IT’S not often that Swan Hill is listed on a band tour schedule that includes San Francisco, Berlin and London but the Brew and Chew festival at Riverside Park last weekend did just that.
Australian indie pop band, San Cisco, headlined the festival, with bands hailing from all over the state including a few local groups.
Local band Code 5 was one of the 10 acts performing over the two days.
Lead singer Joe Dorigo said the band had been together for 11 years and have been fortunate play in festivals and supported some major acts.
“We have been honoured to be invited to play this event.
“I think that we have been starving for this type of thing over the last few years and it’s great to see people coming out support it.
“The concept is fantastic – good food, a few drinks and good music.”
Up until an hour before the gates opened, there was concern with the weather as storm clouds brewed over the city, unleashing a brief burst of heavy rain.
But sunshine emerged a few minutes later and the festival proceeded with perfect weather for the remainder of the weekend.
Festival organiser Hudson Watts said the festival had its beginnings in 2019 as the Swan Hill food truck festival and after being cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID, it was relaunched with a focus on music.
Last year’s floods forced another cancellation.
”Here we are today in 2023 and we have finally gotten around to it,” Mr Watts said.
“We have easily cracked 2000 (people) over the course of the weekend.
“It’s a great result that is pretty much what we were hoping for.
“San Cisco is headlining and they have many accolades, not many people under 40 would not be aware of who they are.
“It has been great to get a young, popular band down to Swan Hill.
“We also have a bunch of talent that pretty much suited everyone.”
Lead singer of Melbourne band Instynkt, Charlie Lane, said the crowd was “terrific”.
Organisers are hoping to stage the festival on the last weekend of November each year, and will work to keep it growing.
