The Riv was on hand to capture the 25th Echuca Moama Winter Blues Festival, a milestone for the beloved musical weekend.
Festivities were spread across more than 20 venues in the twin towns, including new additions such as Dungala Events Centre, Gypsy Bar, the Beekeeper’s Table and Paradise Bar.
The annual wrap party closed out the four-day event, with some festival favourites jamming out at Radcliffe’s on Sunday night.
WBF chair Laurelin Berick was riding the festival high at the wrap party.
“It’s been amazing,” she said.
“We appear to have filled our venues yet again, despite the weather.
“Our punters have just been so delightful, and I think the running commentary has been, ‘oh well, it’s just rain’.”
Despite on-and-off showers over the weekend, attendees made their way from stage to stage to soak up all the musical goodness.
“On the Echuca Moama community Facebook page, a local person got on there and said that they’ve never seen so many people brave the weather with smiles on their faces to line the streets,” Mrs Berick said.
“When I read that, it kind of pulled at my heart ... that is exactly it.”
On programming duties was the team from Rhythm Section, curating the festival’s lineup once again.
Co-founder Jon Howell praised the artists’ stamina through the rain.
“The musicians did incredibly well,” he said.
“We had a lot of cramping hands, but everyone’s a pro, really.
“They’re getting the job done.”
Musician Luke O’Connor was not only a performer at WBF, but was also behind the scenes through his role at Rhythm Section.
From this unique perspective, he sees a bright future ahead for the festival.
“You’re focused on making the festival great for the community, but also for the music community, the blues roots community nationally,” Mr O’Connor said.
“It’s a bit of a step for Echuca, I think, to recognise itself that it’s a major player on that circuit beyond Echuca.
“Going around and talking to heaps of the venues, in my experience, they’re all saying numbers are up ... bigger bar takes than ever before.”
Mrs Berick also drew on the size of this year’s event for the momentous 25th edition, supported through major sponsors and a Federal Government grant.
“This year we got some funding through Revive Live,” she said.
“It was a big amount of money, but it wasn’t to pay for what we already do, it was to make [us] better at things like inclusivity and accessibility and cultural awareness.”
The Rhythm Section team wanted to appeal to a range of audiences through its program this year, showing these values.
“Jon’s program with bands like Ingrid and the Ministers and a lot of much younger acts, that it is going to attract a younger audience,” Mr O’Connor said.
“With an ageing crowd, we put a focus on accessibility this year, but then you need more young people and younger families to be coming in to renew those crowds.”
Mr Howell sees a distinct place for WBF in the Australian live music scene, particularly through the support Echuca-Moama shows year-in, year-out.
“I think it’s just amazing actually the level of support that the community has given the festival,” he said.
“It doesn’t really happen everywhere.
“Echucans need to really celebrate that — perhaps not intentionally — they've actually landed with something that is potentially one of the greatest festivals in Australia at the moment.
“It can be expanded to become something that is enormous.”
Mrs Berick feels that the festival is a special one for its attendees, creating many memories.
It is these experiences that drive her as WBF committee chair.
“People have their stories about the Winter Blues ... they talk to one another, and they talk to strangers,” Mrs Berick said.
“You’re tuning in to the stories that people are sharing, you’re hearing them around you.
“When I first joined the committee, I was sure that it was all about driving economic benefit, but now I’m completely changed, and I totally believe it’s about changing people’s lives.”