SITTING inside an old farm truck draped in lights, wine in hand listening to a cassette tape — just metres away from gin and whiskey tastings in the open air of Tasmania’s East Coast.

Or gathered around bonfires listening to live music under the stars, tucking in to local produce from food trucks.

Dubbed “a grown-up’s playground” by its creator, the East Coast Harvest Odyssey — or ECHO Festival — is shaping up to be a breath of fresh air away from the city for all adults.

The unique festival runs over the weekend March 31 to April 2, bringing together local winemakers and producers and chefs along with artists, musicians, scientists and creatives.

“ECHO is for the curious, the slightly odd, but meaningful types who care about things – the people who are interested in living,” creative producer Ange Boxall said.

The 2023 program offers a diverse range of experiences across culture and arts, food, science and nature – all centred around this year’s theme – Waterbirds.

Patrons will be invited to help built a ningher – a traditional Tasmanian Aboriginal canoe and to then join in song as it floats down the Meredith River ready for the Welcome to Country and Muttonbird dance.

Or festival goers can work with Tasmanian blacksmith Pete Mattila to forge their own feather, a keepsake of his large Black Swan sculpture commissioned specially for ECHO 2023.

“ECHO 2023 celebrates authentic sensory experiences and the coming together of cultural, culinary and local produce legends,” Ms Boxall said. “It’s a celebration and representation of who we truly are as Tasmanians.”

The iconic Native Bounty Feast will be a three-course degustation of local produce prepared by acclaimed Tasmanian Chef Megan Quill, with an interactive program of entertainment.

“The feast is so special and it’s in an 1820s barn all decorated and beautiful,” Ms Boxall said. “The chef always incorporates indigenous and local produce to make you feel like you’re in the middle of a really special environment, as well as the theatrics of cooking on a fire … guests are seated at long tables set up for conversation and it’s so special.”

The 2023 musical line-up headlines renowned Nashville troubadour Steve Poltz, along with an array or talented Tasmanian musicians and DJs.

The Great Eastern Ferment (grape stomping), the interactive Beaker Street Science Bar, Shed Sessions, and Blind Taste Speed Date are among some of the activations designed to help people reconnect and recentre.

A free shuttle service will be running from central Swansea to the historic ‘Redbanks’ site throughout the whole festival.

Nestled in the stunning East Coast wine country on the fringe of the seaside town of Swansea, the boutique festival is capped at 500 people.

For tickets, visit echofestival.com.au

Meet the chef: Native Bounty Feast

During her time working in Migrant Resource Centre Tasmania’s social enterprise kitchen at Glenorchy, West Hobart chef Megan Quill met Syrian refugees who turned into friends, culminating in a recent trip of hers to Lebanon and Turkiye.

It fuelled a passionate interest in Eastern Mediterranean flavours, shades of which will be visible on her three-course menu at ECHO Festival’s Native Bounty Feast, an intimate, 90-seat long-table meal held in a beautiful old barn a few minutes from Swansea.

She said her time working with her migrant friends was a cultural exchange: she had to explain what wallaby was and how it could be eaten, while they taught her recipes to dishes from their homeland.

That cross-pollination will see native ingredients such as sea parsley, warrigal greens, garlic and, yes, wallaby, informed by another culture, so that attendees will sup on tabouli made with sea parsley, and toum, a Lebanese garlic sauce made with East Coast garlic.

“We have beautiful garlic in Tasmania, there’s a special property on the East Coast famous for growing beautiful garlic,” Quill said.

“My favourite thing at the moment is toum. It’s really simple – it’s just a garlic sauce – but people have it and they go, ‘Ooh, what is that?’ It celebrates the garlic.”

Quill, who owned Salamanca Arts Centre institution Tricycle Cafe and Bar for 11 years, described ECHO as a “special” festival due to its intimacy.

KEY EVENTS

ODYSSEY BUS TOUR

Friday 31st March (daytime)

A guided behind the scenes bus journey, with stops at secret locations of the East coast of Tasmania, as well as engaging in surprise expert-led activities. Guests can indulge in samples of local produce as they are transported by the magical storytelling from their host, and sound-bathe in the accompanying soundtrack, created specifically for the journey.

NATIVE BOUNTY FEAST

Friday 31st March (evening)

The iconic Native Bounty Feast will be a three-course degustation of local produce prepared by acclaimed Tasmanian Chef Megan Quill, with an interactive program of entertainment. Quill and her team will be cooking up a delightful mix of local indigenous ingredients with a Mediterranean spin.

MUSIC HEADLINER

World renowned troubadour Steve Poltz returns to Australian shores following a four-year break.

Among a 25+ date tour including performances at Port Fairy Folk Festival, Blue Mountains Folk Festival, Echo & National Folk Festival, Steve glides into your town filled with all the emotion and hilarity you’ve become accustomed to at a Steve Poltz show.

With a cult following that includes fellow musicians, regular folks and festival goers who stumble onto his performances, there’s no common denominator to Steve’s fans. Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia and raised in San Diego, CA Steve toured and recorded with San Diego cult favourites The Rugburns (they still play annual sold-out reunion shows).

But it was through his creative partnership with Jewel that he vaulted into the national spotlight; co-writing her multi-platinum Billboard Hot 100-busting smash, “You Were Meant For Me,” and continues to work with her to this day.

Over the years, the Nashville-based troubadour has built a fascinating solo catalogue, earmarked by his debut, One Left Shoe, Dreamhouse, Folk Singer, and 2019’s Shine On.

Accommodation guide

Swansea, Tasmania

https://eastcoasttasmania.com

For tickets, visit echofestival.com.au