Review by Sian Hanigan
Photos by Amy Lee Freshwater
Driving out on a dusty dirt road, after passing the sleepy country towns of Cessnock and Branxton, we had reached our magical destination, ‘Dashville’, Lower Belford. The secluded bushy estate owned by the Johnston’s in the beautiful Hunter Valley, welcomed us with open arms. Local volunteers with cheek-to-cheek grins directed us to SPACIOUS camp areas nestled amongst the Australian gum-trees. Every person we pass, waving, like old friends.
And wait, only 10 minutes had passed and I knew it was my kind of festival. The camping situation was second to none, taking me back to childhood camp outs in east coast national parks. There was space, there were showers, there was the occasional melody of native birds through the music and it was BYO (definitely a bonus). People were friendly, an assortment of very young, very old and everyone in between. They were more than happy to offer you a cuppa from the billy, welcome you over for a sing-along, or in my case lend me their jumper leads to recharge my car… and the toilets were clean.
As we meandered through a short path to the grassy natural amphitheatre, I was surprised by the lack of crowds. No buff-heads and no agro full stop. People were here for three reasons; to listen and appreciate the wide range of music, to be surrounded by those you love with similar ideals and to bask in a natural environment. As the retrospective states, this festival is all about ‘Music the way nature intended it’. Throw in the wafting smells of wood-fired pizza and vego delights, a Happy High Herbs store and that’s a ten out of ten for me.
Musically Gumball was inclusive of a broad range of genres. It was exhilarating, so much so that every old-timer was up and dancing out of their ‘bring-your-own’ camp chair. The set-up was ideal with two alternating stages, meaning no conflicting timetables and missing favorite acts.
The music kicked off on Thursday with the talented Shaun Kirk. Kirk connected with the audience in an invigorating way, his melodic blues voice was infectious; surrounded by the sounds of harmonica, electronic drums, and guitar pedals. What a way to kick off the festival, we were up and dancing, swinging hips, twists, the blood was running. Another highlight of Thursday was the blokes from Iconic Australian Folk band Red Gum, John Schumann & Hugh McDonald. Echoing under a starry night was a crowd wide sing-a-long to the famous “I was only Nineteen”, honoring the end of Anzac day in true Aussie style.
To close the night the budding Newcastle rock outfit Benjalu, shook the crowd with their rootsy sound, a phenomenal finish to the evening. I wasn’t familiar with all their songs but found myself picking up the catchy lyrics in no time and boogieing on down under the moonlight with strangers and friends alike. Front man Ben Gumbleton I later found out was sick at the time however the mysterious curly haired man thrust his body around the stage with flawless vocals, no signs of food poisoning there.
The weekend rolled on, for the eager there was morning Yoga and Thai chi on the grass. Fairies danced around in circles of hula hoops and circus magic, while bubbles filled the air where kids played under the sun in lion and zebra outfits. A psychedelic painted half pipe was a play area for the more adventurous. Even in my early 20s I was looking out day dreaming of later years bringing my children here. What a safe and enchanting environment for youngsters. People dangled in their hammocks or relaxed back into their camp chairs, while others swung their hips to the constant bluesy beat. Gumball was an escape where you could be whoever you wished to be, without an ounce of judgment.
Day Two’s line up packed a punch, musical waves filtered through the camp ground as we rose to another perfect sunny autumn day. The provocative singer/songwriter Mojo Julu formally of ‘The Snake Oil Merchants’ stepped out in style, her punch in the face lyrics and jazzy, swing rock had all eyes turned. The audience was seduced by her mesmerizing performance, channeling jazz age music and 1930’s Latin American culture. Her presence and story telling abilities kept the audience captivated.
The much anticipated hard rock duo King of the North put on an explosive show. Closing my eyes I was awestruck how this alternative team of guitarist and drummer had the full sound of a four or five piece band. Front man Andrew Higgs revealed his secretive set-up, a combination of three amps, producing sounds of lead, bass and rhythm guitar. Throw in a dynamic, powerhouse drummer, and a few foot tapping pedals, the boys produced a recipe of full, flawless catchy sounds to keep the audience rocking.
A favorite of mine over the weekend was the creative, rustic-blues Solo man Steve Smyth. To meet, Smyth was a friendly character with an awe of a well-traveled man but with a love of simple things and meeting new fans seemed to make him smile as much as the fans themselves. His husky voice had a timeless sound that is distinctively his own, it brought to mind pirates and lost men traveling the open road. His dark lyrics and vocal range kept us swaying on and tapping our feet. The performance included tender folk songs and a brave a capella which needed not even microphone to project into the memorized audience.
