The city and its surrounding towns played host to an impressive array of rock, pop and country talent at some of its premier music venues.  

With more than 30 ARIA awards between them, Kasey Chambers and Bernard Fanning made for an impressive double bill at Ulumbarra Theatre on Saturday night. 

Each played solo before joining forces to showcase songs from their decade-long collaboration. 

A highlight of the sold-out show was the Powderfinger frontman’s mash-up of These Days and Prince hit Purple Rain, accompanied by a choir made from his bandmates and Chambers.

Chambers’ roaring performance of Ain't No Little Girl, the lead single from latest album Dragonfly, earned the country singer a standing ovation midway through her set.  

Down the road at the Golden Vine, Bendigo fans of the late David Bowie donned costumes in honour of the Thin White Duke for a live tribute CD recording. 

Melbourne trio The Thin White Ukes led the live session, copies of which will be taken to the Bowie convention in Hull, England, later this year. 

Further north, on the banks of the Murray River, thousands withstood unpredictable weather to see some of Australia’s most celebrated musical acts at the Riverboats Music Festival.

Hoodoo Gurus and James Reyne joined headliner Paul Kelly for the three-day-long festival in Echuca-Moama.

To top off the weekend, local artists rallied behind the city’s embattled Blues and Roots festival on Sunday with a fundraising concert at the Rifle Brigade Hotel on View Street they hope would sure up the future of the annual event.