Thousands rocked at Riverboats

“We’d been watching Spicks and Specks and saw that some of the people on there were gonna be at the festival, so we just thought we’d give it a go, and we’ve been every year since.”

This isn’t out of the norm, with many people travelling to Echuca for the annual event.

“We’ve welcomed 5000 people and 15 of the biggest names in Australian music to our festival this year,” festival director David Frazer said.

“It’s not a bad way to spend your time up here and we’ve just had a cracker of a weekend.”

Mr Frazer said he had heard from visitors and performers how great the festival had become.

“I had one patron today stand at the top and he said, ‘it feels like I’m coming home’. He was emotional about returning to Aquatic Reserve, and there’s really no other festival site in Australia like this, a site that’s so connected to the town where our festival operates,” he said.

“I was talking to Peter Garrett last night about how he was just looking out into that audience thinking, this is one of the most incredible locations he’s performed at. So it was great.”

The Sideshows, where performers put on a show aboard a paddlesteamer, was a massive hit.

Kee’ahn, who performed on Sunday morning, said it was a terrific way to cap off an extraordinary weekend.

“(The festical has) been brilliant,” she said.

“It’s all beautiful vibes and just friendliness. People have been really, really sweet, and I guess that’s what you get with regional festivals — everyone is just connected and people appreciate the music,” she said.

“I’ve never played on the water before, so this was really special. I really felt connected to Country when I was out on the water and on the banks where the main festival is.”

There was music for every taste, with people like Anne Perry, who attended to see rock band Regurgitator.

“They absolutely lived up to the expectations,” she said.

Maria Battaglia, who drove up from Melbourne, has been to every Riverboats Music Festival except for one year and thinks fondly of all the acts she’s seen.

“Obviously, there were some bigger names and seeing them was incredible, like, we’re looking forward to seeing Missy Higgins, but it’s more special when you hear someone you don’t know,” she said.

“I loved Tami (Neilson NZ) and I’ll be playing her stuff when I get home for sure.

“It was so emotional listening to her. God, it was just incredible. It’s such a great way to be introduced to new music.”

Echuca will surely see some of these faces again in coming years.

“I will be here again next year,” Ms Battaglia said.

“I love this weekend and I always look forward to coming back.”