Local band The Water Runners enjoyed huge success at the Tamworth Country Music Festival over the weekend, bringing home not one, not two, but three major awards.

The first was the Tamworth Songwriters Association Country Blues Award for their song Viking and the second was the CCMA (Capital Country Music Association) National Songwriter of the Year Award for their song Last Train from Central.

“⁠We love to tell stories in our songs,” said The Water Runners’ lead guitarist and vocalist John Littrich.

“Often they are sad stories relating to historical events, but Viking and Last Train from Central are actually a little tongue in cheek.

“Viking tells the story of a musician walking into a pub to play, only to find the crowd looks like a wild mob of Vikings. Luckily, an Elvis song saves the day! Last Train from Central tells a story that many can relate to - particularly those in the Illawarra - staying out in Sydney for one drink too many and having to run like crazy to make that late train home.”

The band’s third award came from The Australian Bush Balladeers Association Inc, which presented The Water Runners with the Music Excellence Award for their video Shelter, filmed at the Jamberoo Pub and surrounding areas.

“The themes in the lyrics for Shelter are quite universal - seeking comfort and safety in a troubled world - but the song is also upbeat, so we decided to create a story in the clip about the band being stuck on the side of the road in the rain with a broken-down car on the way to a gig,” said Littrich.

“They are ‘rescued’ by a passing motorist who takes them - instruments and all - to the gig, where they play music while their rescuer dances along to the song.

The clip was filmed in beautiful Jamberoo and at the Jamberoo Pub. The outdoor scenes look very rural, and the rustic old pub comes across as the perfect warm and cosy venue for a band to play.”

The clip also features Littrich’s son Dom, who is part of The Inspired Unemployed comedy group, as well as fellow band Pacific Avenue.

Littrich said he was ecstatic with the band’s three award wins.

“When you look at the calibre of some of the other songwriters this year and in past years, it’s so encouraging to walk away with these awards,” he said.

“This should help open more doors for us in terms of future festivals - not just Tamworth, but around the country - and lead to more people listening to our music. It’s so nice to be recognised by your peers.”

On top of the awards, the band also performed throughout the Tamworth festival weekend and had an absolute blast.

“The Longyard shows really stood out for the way people wanted to talk with us about our songs during the breaks and after the show. Many had a story to tell about a place or event we had sung about,” said Littrich.

“Playing at the Tamworth Songwriters Association awards night was very memorable - and a little bit scary - with so many experienced songwriters and musicians sitting there watching us.”

Next up for the award-winning band is a mini tour through the Riverina, with shows in Wagga Wagga and Tumbarumba, a cruise ship performance in Sydney, and a folk festival appearance in Yackandandah, Victoria.

“Hopefully our Tamworth success will generate more interest in these shows and in what we have lined up later in the year. It also helps get our music out to regional radio stations, taking our stories to places near and far. We’re excited to see what the year brings.”

The Water Runners’ most recent album, Shelter, is out now. It includes the three award-winning songs and was recorded by Syd Green of Jervis Bay Studios, a well-known local musical identity and current drummer for Kasey Chambers.