Heavy music festival Thrashville is set to return to Wonnarua Country this winter, bringing a fierce line-up of punk, rock and metal to the bushland surrounds of Dashville in June.
Held in Lower Belford, the one-day festival has carved out a reputation as a unique gathering for fans of heavier sounds. This year’s event promises another explosive mix of live music, alternative culture and regional festival spirit, building on the momentum of last year’s highly praised edition.
Leading the first line-up announcement are legendary American punk pioneers FEAR, who will perform in Australia for the first time in their 50-year career.
Formed in Los Angeles in 1978, the band became infamous for their confrontational style and a chaotic 1981 performance on Saturday Night Live that left the studio in disarray and secured them a permanent ban from the show.
Their landmark debut album went on to sell more than half a million copies and remains widely regarded as one of the most influential punk records ever released.
Joining them are internationally acclaimed Australian brutal death metal act Disentomb and high-energy punk favourites The Bennies. The broader bill showcases a diverse spread of heavy music talent, including Dregg, Hybrid Nightmares, Turtle Skull, Good Sniff and a host of emerging acts from across the country.
Four additional bands will earn their place on the festival stage through the Thrashville Regional Battles, taking place across New South Wales in Dubbo, Canberra, Port Kembla and Lismore in the lead-up to the event.
The battles aim to spotlight rising heavy music talent from regional communities while giving bands the chance to perform at one of Australia’s most distinctive underground festivals.
Beyond the music, Thrashville will once again transform the Dashville grounds into a creative playground featuring pro-skateboarding displays, roaming performers, tattoo artists, live art installations and market stalls.
Supported by the Australian Government’s Revive Live program, the festival continues to celebrate the vibrancy and diversity of Australia’s heavy music scene in a fiercely inclusive regional setting.
Thrashville 2026 takes place on Saturday, 27 June at Dashville in Lower Belford, in the Hunter Valley. The event is rated MA+15, with under-18s required to attend with a responsible adult. Early bird tickets have already sold out, with remaining tickets available now via dashville.com.au.
