In a weekend of ups and downs, the Lake Bolac singer-songwriter’s car was written off in a crash on Saturday night of the festival. The next day he was on stage receiving a guitar from festival sponsors Maton as part of Murray’s Artist of the Year accolade.

“I’ve lost my gilded chariot,” he joked, adding he wasn’t injured in the accident although “a bit shaken up”.

“I’ve driven up to Darwin and back a few times in that car.”

But his mind was back on the job on Sunday to officially receive his Artist of the Year award. 

“It’s still sinking in a bit,” Murray said.

“It’s all a bit of a blur. It’s a wonderful honour. You don’t do this for awards – you do it because the music’s in you, and the songs are in you and you have to get them out.”

Murray said he was always struck by the conversations he has with his fans.

“People come up and tell you they like this and that and it’s great – you get a bit of an insight into how your music has touched them,” he said.

“It’s something different to everybody. The songs go out and get their own life.”

While sitting signing CDs following his Artist of the Year performance, one fan approached Murray to ask more about the car accident. When Murray told the fan his car was written off, the fan handed Murray $100, told him to put that towards a new car, and thanked him for creating such wonderful music, leaving a stunned Murray sitting at the signing table staring at the two $50 notes in disbelief.

Another winner from the weekend was former Terang roots musician Rhys Crimmin, who won the festival’s inaugural busking award. 

Crimmin, who received a $1000 prize and a gig at next year’s Folkie, said he felt his career had come full circle with the win.

“The first time I ever busked was in Port Fairy under a tree when I was 16, 15 years ago,” he said.

Crimmin now busks professionally, regularly performing in Bourke St Mall in Melbourne and across Europe.

The prize for the busking award was donated by the Port Fairy Chamber of Commerce.