The Gum Ball: Generations in the Making and a Festival for All
- Liane Morris
- 6 hours ago
- 7 min read
There’s something quietly extraordinary about a festival that not only survives but thrives - growing year after year without losing its soul. In a landscape where even major events have fallen by the wayside, The Gum Ball has done the opposite. It has deepened, expanded, and embedded itself into the cultural fabric of regional New South Wales, located in the bush, on the property of Dashville in Lower Belford.
And in 2026, as it returns to Dashville across the ANZAC long weekend, The Gum Ball isn’t just another festival on the calendar - it’s celebrating its 21st birthday.
For founder Matt ‘Magpie’ Johnston, that milestone feels both surreal and hard-earned. “I often wonder how we’ve survived when so many other festivals have collapsed,” he says. “But we’ve always just kept investing back into it. We’ve DIY’d it, we do it all ourselves.”
The story of The Gum Ball has become something of local folklore, but at its heart, it’s refreshingly simple. A teenager with a love of music, a sense of adventure, and, by his own admission, a fair dose of naivety.
“I grew up on the property,” Matt says. “There are old photos of me playing in a punk band when I was 14, a three-piece. It all came from there.”
After travelling the world as a young adult, collecting stories, experiences, and a few hard lessons along the way, Matt returned home with an idea that, at the time, felt almost absurd.
“I came back and thought, ‘I’ll just host our own festival.’ It had never really been done like this before. There was Big Day Out and Bluesfest, but nothing like what we were imagining out here.”
The next step? Asking his parents. “I went into my oldies’ bedroom and asked if I could have a festival in the yard,” he laughs.
“To their credit - and the council’s - they gave me the benefit of the doubt. We were good kids. We earned our stripes.”
That first festival wasn’t just ambitious; it was a risk that would take a decade to pay off fully. “It took me ten years to pay back the first one,” Matt says. “Looking back now, I probably wouldn’t do it again knowing what I know now.”
And yet, that same fearless spirit is exactly what made it possible.
From those early days, The Gum Ball set out to be something different. Not just a music festival, but a space that felt respectful, inclusive and grounded in its natural surroundings.
“It’s always been about that blues, roots, family vibe,” Matt explains.
“We’ve created a sustainable community of people across the generations.”
That sense of community is perhaps the festival’s greatest achievement. While others have chased scale, sponsorship or spectacle, The Gum Ball has remained intentionally human.
Run on a family property, supported by a strong volunteer base, and built on genuine relationships, it has grown organically into what many now consider a cultural institution. “There’s a strong contingent of volunteers who come back year after year,” Matt says. “People really value what it is.”
And importantly, it’s a space that has always felt safe.
“From the start, it’s been respectful - families, kids, people connecting with nature. We’ve never had major issues. It’s something we’re really proud of.”
One of the most defining and perhaps unexpected elements of The Gum Ball is its appeal across generations.
In the early days, that wasn’t necessarily part of a grand plan.
“We put in a sandpit because I had nieces and young family members around,” Matt says.
“I didn’t really understand the power of the family dynamic at the time.”
Now, as a father himself, that perspective has shifted.
“I’ve got a three and a five-year-old now, and I finally get it,” he says. “I understand why parents found so much value in the festival. It’s an outing, a camp, a safe space; it’s easy to move around. That’s why we’re doing it.”
It’s this layered experience, where kids play, parents relax, and music flows across generations, that gives The Gum Ball its distinctive atmosphere.
Artists feel it too. Many stay on-site, bringing their own families and immersing themselves in the full weekend.
“There’s an artists’ campground,” Matt explains. “Bands stick around, hang out, and enjoy the festival. It’s a really homely vibe.” While the setting and community are central to The Gum Ball’s identity, the music remains its beating heart and curating the line-up is no small feat.
“It’s like an abstract painting. Programming is the hardest part,” Matt says.
Each year, the festival brings together around 40 acts, blending established names with emerging talent. It’s a careful balance of familiarity and discovery, something the Dashville team has become known for.
“There’s a rolling application process, and we get inundated,” he says. “But we also reach out to artists we think will fit the flow. It’s about creating a journey.”
