Year In Review: The Return of Events

In February, we marked the end of pandemic restrictions with the 10th anniversary Riverboats Festival.

Set under the gumtrees of Aquatic Reserve, the festival took place amid COVID-19 staffing issues in the twin towns.

Festival director David Frazer said at the time they were prepared for anything as they returned the much-loved festival to the stage.

“It’s a festival that means a lot to a lot of people, it was sorely missed last year, and it’s been an incredibly challenging time for the Australian music industry more broadly,” Mr Frazer said.

“We’re really excited that we’ll be able to open the gates again in four weeks’ time and put on a really good show.”

There was one last-minute change to the line-up of the festival, with MC Brian Nankervis being replaced by Henry Wagons just before the festival opened.

This year’s festival sold out in a record-breaking six days, beating the previous record of 10 days.

“It was really exciting, no-one forgot about us over the years, which is nice to see,” Mr Frazer said at the time.

“That is a really good indication that people are really hungry for these events to return, and return in a safe manner.”

In June, we saw the mammoth return of home-grown festival Winter Blues, which saw packed streets and venues across four days of music.

The festival was well worth the wait for its return.

Forty-eight bands across 22 stages, musicians playing on the streets, all jammed into a mammoth four-day weekend of blues music — the 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 after the past two years of cancelled events and festivals.

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 the committee was proud of what it had 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 also said the committee was thankful for Peter Williams and his efforts with the festival.

“We are all thankful and thinking of Peter Williams, we wouldn’t have this festival without him.”

More recently, the best local wine festival, Pop and Pour, made its triumphant return to the region.

The festival used a fleet of shuttle buses to escort wine-lovers around Echuca-Moama’s Perricoota wine region in celebration of local musicians, award-winning wine growers, brewers and distillers.

Cadell on the Murray, St Anne’s Winery, Three Black Sheep, Rich River Golf Club and Perricoota Vines Retreat all featured prominently on the festival trail.

Festival organiser Jacqui Wegener said at the time that she was looking forward to seeing the event go ahead after years of cancellations.

“Every corner of our community relies on tourism and this is the third year in a row that our busiest time of the year has been tainted by a catastrophe,” she said.

“Everyone in our community has worked so hard to support each other through the floods so hopefully this event can be a bit of a reward for our locals.

“The feedback I have received from tourists and locals alike is that Pop and Pour is such a fun, vibrant and socially interactive event and I think that’s just what locals need to distract them from the doom and gloom of what’s going on around us.”