As the sun set around, the full moon peeping through the trees, dynamic young folksinger Jordie Lane kept us captivated with his comic story telling, Lane entertained us with a juxtaposition of bluesy rock songs and acoustic ballads to keep the audience in suspense, even throwing in a Lana Del Ray cover for the more modern audience.
English pop-folk duo Turin Brakes had the crowd bopping about with catchy funk inspired songs. I was previously more familiar with their earlier work with a darker electric sound, however the guys produced a full band sound with folksy beats, hip swinging tunes and a unique rendition of the popularly covered ‘Throw your arms around me” by Hunters and Collectors.
Suddenly as the night grew on, warmth surrounded me, and it wasn’t warmth from blanket or dancing or a few too many red wines, yet a fuzzy thick crowd of bearded men (and women) drew closer to the stage. The audience chanted on as minor technical issues delayed the band only by minutes but the excitement was building. Once again the comic Aussie act, known as The Beards, started the party and thrilled the audience with their hilarious and raucous lyrics about having a beard. Choruses of children and adults screamed along to ‘If your Dad doesn’t have a beard you’ve got two Mums’ .While the folk band may have not been the most musically talented act of the weekend, they definitely left Gumballer’s with a memorable experience and warm fuzzies everywhere, and by this I mean bearded beings kissing, caressing and canoodling with other bearded folk.
Later on funky R&B nine piece Saskwatch gave us an exuberant energy and a wailing soulful voice to challenge any Motown act.
The night drew to an end for little people but didn’t stop the young at heart partying on into the wee hours in the silent disco. Not before some good old fashion sing-alongs by the warmth of the bon-fires with strangers alike and the soothing voice of Steve Smyth. While chatting away to people twice my age around the fire, I realized what a truly positive environment the organizers of this festival have created, in all directions my ears were submitted to positive, cheerful banter.
An old-fashioned renovated caravan that housed the most tasty crepe stall by day converted itself to a DJ stand for the two-channeled silent disco by night. Punters were free to unleash creative outbursts of interpretive dance moves along to the beats of Johnny Farnham and Run DMC.
The last day had arrived; picnic rugs lined the grass as people took it easy in the comfort of the sunny amphitheatre (still rubbish free). A group of local friends, organizers and a few tag alongs strung together by a combined love of music joined on stage to produce eclectic bluesy sounds, known as The Dashville Progressive Society; these are the people who make this inspiring festival exist, and deserve a very special mention. The joyous bunch made me realize how privileged I was to be involved in such a hidden gem, that is the Gumball.
Aussie rockers The Medics put on an exhilarating show as usual. Mia Dyson soothed us into the evening with her bluesy voice, wailing slide guitar, grabbing people and stopping them in their tracks. My only criticism is a timetabling fault, many people I spoke to would have loved to sit in the afternoon sun swaying away to her sounds with a glass of red on the picnic blanket, rather than being scheduled later, juxtaposing the more rocking beats of the evening performers. However there really is no need to complain.
You Am I front man, and Aussie rock icon Tim Rogers played with new band The Hillbilly Killers, alongside country hero Bill Chambers and solo singer-songwriter Catherine Britt. The combo of rhythm guitar, and country harmonies created a serene experience. The highlight of the day in my opinion was the charismatic, genius man of blues, Eugene Hideaway Bridges. His performance was an extravaganza, a journey through, soul, blues, gospel with hints of rock and funk. I could not stop dancing.
The atmosphere was magical, and the night was coming to an end, not before the funk-a-delic act The Bird graced us with a hypnotic presence of electronic, psychedelic tunes to send off the weekend of a lifetime.
All in all the festival was a positive extravaganza of a natural world inhabited by the beauty of musical talent, friendly guests, and welcoming owners of the striking property. As I have traveled extensively and attended music festivals all over the world, the Gumball is unmatched by anything I have come across. I leave with new friends, a stomach full of great food and a vibe incomparable to any other. I wish for two things that it stays this way and that the kind-hearted people still put it on year after year. Oh and that next time I will make some bunting to decorate my camp site (I felt a bit left out)…… And maybe strap a go-pro to my head just to show my friends what a wonderful environment the Gumball is.
Event: THE GUM BALL
25th, 26th & 27th of April 2013
Belford – Hunter Valley, NSW Australia