That journey comes to life again in 2026, with a line-up that reflects both depth and diversity. Headlining the 21st birthday celebrations are Yolŋu surf rockers King Stingray, returning to the festival after a breakout few years that saw them collect multiple awards and national acclaim.
They’re joined by a rich mix of Australian talent, including Christine Anu, Don Walker, Meg Washington, Kingswood, These New South Whales, William Crighton, The Vasco Era and Jazz Party…, alongside a host of emerging and genre-spanning acts.
From folk and soul to psych rock and big band sounds, the program is designed to surprise as much as it satisfies.
“We take pride in what we present,” Matt says.
“There’s edge, excellence, joy, and sometimes things that challenge you a bit.”
That sense of discovery is part of what keeps audiences coming back. One minute you might be watching a household name, the next you’re stumbling across an emerging artist who completely stops you in your tracks.
It’s how many festival-goers first encountered acts who would later go on to national and international success. In 2026, that spirit continues, with artists like Immy Owusu bringing global influences into the bush, alongside beloved local names and first-time performers finding their footing on the Gum Ball stage, such as Newcastle country folk legends Bob Corbett & The Roo Grass Band, as well as Central Coast troubadour Joel Leggett and Sydney’s new disco rock lords Jay Squire & The Loveliners.
Of course, The Gum Ball has always been about more than what’s happening on stage. Set within the natural bushland of Dashville, the festival invites people to fully immerse themselves in the experience - camping under the trees, wandering between performances, and discovering moments of connection.
“We’re seeing more caravans and motorhomes these days,” Matt says. “But it’s still very much BYO - you camp in whatever gear you’ve got and just interact with everything that’s going on.”
Beyond the music, there are markets, workshops, art, comedy and even the occasional unexpected moment like the ANZAC morning ‘Tribute to the Diggers,’ led by authentic Australian balladeer William Alexander, adding a layer of reflection to the weekend. It’s all part of a broader philosophy: to create a space where people can slow down, connect and be present.
In an increasingly digital and commercialised world, that feels more important than ever. Like many in the live events industry, The Gum Ball faced significant challenges during the COVID years.
The 2020 festival was cancelled just weeks out, leaving a trail of uncertainty in its wake.
“We honoured all the tickets with credits,” Matt says. “It took five years to work through offering back everyone's credit, which was difficult and stressful. We’re really proud we were able to do that.”
It was a difficult period, but one that ultimately reinforced the strength of the community around the festival.
“That support meant everything,” he says. It also prompted reflection on sustainability, not just financially, but personally.
“There was a time we were doing up to seven events a year,” Matt admits. “We won’t be doing that again.”
Instead, the focus has shifted to longevity and balance, ensuring the festival can continue for years to come without losing what makes it special.
As The Gum Ball enters its third decade, the conversation naturally turns to the future.
For Matt, that means thinking beyond himself. “We’re looking at succession planning now,” he says. “It’s grown beyond me.”
That growth is visible not just in the scale of the event but also in the next generation eager to be part of it.
“There are so many young adults who want to get involved,” he says. “There’s great energy there.”
At the same time, the physical space of Dashville continues to evolve, shaped by permaculture principles and a commitment to accessibility and sustainability. Matt’s parents still live on the property and remain actively involved, a reminder that this is, at its core, a family story. And under the broader Dashville banner, other events, like the country and blues-inspired Dashville Skyline, continue to expand the offering while staying true to the original ethos. For those who have been before, The Gum Ball is something of a pilgrimage. A weekend marked on the calendar, returning year after year.
For newcomers, it’s an invitation. “We want people to come with an open mind,” Matt says. “That’s how it started - just word of mouth.”
It’s also a gentle warning. “We don’t want people to miss out on the experience,” he adds. “You do need to get tickets - if you leave it too late, you’ll miss out.”
In many ways, The Gum Ball has grown up alongside its audience. What started as a bold, slightly improbable idea has become a shared history for thousands of people, marked by first festivals, lifelong friendships, and moments that linger long after the music fades. And while the line-ups change and the years roll on, that core feeling remains the same. It’s still about connection, about community, and just like the original festival tagline, it's about enjoying music the way nature intended.
For tickets and more information, head to www.dashville.com.au.
