THE Derwent Valley recently hosted the biggest Covid-defying party in the state, with the Great Escape music festival bringing local and interstate bands together in the beautiful surrounds of Mt Field.

The first weekend in March saw the Derwent Valley host the biggest party in the state, with the Great Escape music festival bringing local and interstate bands together in the beautiful surrounds of Mount Field.

Headlined by Tasmanian bands Jack River and Slowly Slowly, the festival pulled in revellers estimated in their thousands from across the state despite Covid restrictions.

It is the second year the festival has been run from the Mount Field site, with last year’s event selling out, and this year’s event coming close, with only a handful of tickets remaining by the time the first bands started up.

Event organisers said they faced “months of blood, sweat, tears, anxiety, false horizons and Covid,” but are eager to do it all again next year.