4 nights of blues + good times: Your ultimate Winter Blues Festival itinerary

Planning a trip to the Echuca Moama Winter Blues Festival? Good call. (And if not? You should be.) With four days of live blues, pub sessions that roll deep into the night and more good food than you’ll know what to do with, it’s the kind of winter weekend that deserves more than a quick overnight stay.

Here’s how to make the most of it, from Thursday check-in to heading home on Monday.

Thursday: Arrive and ease in

Roll into town, check into your accommodation (if you haven't booked yours yet, start your search here) and take it slow. Grab a drink at your nearest pub, wander the Port precinct or catch one of the early live sets to warm up for the weekend. It’s all about easing in today.

The music kicks off down by the river with Glenn Skuthorpe and The Windsavers at Echuca Wharf. You’ll find music at a good handful of local venues over dinner including Sweet Felicia and the Honeytones at the Shamrock Hotel. If you’ve eased in and are ready to make a night of it, head for the American Hotel after dinner for the high-energy chaos of 19-Twenty, guaranteed to wake you up.

Friday: Blues, beers and a side of history

Start with breakfast at The Wren Courtyard, then explore the riverside walking tracks or take a short detour to The Great Aussie Beer Shed for a look at Aussie icons and paraphernalia, from retro Coca Cola gear to vintage beer signs and 17,000+ cans of nostalgia.

On the festival program, Friday is packed. All aboard for paddlesteamer music cruises throughout the day and it’s also the special Winter Blues race day at Echuca Racecourse.

By mid-afternoon, the whole town well and truly comes alive. Don’t miss Madi Colville Walker, a proud Yorta Yorta woman who grew up in Echuca Moama, back to perform on her hometown stage at Radcliffe's.  

Grab dinner early and settle in for a night of back-to-back sets including Jimi Hocking’s Blues Machine, led by the award-winning guitarist from The Screaming Jets and one of only three non-Americans to win the International Blues Challenge in Memphis.

Saturday: A full day of blues and bites

This is the biggest day of the festival, so fuel up with breakfast at Odd Captain before diving into a day of live music, pop-up performances and good food.

Head to Campaspe Library first up to see Geoff Achison, a masterful guitarist with a soulful voice and serious international chops (no wonder he’s a Hall of Famer and one of Australia’s most respected blues artists).

The Winter Blues Festival stage on the corner of Little Hopwood Street and High Street in Echuca will draw a crowd with all-day line-up. You might even squeeze in a riverside wine stop at Cape Horn Vineyard for Corey Legge into the afternoon.

Take your pick of dinner venues; you won’t go hungry for food or music tonight. Make it a night of pub-hopping and maybe even some dancing. With everything from soloist to high energy bands on the line-up.

Playing in the late slot at the Star Hotel, Checkerboard Lounge are the kind of band you have to see live with powerhouse vocals, world-class musicianship and a wild, unpredictable energy.

Sunday: Big finish + wrap party

Enjoy a cruisy start to your Sunday with brunch at The Sweet Meadow, then take in busking at Echuca Chocolate Company.

Catch a few afternoon sets from legends like Phil Para at the Beekeeper’s Table to emerging talent like Oscar LaDell at ESSEN. Soak up every last ounce of festival atmosphere while you can; it’s the final day for 2025.

As the sun goes down, the Winter Blues wrap party kicks off. It’s the final celebration of everything that makes this weekend special and this year features the Shane Pacey Trio.

It’s the kind of closing set that turns Sunday night into the festival’s best-kept secret. Make sure you’ve booked to stay the night, you’ll thank yourself later.

Monday: Head home (reluctantly)

After a proper sleep-in and a good coffee at Johnny & Lyle, it’s time to say goodbye (for now). Take the scenic route and stop at the Colbinabbin Country Hotel or detour via the silo art trail for one last slice of regional colour.

Or you could always start planning your next visit. The Winter Blues Festival will be back same time, next year.

Need-to-knows:

• Accommodation fills up fast, but you can start your search right here for the latest availability.
• Leave room for spontaneity, but take a look at the full program to pick your must-see performers over the weekend.
• The festival is mostly free, so you can get your music fix without worrying about tickets. The only events you’ll need to book are river cruises on the PS Pevensey and MV Mary Ann, Winter Blues at the Races on Friday and the Sunday night wrap party (and trust us, it’s worth locking in). Everything else? Just show up, follow the music and enjoy.

Ready to plan your trip?

Winter never sounded so good. From riverside sets to pub sessions that roll late into the night, the Echuca Moama Winter Blues Festival is more than a weekend; it’s a four-day soundtrack to your perfect winter escape here on the Murray.

Book your stay (like, right now), check the program and get ready for four days of music, memories and maybe just a little dancing in the street.