The Hunter Valley’s most cherished cultural escape, The Gum Ball, today announces its final 15 acts for this year’s festival, including the exciting addition of one of Australia’s greatest rock acts Baby Animals. It’s a bumper line up, complete with 39 live performances across three days for the 18th edition of the prestigious bushland festival, which is held at Dashville at Lower Belford, over the last weekend of the April school holidays, 21-23rd April 2023.
MUDHONEY (USA) + BABY ANIMALS + PAUL DEMPSEY + THE SHEEP DOGS (CAN)
AINSLIE WILLS + BOB BONGO STARKIE’S SKYHOOKS SHOW + FIRST BEIGE
DATURA4 + CABLE TIES + PARTY DOZEN + THE NEW CHRISTS + FULL FLOWER MOON BAND
BUNNY RACKET + DARREN HANLON + FLOWERTRUCK + WILSN + BURGER JOINT
GAMBIRRA MOB + TURTLE SKULL + CODA CHROMA + JOHNSTON CITY
BEN LEECE & LEFT OF THE DIAL + VELVET TRIP + RUM JUNGLE + BOOMCHILD
TRIP FANDINO + TALL SHAUN & THE RESOLUTION BLUES + DANDE AND THE LION
CORMAC GRANT BAND + LES POÉTES POP + DAPHZIE + SPUZ + SAYLOR & THE FLAVOR
THE APPOINTMENTS + YOUNG GUMS
Plus, the Young Gums Showcase featuring
GOON GREMLINS, ELESTIAL, TYRANTS and SITTING DOWN
Alongside today’s line up announcement, comes some more positive news with the venue Dashville, proud to announce they were successful in their application to the NSW Government’s Regional Events Accelerator Fund, receiving funding support to assist in increasing inclusivity and accessibility for patrons at the event.
Festival Founder and Director Magpie Johnston said about the funding;
“Wow. It feels like such a tip of the cap to all our hard efforts. Not just in getting through the last couple years, but in the grass roots establishment of The Gum Ball festival since it started way back in 2005. We’ve come a long way since our humble beginnings. We started this festival because we wanted more live music in our community, it was a real fight back then and to see where it’s come to is a bit surreal. To achieve this support at such a pivotal time post-covid, it really means a lot. Having the ability to fund improvements in accessibility at the venue is a major boost for our long-term mission. The Gum Ball has always been about inclusiveness, so we’re stoked to be able to continue moving in the right direction, providing a more approachable outdoor space for all music lovers!”
So, it’s a good news day for music lovers, with the festival destined to make a sound contribution to community, providing free accessible public transport options, as well as a wheelchair viewing podium, handrails and access ramps and a dedicated arterial pathway throughout the venue connecting facilities and service areas.
Spring forward into positive vibes! Now for more info on who’s coming to join the party! Joining today’s announcement of Suzi Demarchi and her incredible rock band the Baby Animals is the original founding member of arguably Australia’s greatest band ever, The Skyhooks, please welcome Bob ‘Bongo’ Starkie and his incredible Skyhooks Show. Dashville is also pleased to welcome indigenous 12 piece Gambirra Mob, as well as Sydney based indie pop newcomers Dande and The Lion. On the Saturday morning, kids will go wild to the rockin’ sounds of Bunny Racket. The mighty Dashville Progress Society will make a return, as will regional Victorian sonic explorer Coda Chroma. Other local favourites include Johnston City, Burger Joint, Les Poétes Pop and The Appointments.
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9 December 2022
The Hunter Valley’s most cherished cultural escape, The Gum Ball, is gearing up for its triumphant return in 2023, ready to deliver a huge three days of musical discovery over the last weekend of the April school holidays, 21-23rd April 2023.
The idyllic bushland festival is pleased to announce the inclusion of more bands to the already epic line up. Leading the announcement is one of Australia’s greatest songwriters, front man of Something For Kate, Paul Dempsey. We welcome an incredible Canadian rock band you’re going to love, they are The Sheepdogs. Then you have ‘transcendent melodic architect’ songwriter Ainslie Wills, Brisbane jazz sextet First Beige, West Oz old school psych rockers Datura4, Melbourne punk trio Cable Ties, local legend Ben Leece & Left Of The Dial, smooth epic riffage of Velvet Trip, funky musical prowess party antics from local bands Saylor & The Flavor, and 10 piece musical onslaught SPUZ.
These artists follow last month’s announcement which included seminal American punk band, MUDHONEY, alongside thirteen other specially selected acts, for which combined with this latest portion, constitutes an epic serving, full of variety, flavour and style, with a third and final line up announcement scheduled for late January. What a great festival of music it will be!
The Gum Ball’s SECOND PORTION
PAUL DEMPSEY + THE SHEEP DOGS (CAN) + AINSLIE WILLS + FIRST BEIGE
DATURA4 + CABLE TIES + BEN LEECE & LEFT OF THE DIAL
VELVET TRIP + SPUZ + SAYLOR & THE FLAVOR
The Gum Ball’s FIRST PORTION
MUDHONEY (USA) + PARTY DOZEN + THE NEW CHRISTS + FULL FLOWER MOON BAND
DARREN HANLON + FLOWERTRUCK + WILSN + TURTLE SKULL + RUM JUNGLE
BOOMCHILD + TRIP FANDINO + TALL SHAUN & THE RESOLUTION BLUES
CORMAC GRANT BAND + DAPHZIE
The Gum Ball brings a fine selection of esteemed musical guests and showcases them in an intimate setting one by one at the prestigious Dashville venue. Expect an incredible journey of music, covering a huge mix of genre and style, alongside live art, comedy, pro skateboarding, markets, workshops, camping and more.
In 2023, the festival continues in its purpose to connect community and culture, with distinct homage to the traditional owners of the land, the Wonnarua.
The Gum Ball runs from 2pm Friday, April 21 all the way through to Monday morning, 24th April 2023.
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25 October 2022
One of the Hunter Valley’s most cherished cultural escapes, The Gum Ball, returns in 2023, triumphant in its post-pandemic survival, ripe and ready to return to full strength with three days of musical discovery over the last weekend of the April school holidays, 21-23rd April 2023.
The idyllic bushland festival is absolutely stoked to announce the inclusion of seminal legendary American punk band, MUDHONEY, heading up thirteen specially selected acts, constituting an epic main size entrée serving for the 17th chapter of the glorious event. One full of variety, flavour and style, a mere taste of what’s to come, with a full line up announcement scheduled for early December.
The full first portion of The Gum Ball’s musical program for 2021 looks like this;
MUDHONEY (USA) + PARTY DOZEN + THE NEW CHRISTS + FULL FLOWER MOON BAND +
DARREN HANLON + FLOWERTRUCK + WILSN + TURTLE SKULL + RUM JUNGLE +
BOOMCHILD + TRIP FANDINO + TALL SHAUN & THE RESOLUTION BLUES +
CORMAC GRANT BAND + DAPHZIE
The Gum Ball brings a fine selection of esteemed musical guests and showcases them in an intimate setting one by one at the prestigious Dashville venue. Expect an incredible journey of music, covering a huge mix of genre and style, alongside live art, comedy, pro skateboarding, markets, workshops, camping and more.
In 2023, the festival continues in its purpose to connect community and culture, with distinct homage to the traditional owners of the land, the Wonnarua.