As the temperature drops, more than 20,000 blues fans will descend on Echuca-Moama on the Murray River for the Winter Blues Festival.
Now in its 25th year, in 2024 event organisers offer a lineup that celebrates the best of Australia's blues artists as well as offering a stack of lesser known bands who bring the fire onstage. "Back in the day, it was a bit more adult focused, to go to Echuca and go to the pub for four days," festival programmer Jon Howell says."What we've realised in the last few years is that 20,000 people go to Echuca for the festival, so it's a pretty massive community event and very successful. This year, we're really focused on the idea that this is an event for everyone."
What distinguishes Winter Blues Festival is their setting. Nestled within the picturesque surrounds of Echuca-Moama, both towns are reminiscent of the old west with dirt streets, paddle steamers, and horse-drawn carts part of the local tourism evoking a sense of nostalgia and timeless ambience.
"It's a free event. People just need to book a caravan or book a hotel room and they can come for free and then just experience [the festival]; and it's an amazing town."
Another aspect of the festival is their homegrown artist stage that embodies the community focus, inviting local talent to showcase their skills through short live sets. This emphasis on supporting and promoting local artists fosters a sense of belonging and celebrates the diverse creativity within their community.
"Sometimes just giving someone the opportunity to get up on a proper stage and perform their songs can springboard [their career], and we've got a lot of those artists that are really quite young."
The festival is free to attend (aside from the Sunday evening wrap party that is ticketed), which is a unique point of difference especially given the current cost of living crisis.
After revealing the likes of 8 Ball Aitken, 19-Twenty, Bill Barber & the Holding Cell, Charlie Bedford, Corey Legge and Geoff Achison & The Souldiggers in March, event organisers have added a swag more talent to the line-up.
The new arrivals are headlined by Julian James and The Moonshine State, Karl S. Williams, Smoke Stack Rhino and Transvaal Diamond Syndicate alongside local favourites including Dan Dinnen and Shorty, The McNaMarr Project, The Hoodoo Men, Jimi Hocking's Blues Machine, Jesse Redwing, and The Voodoo Preachers.
The festival also welcomes some newer faces on the scene, including South Australian blues-rock phenomenon Stefan Hauk, guitarist to the stars including Kathleen Halloran, and new kid on the block, 17-year old Rory Phillips.
Beginning as a modest gathering of artists in a pub for an afternoon a quarter of a century ago, Winter Blues Festival has since expanded to encompass multiple venues and several days of festivities.
It's name stems from the traditionally slow tourist season in the town, often associated with the 'winter blues'. "The whole point of [the festival is] that we're really just trying to improve the artistic and economic life of people who live in the area, especially in winter, because it can get pretty quiet there."
Relying on support from local businesses, the festival distinguishes itself from many of Australia's major events, which often receive substantial government funding.
This grassroots approach underscores the community's commitment to fostering cultural experiences and highlights the importance of collaboration between local enterprises and artists.
"I mean, 20,000 people for 4 days is not that small a festival, but it's very hard to get it in front of the politicians and get it on the map in terms of like, 'that's a model that we could fund and will actually have impact'," Jon says.
"The fact that it's a free event has meant the current cost of living crisis that we're all dealing with affects us less; people see a lot of value in being able to come and have a weekend of music and spend their money on what they choose.
"If you're a blues fan and you just want to have a weekend in a really cool town, then actually it's a great holiday destination from anywhere in Australia."
The festival proudly prioritises Australian artists, with a specific focus on original contemporary roots and blues musicians. "It's important as well because, half the time you go to festivals like this and there's some internationals and they're not really any better or different.
"It's not really adding value and it's just adding to that whole cultural problem Australia has with Australian artists being as good as anyone else. I think a lot of people get caught up with being able to sort of drop a name on Instagram, like, 'oh, we went and saw this artist' because that's a popular artist.
"There's plenty of bands that aren't all that amazing live, and then there are bands that you've never heard of that'll melt your face. I think people need to remember that when you go, it's about that experience. It's about the experience of life.
"It's not really about the name on the poster. It's about the time that you're having in the crowd. You can go to the festival knowing that maybe you've never heard of most of the bands, but you know that if you walk in to that venue to hear them, they're going to be good.
"So if you're into live music, what you want to hear is good live music, not necessarily just music that you've heard of before."
With its commitment to delivering a fantastic experience, fostering a strong community atmosphere, and curating a line-up of artists who not only produce great music but also deliver captivating performances, Winter Blues Festival has earned its place on the festival map.
"For over 100 years, the blues has been music that just makes you forget your worries and makes you feel good. You leave with that feeling of having had that interaction with that experience that enriches your life. I mean, that's what we're aiming for."
The Winter Blues Festival takes place at various venues throughout Echuca-Moama 25-28 July. All venues are free entry (aside from the Sunday evening wrap party that is ticketed).
Winter Blues Festival 2024 Line-up
Aaron PollockThe Blues Roulette Big Band do Motown
Dan Dinnen & Shorty
Darcy Ramage
Doc Halibut
Grim Fawkner
Jarrod Shaw
Jesse Redwing
Jimi Hocking's Blues Machine
Julian James and The Moonshine State
Karl S. Williams
Kathleen Halloran
Miss Lou's Blues
Opelousas
Paul Buchanan's Voodoo Preachers
Rory Phillips
Slatsapalooza
Smoke Stack Rhino
Stefan Hauk
The Blues Preachers
The Hoodoo Men
The McNaMarr Project
The Windsavers
Transvaal Diamond Syndicate
Who join the already announced:
8 Ball Aitken
19 Twenty
Bill Barber & the Holding Cell
Charlie Bedford
Corey Legge
Geoff Achison & The Souldiggers
Glenn Skuthorpe
Iseula
Lady Valiant
Marshall and The Fro
Jungle Jim Smith
Nathan Beretta
Sammy Owen Blues Band
Sweet Felicia and The Honeytones
The Honey Badgers
The Mojo Corner
Tomcat Playground
