Record numbers flooded Wingham Central Park over the weekend for the fourth annual Wingham Akoostik Music Festival.

The Akoostik Festival committee were taken aback with the support shown for this year’s event.

Audience members, musicians and volunteers together made up a healthy crowd of 1800 people who came over both days, making 2010 the biggest festival yet.

Music lovers young and old were on hand to witness stunning performances from headliners Wendy Matthews and Phil Jamieson, while our local contingent showed they can more than hold their own in such prestigious company.

Highlights included blistering sets from local bands The Hydrafonics, The Influence, Struk, The Maladies and Container.

Family band The Twine rose above Saturday’s hurricane-force winds, their pounding bass and strong melodies endearing them to a dedicated audience.

Singer-songwriters were also well represented with Sophiella Watt, Tenika Vakauta and Sara Tindley thrilling crowds with their original tunes.

Comedic trio Myrth had the audience in stitches and the Taree High School Fellas and Singas choirs were a massive hit. Up In Annie’s Room and The Tracey Campbell Trio kept everyone dancing into Saturday night.

Sunday afternoon saw the staging of the Akoostik Festival’s ‘biggest band in the land’ world record attempt for the most guitars being played in the one spot at the one time.

In the end, 93 musicians joined in on the act.

It is still to be confirmed whether this is a record nationally or internationally, but regardless of that, the mass participation was a perfect way to cap off what was a fantastic weekend of live and local music.