Groovin The Moo back in a 'super happy' way

Ecstatic: Charlize Rule (top), a Matildas player, with Mercedes McNabb and Josie Craig at Groovin' The Moo' at Maitland Showground. Pictures: Jonathan Carroll

Nikita Niamh, Zoie Williams, Kayla Akins, Temika Akins and Darcy Welton at Groovin' The Moo. Picture by Jonathan Carroll

Rock On: Middle Kids performing at the festival.

Rock On: Middle Kids performing at the festival.

Festival-goers in party mode in Maitland.

Music fans at Groovin' The Moo. Picture: Jonathan Carroll

Georgia Calculli, Peyton Vosilla, Ava Powell and Kahlia Hunt at Groovin' The Moo. Picture: Jonathan Carroll

RedHook performing at Groovin' The Moo. Picture: Jonathan Carroll

RedHook performing at Groovin' The Moo. Picture: Jonathan Carroll

RedHook performing at Groovin' The Moo. Picture: Jonathan Carroll

Storm clouds at Groovin' The Moo. Picture: Jonathan Carroll

Cheyenne Maytom, Jorjiah Brown, Valendina Petridis and Tayla Jolley at Groovin' The Moo. Picture: Jonathan Carroll

Georgia Stanford, Jack Bradley, Kasey Stevens, back four, Mia Carrol, Savannah Sheelah, Katelyn Bennett, Billy Carrol.

People heading into the festival at Groovin' The Moo. Picture: Jonathan Carroll

Jett Tesoriero and Kaiden Telfer and others at Groovin' The Moo. Picture: Jonathan Carroll

Fans rocking out to Sycco.

Fans watching RedHook at Groovin' The Moo at Maitland Showground. Picture: Jonathan Carroll

A fan at Groovin' The Moo. Picture: Jonathan Carroll

Alex Mulholland, Bridget Smith and Torryn Upward at Groovin' The Moo. Picture: Jonathan Carroll

Elle Butler, Rose Chang-Hunter, Nia Montgomery, Lara Oates and Carly Williamson at Groovin' The Moo. Picture: Jonathan Carroll

Picture shows people heading in to Groovin' The Moo. Picture: Jonathan Carroll

Fans rocking out to the band Middle Kids. Picture by Jonathan Carroll

Festival-goers trying to avoid the mud at Groovin the moo. Picture: Jonathan Carroll

Sycco performing at Groovin' The Moo. Picture: Jonathan Carroll

Rock On: Middle Kids performing at the festival.

RedHook performing at Groovin the moo. Picture: Jonathan Carroll

Lachlan Harris and Will Watsford.

Shelly Fryer, Phoebe Simmons, Parkar Reay.

Caleb Fletcher, Maddison Bartlett, Lauren McGowan, Grace Reay.

Groovin The Moo has returned to the Hunter for the first time in three years.

About 16,000 people attended the music festival at Maitland Showground on Saturday.

Promoter Steve Halpin said it was "a bit muddy, but people were super happy to be back into it".

He said the vibe was interesting, as "everyone was a little bit tentative to start with".

"Everyone is still a bit wary of COVID. But once they got into the bands, the muscle memory must have kicked back in. It got pretty rowdy, but in a good way."

The bands were excited to play in front of a crowd. Peking Duk, Hilltop Hoods and Lime Cordiale were among the artists on show.

"So many of the bands said it was the first gig they'd played in a couple of years," Mr Halpin said.

"Usually there's a party vibe happening backstage, but everyone turned up, got to their dressing room, played and then left.

"Everyone was being super cautious still, as we had two shows to go [in Canberra and Bendigo].

"It's the first step to getting back to normal."

Groovin The Moo usually puts on six festivals, including Townsville, Bunbury [WA] and Adelaide.

"But this year there was so much uncertainty, dealing with state borders and that sort of stuff," Mr Halpin said.

"We thought we'd just do these three shows to start with and go back to the full tour next year."

The festival has been running since 2006.

"We were all set to go for 2020, but we were cancelled. COVID hit six weeks out from our show," he said.

"We haven't done a show for three years, so it's great to be back."