Aussie rockers, Baby Animals have been announced as one of the final 15 acts for this year’s Gum Ball.
They join a bill that will see 39 live performances across three days of live music at one of the Hunter’s most loved festivals.
Original founding member of The Skyhooks, Bob ‘Bongo’ Starkie will also take to the stage as part of the 18th edition of The Gum Ball with his phenomenal Skyhooks Show.
Other artists announced today as part of the final lineup include indigenous 12-piece Gambirra Mob and indie pop newcomers Dande and The Lion.
Local acts Johnston City, Burger Joint, Les Poétes Pop and The Appointments have also made the cut this year alongside a confirmed performance from the beloved Dashville Progress Society.
Organisers have also announced that Bunny Racket will be on stage for a special Saturday morning show for the kids – so make sure you’ve got your coffee and/or Berocca sorted for that because it’s gonna go off!
Talking about the young ones, The Gum Ball’s Young Gums Youth Mentorship program will once again be a huge focus of the festival.
This year, the five-day immersive project targeted specifically for teenagers interested in music, will also a feature special Young Gums showcase performance by previous Young Gums alumni who are now performing in bands Goon Gremlins and ELESTIAL. They’ll be joined by two other young local acts showcasing on Friday, Tyrants and Sitting Down.
Applications to take part in the amazing program are now open until 20 March.
The Dashville team also announced today that their application to the NSW Government’s Regional Events Acceleration Fund was successful.
They will receive funding support to assist in increasing inclusivity and accessibility for patrons at the bushland festival site.
Wow. It feels like such a tip of the cap to all our hard efforts. Not just in getting through the last couple years, but in the grassroots establishment of The Gum Ball festival since it started way back in 2005,” Festival Founder and Director Magpie Johnston said.
“We’ve come a long way since our humble beginnings. We started this festival because we wanted more live music in our community, it was a real fight back then and to see where it’s come to is a bit surreal. To achieve this support at such a pivotal time post-covid, it really means a lot.
“Having the ability to fund improvements in accessibility at the venue is a major boost for our long-term mission. The Gum Ball has always been about inclusiveness, so we’re stoked to be able to continue moving in the right direction, providing a more approachable outdoor space for all music lovers!”
The Gum Ball will take over Dashville in Lover Belford at 2 pm on Friday 21 April and run all the way through to Monday morning 24 April 2023. See the full lineup below and head to dashville.com.au for tickets.
THE GUM BALL 2023
21 – 24 APRIL
MUDHONEY (USA) + BABY ANIMALS + PAUL DEMPSEY + THE SHEEP DOGS (CAN) + AINSLIE WILLS + BOB BONGO STARKIE’S SKYHOOKS SHOW + FIRST BEIGE + DATURA4 + CABLE TIES + PARTY DOZEN + THE NEW CHRISTS + FULL FLOWER MOON BAND + BUNNY RACKET + DARREN HANLON + FLOWERTRUCK + WILSN + BURGER JOINT + GAMBIRRA MOB + TURTLE SKULL + CODA CHROMA + JOHNSTON CITY + BEN LEECE & LEFT OF THE DIAL + VELVET TRIP + RUM JUNGLE + BOOMCHILD + TRIP FANDINO + TALL SHAUN & THE RESOLUTION BLUES + DANDE AND THE LION + CORMAC GRANT BAND + LES POÉTES POP + DAPHZIE + SPUZ + SAYLOR & THE FLAVOR + THE APPOINTMENTS + YOUNG GUMS
