THE Folk, Rhythm & Life Festival across three days was said by many to be the best they've been to with 70 bands entertaining 1200 patrons throughout last weekend.
After a five-year hiatus, FRL returned to Bilyana at Eldorado in what organiser Hamish Skermer said an absolute reboot of the festival made so by beautiful weather, magnificent people and outstanding music.
"People were constantly commenting on how high quality the music was and the whole event was brilliant," Mr Skermer said.
"We absolutely feel vindicated and validated about pursuing and fighting so hard to bring it back to the region.
"That's absolutely come back to me in spades by seeing the happiness and how much it meant to people who attended.
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"We're ready for it to become an annual event again now that my family and I have moved back to the region."
There were 1200 who attended including all of the performers who chose to stay and camp with their families.
Some of the performers who played on Sunday arrived on Thursday night and they use the event as a pre-Christmas catch up.
"There is no festival in Australia which has as many bands as we do compared to the size of the crowd we do," he said.
"That's testament to how much the the musicians like the event and they are usually so busy on tour they hardly every spend time in the same place."
Aboriginal man Russell Smith performed and he has a long connection with the late Archie Roach and there was a minute's silence for Archie and it was a touching moment for all who were there.
Wangaratta Project 365 also played on the Friday night of the festival which was an awesome surprise for the crowd.
Mr Skermer said he couldn't put on the event without his wife Frances and his brother Jack and his wife Faith.
"The great group of people who have been on the working bees and all the volunteers, we absolutely want to acknowledge them, they're as important as the performers and patrons - we really do thank them," he said.
Everyone involved can't wait until next year's event with everyone who attended indicating they'll be back.
