Penola Coonawarra Acoustic Music Gathering performers were on song at the weekend, entertaining hundreds of people with an incredible variety of music.
Music lovers flocked to Penola’s McCorquindale Park to enjoy the three-day acoustic music feast in the renowned region.
Penola Coonawarra Acoustic Music Gathering committee member Anne Miller was thrilled with the event.
“We had a big turnout, I think more than last year as the word has spread,” Ms Miller said.
“I think our performers outperformed themselves, they were just magnificent, the quality of music was nearly overwhelming, it was so great, and everyone had a great time.
“It has been just a wonderful community cooperative friendship and that is what music does, it is all happy people here.”
The gathering was headlined by internationally renowned blues artist Fiona Boyes, who won the Best Blues Player in Memphis in 2017 and has been a finalist over the last nine years.
“We were so privileged to have Fiona, she is an international star, to have someone of that calibre here was quite incredible really,” Ms Miller said.
The amazing line-up of artists included iconic folk musician Eric Bogle, Mount Gambier’s Anne Fraser, Andrew Clermont, Kelly Menhennett, Mal Webb, Greg Champion, Sime Nugent, Penny Burke and Corey Theatre.
“I heard a great deal of praise for Anne Fraser, our local girl,” Ms Miller said.
Talented bands and duos included Bluegrass Junction, Marcus Cassells and Azlan Harris, Brushwood Folk Band, Courtney Robb and Snooks La Vie, Andrew Clermont’s Supper Club, the Stumpy Gully Bush Band, The River Pearlers and Vetter og Villskap.
Mr Bogle, who is best known for his songs ‘And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda’ and ‘No Man’s Land,’ said the gathering appealed to him because it was a fairly new event and said he always tried to support smaller festivals.
“I have done quite a lot of festivals over the last 50 years,” he said.
“A lot of them are special and small festivals that are community events, and they make the best festivals.
“The small and friendly community, that is what is important to me.”
Ms Miller said the Sunday markets were also a success with a great turnout and a full complement of singers throughout the five hours.
People enjoyed various music workshops and Ms Miller said the Bendigo Bank School Program was also a major hit, with 145 primary school students participating, including around 45 students from Casterton.
Ms Miller believed around 1800 to 2000 people attended over the weekend and people travelled from near and far including New South Wales, Queensland, Adelaide and Melbourne.
“What that does for Penola and Coonawarra is bring dollars into the town, because everyone went into town to have coffees, tried out the bakeries, went to the wineries and all sorts of things, so it is certainly good for the town to have festivals like this,” she said.
“We are certainly committed to having it again next year because we have certainly got people who want to come back.
“The beauty is we can grow, and we are looking for more people to come onto our committee and grow it even bigger in their vision.”
More than 30 volunteers assisted with the event, which was supported by major sponsors Wattle Range Council, Bendigo Bank and Stand Like Stone and The Blok Coonawarra.
The Blok Coonawarra owner and winemaker Luke Trotter said being involved with community events was important to the winery.
“It has been our second time doing the event, it has been great to see everyone from around the country coming to visit our region and enjoying the wines we have on offer,” Mr Trotter said.
