The Echuca-Moama Winter Blues Festival unveils its complete 2025 program with 60 artists across four days.
Picture this: it’s a crisp July day in Echuca-Moama, mist hanging over the Murray River as you shuffle between venues, the sound of slide guitar drifting through the clean, invigorating air. This is the magic of winter festivals – where the cool outside makes the music inside feel even warmer, the community tighter, the experience more intimate.
For 25 years, the Winter Blues Festival has been serving up exactly this kind of soul-warming experience, and the 2025 edition promises to be the biggest celebration yet. With the full program now live and 60 artists confirmed across four massive days, this free festival has evolved from a local initiative into a nationally beloved destination that draws more than 20,000 music fans to the twin border towns each year.
The festival’s latest artist announcement completes a lineup that reads like a who’s who of Australian blues and roots music. From chilled acoustic sets to electric blues that’ll rattle your bones, the program showcases the incredible depth of Australia’s blues scene across more than 20 venues.
Echuca-Moama Winter Blues Festival
- When: 24-27 July 2025
- Where: More than 20 venues across Echuca-Moama
- Cost: Free entry
- Family activities: Sherridon Homes Family Space, Hopwood Gardens (Saturday and Sunday)
The full lineup
- 19 Twenty
- 8 Ball Aitken
- Ally Row
- Anna Scionti
- Bag O’ Nails
- Bek Jensen
- Bill Barber & The Holding Cell
- Cass Eager
- Charlie Bedford
- Checkerboard Lounge
- Claude Hay And The Kung Fu Mustard
- Collard, Greens And Gravy
- Corey Legge
- Doc Halibut
- Eddy & The Exciters
- FOOLS
- Geoff Achison
- George Macfloyd Blues Band
- Glenn Skuthorpe
- Ingrid And The Ministers
- Jarrod Shaw
- Jimi Hocking
- Jimi Hocking’s Blues Machine
- Jungle Jim Smith
- Kane Vincent
- Karl S. Williams & Sally Wiggins
- Kathleen Halloran
- Liza Ohlback
- Louise MacGregor
- Luke Harrington
- Luke O’Connor
- Madi Colville Walker
- Marshall And The Fro
- Mike Elrington
- Nathan Cavaleri
- Nick Charles
- Oh Babe!
- Oscar LaDell
- Ozone Street
- Paul Buchanan’s Blues Xpress
- Pete Cornelius
- Phil Coyne And The Wayward Aces
- Phil Para
- Rambal
- Rod Paine And The Fulltime Lovers
- Salt & Steel
- Sammy Owen Blues Band
- Sarah Mackenzie-Ross
- Shane Pacey Trio
- Silent Voices
- Smoke Stack Rhino
- Still Bileve
- Sweet Felicia
- Sweet Talk
- Taya Chani
- The Heavy Kicks
- The Locky Ukers
- The Maskell Love Band
- The Mojo Corner
- The Rory Phillips Trio
- The Windsavers
- Zevon Lee Trio
Check out our gig guide here.
A quarter-century of blues mastery
What makes the Winter Blues Festival special isn’t just its impressive longevity – it’s the way it has maintained its grassroots spirit while growing into something truly spectacular. The festival remains completely free to attend, a rarity in today’s music landscape that speaks to the organisers’ commitment to accessibility and community.
The 2025 lineup spans generations and styles, featuring emerging voices alongside seasoned performers who’ve been lighting up stages for decades. Artists like Geoff Achison and Phil Para bring decades of experience, while acts such as Sweet Talk and FOOLS represent the fresh energy flowing through Australia’s blues scene.
The festival’s Homegrown program continues to be a highlight, showcasing outstanding local and regional talent including The Locky Ukers, Kane Vincent, Silent Voices and Sarah Mackenzie-Ross. This initiative ensures the festival remains deeply connected to its regional roots while celebrating the broader Australian blues community.
More than just music
The Winter Blues Festival has always been about more than just the performances. The return of the Sherridon Homes Family Space in Hopwood Gardens offers free family entertainment and activities on Saturday and Sunday, ensuring music lovers of all ages can join the celebration.
This family-friendly approach reflects the festival’s broader mission to create genuine community connection through music. With performances spread across more than 20 venues throughout Echuca-Moama, the festival transforms the entire town into a living, breathing celebration of blues and roots music.
The economic impact on the region is substantial, with thousands of visitors contributing to local businesses while experiencing world-class music in an intimate setting. It’s a perfect example of how cultural events can drive regional development while maintaining their authentic character.
The festival’s commitment to supporting live music extends beyond the event itself. With backing from initiatives like Revive Live – an Australian Government program supporting the return of live music – the Winter Blues Festival is part of a broader movement to sustain and celebrate Australia’s vibrant music scene.
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From the soulful vocals of Sweet Felicia & The Honeytones to the driving energy of 8 Ball Aitken, from the innovative sounds of Claude Hay and The Kung Fu Mustard to the traditional blues mastery of Checkerboard Lounge, the 2025 program offers something for every taste. Whether you’re drawn to the raw power of electric blues, the intimacy of acoustic performances, or the groove of blues rock, you’ll find your perfect soundtrack across these four days.
The festival’s ability to balance established headliners with exciting newcomers creates an atmosphere of discovery that keeps longtime attendees returning year after year. It’s not uncommon to stumble upon your new favourite artist while wandering between venues, drink in hand, following the music wherever it leads.
As the Winter Blues Festival celebrates its 25th anniversary, it stands as testament to the power of community-driven cultural events. In an era where many festivals struggle with rising costs and commercial pressures, the Winter Blues Festival proves that authentic, accessible music celebration not only survives but thrives.
The full artist lineup represents hundreds of hours of live music across four days, ensuring that no matter when you arrive or which venues you choose, you’ll encounter something extraordinary. From intimate acoustic sets in cosy venues to full-band electric performances that’ll get the whole crowd moving, the 2025 Winter Blues Festival promises to be an unforgettable celebration of Australia’s blues heritage.
For more information, head here.
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