This year's Akoostik ticked all the right boxes. Great music, perfect weather, a festival friendly venue and of course plenty of smiling people of all ages.
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Organisers say the Saturday was probably one of the best they've ever had citing blazing performances and mind blowing sets from the likes of Hat Fitz and Cara, Lloyd Spiegel, 19-Twenty and head line act Diesel.
The crowd kicked back under blue skies for a weekend of entertainment which included 30 musical acts across two stages as well as circus performances, belly dancing, yoga and Tai Chi.
There was also popular appearances from the BackTrack Boys and their dog jump team.
No doubt a few punters would have felt the pain of the weather if they failed to seek adequate shade or apply enough sunscreen. The sun was unrelenting on Saturday particularly but a much welcome change from the storm and torrential rain which saw last year's festival brought to an abrupt end.
Festival director Donna Ballard said she enjoyed this year's event so much more.
Funding received earlier this year from the NSW Government's Arts and Cultural Development Program meant the Akoostik team could prepare the festival a little better with some waterproofing precautions put in place.
This no doubt shouldered some of the stress as did a favorable weather forecast which didn't disappoint.
The festival always attracts an army of volunteers and as such appears to run like clockwork. There's always a friendly face to welcome you through the gates and apply your obligatory wrist band and the smiles continue into the beer tent with recognisable locals working hard for their entry ticket.
And credit must go to the persons unknown who manage the toilets. There's not many festivals which can lay claim to clean loos and enough toilet roll to go around. There was even plenty of hand towels in the dispenser when this reporter visited the ladies on Saturday evening.
For the thousands of visitors through the gates all weekend their highlights would vary. For me, hands down it was the energetic performance of 19-Twenty. I've never seen a man handle his instrument as deftly as the double bass player managed to do. There was probably more swearing than I've ever heard on an Akoostik stage - or from a singing audience - but it was enormously enjoyable and I can't wait to see what the 2020 festival has to offer.
