A wholesome, family-run affair, The Gum Ball continues to be one of Australia's independent music festival success stories.
After surviving the pandemic as well as the crumbling local festival scene, The Gum Ball remains a beacon of inspiration for the local DIY scene.A major milestone for any festival, let alone an independent event navigating the volatile nature of event promotion, The Gum Ball celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2025, running across three days and nights (25-27 April).
Nestled in Hunter Valley's Dashville (the same crew behind sister event Dashville Skyline) and led by event organiser Matt 'Magpie' Johnston, the first artist drop is teeming with quality underground acts sprinkled with a number of emerging artists building their own reputations.
Ben Lee needs no introduction... after arriving in the mid '90s with Noise Addict, he quickly became a mainstream sensation with Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and Beastie Boys' Mike D fans while he featured on the 'There's Something About Mary' soundtrack.
With a catalogue of hits including 'Catch My Disease', 'Cigarettes Will Kill You' and 'Rise Up' across a 19-album collection, Lee is pumped to play The Gum Ball. "This is gonna be sick."
Melbourne's punk-rock legends, The Peep Tempel continue their comeback (having recently announced a number of early 2025 shows celebrating ten years since the release of their second album 'Tales' that features 'Carol' and 'Big Fish') at The Gum Ball.
"Most chuffed to be returning to Dashville next year to celebrate 20 years of The Gum Ball festival. What a line-up! Tis a magical part of the world and a ripping festival. A big bushy one. Come get all Alby Mangled in the trees."
The raspy, bruised vocals of folk-rock-blues artist Grace Cummings will also be at The Gum Ball in 2025, the Melbourne native having released three studio albums including the Australian Music Prize-nominated 'Ramona' (that features 'A Precious Thing' and 'On And On') earlier this year.
Then there's old-school garage, power-pop punks The Stems, the Perth band first forming in the early '80s, before a number of extended hiatuses with the current band featuring founding member Dom Mariani as well as Ashley Naylor (Even, The Church) and Davey Lane (You Am I).
The remainder of the line-up includes folk-pop singer-songwriter Elana Stone (of ARIA Award-winning All Our Exes Live In Texas), travelling surf-rock-folk troubadour Kim Churchill ('Window To The Sky', 'Second Hand Car'), blues-soul singer-songwriter Karen Lee Andrews ('Digging Up Graves'), indie rock stalwarts 78 Saab ('No Illusions', 'All A Lie'), the heartland rock, doo-wop R&B of Dashville native Johnston City, and Boing Boing who self-describe themselves as 'meat and potatoes rock & roll from way up in the far north'.
"So bloody excited for this one! The 20th anniversary of The Gum Ball festival! I can't believe I'm gonna get to see The Peep Tempel live," enthuses Elana Stone. "'Carol' is one of my favourite songs.
"Now that I think about it, it's kind of a Christmas song – A CHRISTMAS CAROL if you will🍗 🎄 hahahaha! Give it a spin at family Xmas! You won't regret it! *maybe wait until grandma has gone to bed* CAN'T WAIT! SEE YOU THERE!" Karen Lee Andrews adds: "Looking forward to singing to you all next year. Thank you The Gum Ball for having me."
There are a few things that separate The Gum Ball from other festivals. Run by a small team of music lovers on their family property, Dashville (named after promoter Matt Johnston's father, Das), is a 3,000-capacity live music venue and campground, harnessing the natural landscape that provides something truly amazing and wholesome for the music-loving community.
There is a certain charm to its existence, one which has allowed the boutique festival to slowly become one of Australia's most cherished cultural escapes, with something on offer for anyone with a penchant for live music.
"Interstate may as well be international for us; bloody stoked to be invited down to play at the mighty The Gum Ball festival next year," shares Boing Boing.
"Heard a great deal about this fezzy, one of the last of its kind run by a family and their mates at their own plot a land, done all off their own backs, raise ya glass!
"Super grateful to Matty and the Dashville crew for getting us down there; frik me ded that keen already started working on the old troopy yeh buddy 7,000km round trip keeearn 🍻 🎉🍻🎉🍻."
Tickets are on sale.
The Gum Ball takes place at Dashville (Hunter Valley) 25-27 April, 2025.
The Gum Ball 2025 Line-up
Ben LeeThe Peep Tempel
Grace Cummings
The Stems
Elana Stone
Kim Churchill
Karen Lee Andrews
78 Saab
Johnston City
Boing Boing
Jack Davies & The Bush Chooks
Vanilla Gorilla
Playlunch
Claude Hay & The Kung Fu Mustard
The Ripple Effect
Quality Used Cars
Camino Gold
Delivery
Fungas
Goon Gremlins
Plus more to be announced
