This year marks the 10th anniversary of The Gum Ball festival. Located in the NSW Hunter Valley, The Gum Ball was developed as a festival for discerning music fans. Fast forward a few years and The Gum Ball has evolved into a favourite among festival goers, recognised throughout Australia for providing the best in simple pleasures, with a taste of country living in a laid back, hassle free environment and a display of some of this country’s best musicians, artists and of course punters.

Beginning in 2004, director Matt Johnson explains the birth of The Gum Ball “as a 21yr old, I’d just gotten back from a year long solo global adventure, a pretty full on experience and one which had left me in quite an inspired state. Restless to say the least, it wasn’t long after, on a clear spring morning that the idea of hosting my very own music festival, woke me up and became the mission. Walking up into the sprawling front paddock of the oldies 100acre bush property, with a chin scratch and a whim of excitement, approval was immediately sought from the foot of the owners bed.”

In celebration of the The Gum Ball’s 10th birthday, we asked Matt to recall some of his favourite moments from years gone by.

Never too young to pass the dutchie – V TRIBE.

“Midday Saturday 2013, VTribe introduce themselves to The Gum Ball with a well timed chilled out set full of great reggae vibes, mid set they bring out their little nephew for some help with a version of Musical Youth’s ‘Pass the Dutchie’. Little Lion is bound to be a super star!”

Trev sleeping with Goyte.

“Around the same time Wally DeBacker released his Goyte project, he came with his band The Basics to play at The Gum Ball. Our beloved family dog Trevor, a red heeler with a passion for the soft stuff. We couldn’t keep Trev off the couches back stage. Not wanting to chain the statesman up it was a battle of supremacy between Wally and Trev for couch space. I just remember coming past and seeing those two, pretty much cuddling up on the couch thinking how special that must of felt for both of them.”

Bomba 2005.

“The first festival was a mission to say the least.  Just like every inaugural festival you’ve ever been to, the continual work and teething that goes into making it all happen. What had been a massive 6 months of achievement for the team was capped off when Bomba hit the stage at about 10pm for what will go down as one of the most memorable performances to grace Dashville with the end result culminating in a festival long party train snaking through the bush and around the fire to an eventual all night sing along. A moment when you realise you’re on the right track.”

Silent Disco Sessions.

“For a few years now the late night Silent Disco has been a massive hit amongst the punters. When the main stages shut down, the DJs kick in and people get down to it big time. The sight of a few hundred odd people jiving away to relative silence into the early morning, it threw a few people at first, but now it’s a highlight for most, a perfect way to end the night.”

The Proposal.

“Let it be known The Gum Ball has been responsible for at least a dozen or so babies over the years. Festival babies and shock engagements are becoming somewhat a regularity, but  the proposal from last year certainly takes the cake.

Picture this, Saturday afternoon, packed crowd, Dashville Progress Society’s (the all-star jam band, featuring festival organiser’s, family and a whole bunch of musical friends from all over) towards the end of the set. Jess on drums, Matt on guitar and vocals, amidst 16 other people dressed in bath robes and instruments, cracking away on a version of The Band’s version of Don’t Do It. End of the song Matt turns around to Jess on the drums and drops the knee of question amidst a stunned and otherwise unaware band and audience. Mother’s come running from all ends, tears of joy in tow as the final song strikes in to action, with more people again on stage, Joe Cocker’s ‘Feeling Alright’, the place erupts into a sea of swinging teary smiles as the verdict is a big fat yes!”

2011 – The perfect line up.

“The festival line up in 2011 was what some would say, ‘very self indulgent’  Being the organiser obviously picking bands can be a tricky job, but in 2011 the acts that formed the Saturday night would have to go down as the personal best,  Resin Dogs reunited, Custom Kings last show, Katalyst with his Space Invadas project were amazing, The Vasco Era tore the place apart, C W Stoneking was absolutely mesmerising and then at the end NZ act Kora, with steam billowing off their back blew the place apart with their heavy electronic dub. Have to say we do it well, but that one there was a standout  perfect weekend of music.”

The ramp rebuild – A full circle story.

“When I was 13 my dad bought me and my brother a skate ramp from a hay shed down the road. A big ramp, we pulled it apart in three bits and brought it back to our house, built a rough shed over it and had many years of fun, parties and broken bones. That ramp was the centre of many big teenage parties, pretty much the flow on effect is The Gum Ball. The ramp held equal fond memories for Mick who built it as a 15 yr old in the early 90’s, a life line sitting in a hay shed. Before every small town had skate parks, this ramp was the holy grail, feeding skaters from all over the Hunter.

With a new found bond the ramp was relocated and rebuilt to its former glory, featuring in The Gum Ball 2013 arena.

In 2014 the ramp is going bigger again, being widened to feature a whole bunch of pros, an amateur skate comp and a whole bunch of kids and parents with jaws dropped. The ramp proving that it’s more than just a ramp, it’s an oracle. “

The year the show got canned.

“In 2008 the festival attempted a move to Wollombi. The story is a bit of a saga but in short the festival went through a hefty beauracratic battle, led by a few old farts in the otherwise artistic fun loving community, the festival was denied approval by Cessnock Council only 8 days before it was destined to take place. A lot of hindsight came with the outcome, along with a move back to the original venue at Belford. On the weekend of the intended three day festival which was meant to see acts like Urthboy, Mia Dyson, Dan Sultan, Custom Kings and more, an underground party emerged back at Dashville, a make-shift stage, a few hundred people and a couple of spit roasts and the future of The Gum Ball was set in stone.”

ANZAC Day 2013, 30th anniversary performance of  ‘I was Only 19’ – by John Schumann.

“Not quite sure how this happened but on ANZAC Day, opening night of the 2013 festival, John and Hugh from legendary 80’s band Red Gum, delighted us with one of the most emotive sets we’ve ever seen.  A silent crowd, absolutely mesmerising and a fabulous memory for the those who witnessed it.”

The Gum Ball 2014 – 11th & 12th April
‘Dashville’ Belford, Hunter Valley

Hoodoo Gurus
Adalita
King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard
Ed Kuepper
Dyson, Stringer, Cloher
Jinja Safari
Jinja Safari
Wolf & Cub
Ngaiire
Adrian Edmondson and The Bad Shepherds (UK)
Nicky Bomba All Stars
Damien Dempsey (IRE)
Andrew Kidman & The Windy Hills
The Hello Morning
The Lairs
Steve Smyth
The Gin Club
Swamp Thing (NZ)
Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes
Lindi Ortega (CAN)
Melody Pool
Jordan Rakei
Pow Wow
Tropical Zombie
David Garnham & The Reasons To Live
The Dennis Boys Band
Zombonimo
The Septembers
The Soorleys
Dashville Progress Society

For information and tickets visit www.thegumball.com.au

Get unlimited access to the coverage that shapes our culture.
to Rolling Stone magazine
to Rolling Stone magazine