Every year, in the middle of the Australian bush, thousands of revellers gather in a place known as Dashville for a weekend of fun and frivolity.
It’s known as The Gum Ball: an annual music and arts festival held in an area of secluded bushland at Belford, in the heart of the Hunter Valley, New South Wales.
Organisers describe the event as ‘easy, comfortable, inspiring and cost effective’, and invite festival-goers to ‘roll in and enjoy onsite camping, BYO policy… [and] plenty of things to see and do.’
Those things include yoga, markets, live music and a silent disco that rages quietly until 3 in the morning.
The Gum Ball is an annual music and arts festival taking place in an area of secluded bushland in the Hunter Valley
Event highlights include live music, markets, a BYO alcohol policy and a silent disco that rages until 3 in the morning
The three day event encourages festival-goers to ‘roll in and enjoy onsite camping and plenty of things to see and do’
Remi, The Bamboos and The Cribs were among the bands performing on the single live music stage – as well as local group Dashville Progress Society (pictured)
The 13th edition of the festival took place this year over the last weekend of April, from Friday the 27th to Sunday the 29th.
The live music stage featured the likes of Melbourne rapper Remi, funk and soul collective The Bamboos and English indie rock band The Cribs.
Other acts included French Canadian psych-rock band Les Hôtesses d’Hilaire, Butterfingers and Dashville Progress Society – the self-proclaimed ‘world’s hottest supergroup’ made up of several local Hunter Valley musicians.
Other acts included French Canadian psych-rock band Les Hôtesses d’Hilaire (pictured) and Butterfingers
For those looking to keep busy between sets, a range of extra on-site activities were offered this year in the form of a circus (pictured) and a skate park
The venue also offers markets, food stalls and unique watering holes such as a tin shed turned outback pub (pictured)
Hoodoo Gurus, The Preatures and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard are just a few acts that have performed at the festival in previous years.
For those looking to keep busy between sets, a range of extra on-site activities were offered this year in the form of a circus, a skate park and a tin shed turned outback pub.
The Gum Ball promises a refreshing take on the festival format, offering an easygoing alternative to those who might have become disenchanted with large-scale live music events in the past.
The festival is self-described as ‘easy, comfortable, inspiring and cost effective’, and offers a range of activities for people of all ages (pictured: kids entertain themselves at the festival’s skate park)
The Gum Ball claims to be ‘the perfect festival for those that may have given up on festivals… Whether it be because you felt too old, society scared you or whether having kids makes it difficult’
‘People have discovered this little gem as the answer to ease back into the game,’ reads the festival’s website
‘It really is the perfect festival for those that may have given up on festivals,’ reads the event’s website.
‘Whether it be because you felt too old, society scared you or whether having kids makes it difficult.
‘People have discovered this little gem as the answer to ease back into the game.’