History was made last month when the Orbost Club Hotel turned over its old bottleshop to the inaugural Snowy River Country Music Festival.
Showcasing only local talent from across Victoria’s Gippsland, the festival was a collaboration between the hotel and Olivia Lay, a musician based in Lakes Entrance.
The event was sold out, with country music lovers travelling from as far as the Mornington Peninsula and Tumut, in New South Wales.
Entertainment included organiser Olivia Lay, Orbost’s Sean McGuiness, Dog Country, and Tamworth Music Festival alum Ethan Calway.
Not content to just put on a great show, the festival also included country-themed costumes, a mechanical bucking bull, and a food van to complement the hotel’s pub food, helping to serve over three hundred festival-goers.
Courtesy buses were also provided from Marlo and Bairnsdale.
Craig Perry, co-owner of the Orbost Club Hotel, said the night was awesome, thanking all involved and promising to go bigger next year.
Festivalgoers had nothing but praise for the event, while the entire town benefited from the economic boost as attendees stayed, shopped and ate locally over the weekend.
The performers were also happy with the success of the festival, glad for the support of local music and the platform to share their art.
“I’m so grateful the guys at the pub were keen to run with my wild idea and bring it to life perfectly,” said Lay.
