So it's the time of year again where all the locals in the know head out to Lower Belford for the annual Gum Ball. Set amongst the gumtrees and thankfully, despite a dire weather prediction, a lack of need for gumboots. The festival is proudly supporting The Black Dog Institute which was well supported across the weekend. Arriving on Friday afternoon, you trek out past the properties known only by name and not by street number. I would be telling fibs if the dead kangaroo at the turn off combined with my complete lack of food supplies didn't lead to me pondering the innate possibilities available. I did however maintain my hunger for some of the safer varieties of food inside.

The first thing you notice at the gate is how friendly and helpful everyone involved is. Once the camp site is set up and alcohol is flowing (did I forget to mention it was BYO?) we hear the first notes strumming from the first band. The sound from the camp site is amazing. Everyone camps so close to the stage area that you can always hear every note to perfection from within your tent. The closeness also provides a short walk to the esky to grab a new brew, unless of course you want to just drag your esky into the main arena.... Perhaps with a lounge suite and maybe even a personal pergola.

Upon hearing those first notes we trundled down to see Ngariki Electric Band opening the festival in fine style with some funked up blues rock. This was a pleasant beginning. Even though the festival was quiet at the time the music quality was good and blew away any misconceptions about the weakness of this festival's lineup. This was followed by a more rootsy Bowen and The Lucky Dutchmen; more cruisy and not as entertaining, though a great mood setter and quality performance.

A few bowls of pea and ham soup from the home style kitchen were warming the crowd as Sticky Fingers took the stage playing certainly the most fun sounding set of the night. I grabbed some food and returned to the stage to see the sadly off-putting Cheap Fakes taking the stage in suits, with horn section lined up. This was either going to be fun or tacky; sadly it was the latter. Thankfully The Bamboos hit the stage with a great intro to their one and a half hour long set of funk and soul. Providing a great sound and getting the late night bodies grooving. They finished the opening night in style.

Day two began with minimal hangover and you begin to notice a lot more people floating around the main arena. The Wildes kick off the day with a lacklustre performance, though perhaps mellow is the best way to begin the second day as people wake up and and grab some breakfast. Good background music but uninspiring. But then one man band Claude Hay takes the stage with his solid and funky blues rock. A stellar performance and deserving of a spot much later in the day; my pick of the weekend. He got the sober crowd up to dance before midday. It wasn't for a few more hours before this was to be seen again.

Dirty York provided an old-school psychedelic rock set akin to that of The Black Crows and certainly had some old school toes tapping. The crowd at Gumball ranged from families, with twenty plus kids running around of various ages, through to a small selection of Gen Y and large clump of Gen X. This was topped off with a healthy smattering of baby boomers with all enjoying various bands in their own way.

Locals The Firemen took the stage with Gum Ball-connected Dan Johno up front, making every effort between songs to announce the goings on and happenings around the festival site including where to find the old kitchen sink. This was rock at its core - loose and fun. Following all this rock it was time for a little slowdown with Lanie Lane; a cute girl with a sweet soft set, a good lunch break. Eagle and the Worm, with their so called big beat jam band, threw a kaleidoscope of sounds at us; a tight enjoyable set for them considering what I have experienced in the past. Unfortunately though they were not overly well received by the crowd.

Then next! Suddenly, before my eyes, up and dancing.. what could it be?? Baby Boomers! Clad in black? What could bring this about? The largest mosh type crowd of the day is all set up and ready to rock! Then, finally, it all makes sense. The biggest little tribute band in the land of oz. It's Blackest Sabbath! Opening with an amazing double hit of 'War Pigs' and 'Paranoid' this was a massive performance and a certain treat and oneself needed a well earned break afterwards.

Papa Vs Pretty took the stage with their very talented youthfulness. Each song this band produces tends to vary significantly from the next. Very impressive for their age; skillfull and talented. Custom Kings up next failed to grab me. Featuring Jarrad Brown, the lead singer from Eagle and the Worm. I can't understand why throughout the set he continued to announce "I wrote this song", "He wrote this song" continually. I thought this was meant to be a band? Jarrad can write some good songs, but I am yet to be persuaded that he is a talented performer.

Zoe K & The Shadow Katz granted us some glorious soul. Zoe has an amazing voice even whilst being as drunk as the crowd were. Simply beautiful. C.W. Stoneking had a large crowd before him with the night sky overhead for a dark set of funeral songs and jungle. He is strangely intriguing and a strong lively finish for his set had the crowd begging for more. Space Invadas with your electro/soul/hiphop sample set got the young girls up and dancing showing good form and great stage presence.

The Vasco Era were drunk, messy and nonchalant. And to me it worked. You would almost think they had no idea what they were doing up there and were not taking the night seriously, but gee they were having fun and so were we. They certainly sent the baby boomers and kids to bed. The Resin Dogs showed they still had it with help from Plutonic on drums. The crowd was loving every beat and they were sure to be the highlight of many for the weekend. Finally, Kora took stage for their long, final set. Many didn't know what to expect, though I had not heard a louder cheer all night than that this maori band received. Changing from unknown headline act to much deserved headline within half an hour, they blew minds with their heavy funk-laden, dub-style rock.

From then on it was drumming, fire twirling, poi and silent disco until the wee hours of the morning; many worse for wear, or soon to be. This was a great weekend for what it was. A friendly crowd, not overly packed. Some good food, plenty of activities to distract the kids and a varied mix of bands to suit everyone. It's closer to a backyard party than a music festival. Just be warned, you will feel out of place without a flanno.