An Echuca Moama Winter Blues Festival highlight will be 19-Twenty playing an all-ages gig at the Beechworth Bakery, Echuca, on Saturday, July 27, along with gigs at the Shamrock and American.
Wipe away the winter blues at this year’s Echuca Moama Winter Blues Festival, July 25 to 28, with free entry at venues all over Echuca and Moama.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Echuca Moama Winter Blues Festival programmer Jon Howell says the event has something for everyone.
“It is an amazing testament to the community that put the Winter Blues together,” he said.
“It is one of the country’s longest-running, regional community-based music festivals.
“There are probably three important blues festivals in Australia, and the Winter Blues Festival is one of them, along with Blues Fest and Blues on Broadbeach.
“Winter Blues is free, which is amazing, with everything being so expensive.”
The 2024 festival will be one of the most inclusive events yet.
“It is not just about blues bands in pubs; we are activating the whole town. There is plenty to do for everyone,” Jon said.
“If you are a hardcore blues fan, there will be something for you.
“If you don’t care about the blues, but you just love good music, and you want something to do with the kids, or if you just love the town itself — because the town itself is just so beautiful, especially in winter — then there is something there for you.”
The family space will run again this year in Hopwood Gardens from 10am to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday.
It will feature free kids’ activities, jumping castles and a children’s play area.
This year, the emphasis is on local talent, with the homegrown artist program on the Winter Blues Festival stage in Little Hopwood St.
One of those performing on the homegrown stage is Bendigo local Louise MacGregor, who is playing alongside Sam Pollack, a blues guitarist from a band called The Ratbags.
“He and I are good mates and we decided to start playing together about six months ago, which made me feel a little bit more entitled to apply for the blues festival,” Louise said.
“Because I am not blues, but he makes me a little more blues.
“We are doing my songs with some blues guitar flair.”
Louise MacGregor is one of the many local acts playing at this year’s Echuca Moama Winter Blues Festival, July 25 to 28.
Photo by
Contributed
Other highlights of this year’s Winter Blues include the Port of Echuca historic wharf being transformed into an all-ages, laid-back stage and space and the Echuca Hotel expanding its offering.
“The Echuca Hotel is now one of our big main stages, along with the Shamrock, the American and a couple of the larger pubs,” Jon said.
“But the stage at the Echuca Hotel is going to be incredible.
“They are doing a massive marquee and stage, and it will be good.”
Asked who he looked forward to seeing, Jon said Marshall and The Fro was one of his favourite bands and 19-Twenty was always a highlight.
“19-Twenty has a massive following, and I have to say, big props to them because they are a huge festival band,” Jon said.
“The Winter Blues Festival has never really had a big headliner because it is a free event and we don’t charge a big ticket price for the most part.
“So we can’t afford the biggest artists in the world.
“The fact the 19-Twenty still come and play our little festival is a credit to them.
“And I think that also indicates that it is just such a great event that they want to be involved.”
19-Twenty will play an all-ages gig at the Beechworth Bakery in Echuca on Saturday at 1pm, along with gigs at the Shamrock and American.
Doc Halibut is one of the many bands playing at the American Hotel over the Echuca Moama Winter Blues Festival 2024.
Photo by
Contributed
Lady Valiant is one of the many bands playing at the Shamrock during the Echuca Moama Winter Blues Festival.
Photo by
Contributed
For more information, including who is playing where and when and tickets to the wrap party, go to https://winterblues.com.au/
16°C