Now in its third year, By the Banks Music Festival returns on Saturday to the picturesque Willowbank in South Albury, on the banks of the Murray River.

Twelve hours of live music will run across two main stages as well as a new third stage.

Among the music line-up will be homegrown favourites The Northern Folk, The Maes, Scott Cook (Canada), Feelds, This Way North, Kerryn Fields (New Zealand) and Border acts the Murray Riverina Jazz Orchestra and Mayfair Lane.

By The Banks organiser and member of The Northern Folk James Eggleston said the festival introduced people to bands and artists they might not have discovered yet and gave talented musicians a wider audience.

He said 23 acts - made up of 81 artists - would perform at Willowbank.

"It does bring a lot of independent artists to the Border," he said.

"But The Northern Folk has 10 members, The Vibraphonic Orkestra has 10 and the Murray Riverina Jazz Orchestra has 16 so that boosts the numbers.

"The vision from the start has been to create a community event based around independent artists.

"For us, it's about the support we get from this community to trust us with the artists we've chosen."

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Eggleston said a new third stage this year allowed them to present more acts.

He said 10 Border performers would play on the Riverside Stage, closest to the banks of the Murray River.

"We'll have Murray Riverina Jazz Orchestra and Mayfair Lane," Eggleston said.

"The new stage will support a bigger connection to local music."

Eggleston said now Melbourne-based, The Northern Folk, always relished returning to their Border roots.

After a short hiatus - in which some band members pursued solo careers and another had a child "it's the first baby in The Northern Folk" - the band will perform tunes from its three albums including the newest release, Watermark.

"Without the people of Albury, we wouldn't be where we are today," he said.

By The Banks will have food vendors and bar, yoga, workshops, market stalls, interactive art installations and children's activities and circus.

It is a family-friendly, all ages, all-access, cross-cultural event.

Tickets: trybooking.com/bckag or at the gate.