiences, our local talent was showcased on the Homegrown Stage in the port area, and included local students, as well as regulars of the live music scene Sean Orr, Chloe Elizabeth, Taylah King and many others.
Paul Jarman, committee member and owner of multiple venues involved in the festival, said the weekend was amazing for both venues and the committee.
“Visitors to our town are just so happy to be back,” he said.
“The weather for July has just been amazing — Friday night was off to a cold start, but it is Winter Blues, don’t leave home without a jacket scarf and beanie.”
Mr Jarman said that the committee is proud of what it has achieved, especially after the heartbreaking cancellations of the 2020 and 2021 festivals.
“I think all the venues and the visitors should thank what the amazing group of people do for our community,” he said.
Mr Jarman has also said the committee is thankful for Peter Williams and his efforts with the festival over the last.
“We are all thankful and thinking of Peter Williams, we wouldn’t have this festival without him.”
Back for their seventh Blues Festival, crowd favourites 19Twenty — featuring singer-guitarist Kane Dennelly, drummer Syd Green, and double bass and backing vocals John Gwilliam — was excited to be back playing for the crowds again after two festivals missed.
“It’s been two years since we’ve played the festival, but we’re pumped to be back,” said Kane.
“Our first few festivals were ones where we played three-hour sessions, and we did six three-hour gigs — it was the hardest we’ve ever worked.”
The band drew massive crowds over the weekend, and had a line out the door for their Saturday night slot at the Star on the Wharf stage, but this festival seemed to be one of the smoothest sailing for the trio.
“Every time we play we break something — we don’t want to, but it just happens,” Kane said.
“Speakers, PA systems, I broke my head once and ended up in hospital, and that was the last time we played Echuca. I jumped off a table and hit my head.”
The band treated audiences to old favourites, new songs, and some well known crowd-pleasers such as Cab Calloway’s Minnie The Moocher and The Angels’ Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again to keep them warm well into the night.
The festival fever continued through Sunday, with not a carpark to be found in the Echuca CBD as the music permeated through the air, sparking many a Sunday session.
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR WEDNESDAY’S EDITION OF THE RIV FOR MORE PHOTOS AND COVERAGE OF THE 2022 ECHUCA MOAMA WINTER BLUES FESTIVAL