It felt like magic was in the air on the final day of the 2025 Mundi Mundi Bash. The weather had been perfect all week, the music was universally loved. The attendance and money raised for Beyond Blue and the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) was outstanding. A large part of the success of this event comes down to the audience participation. From dressing up, to having orderly camp sites, there was an air of a communal gathering. Whether it was the smoking ceremony or the kids games area, there was really something for everyone. Even the essential services on hand, were clearly enjoying themselves as well. Mostly due to the vision of founder Greg Donovan who started with the Big Red Bash in Birdsville some ten years ago.
The main part of the day after Morning Yoga and Doggie Dress Up Day was the Nutbush Dance record, with 6,779 festival-goers lined up in formation for the final ever Nutbush Dance World Record Attempt. This smashed the previous record, also held by the event, of 6,594 dancers. This also raised over $100,000 for the RFDS.
Following this attempt, Mad Mick’s Thunder Gang had a performance on the plaza stage on top of the repurposed big rig. People dressed in their best Mad Max styled outfits, which transformed the stage into a futuristic apocalypse.
The Pierce Brothers started the musical offering with an energetic set of tunes that had the crowd dancing early. The brothers are regular visitors to the bash and the audience loved their rhythmic acoustic sound. Dragon followed with a veritable greatest hits of tunes, with songs such as “Are You Old Enough”, “April Sun in Cuba” and “Rain” giving everyone a chance to bellow out the words in a giant sing-a-long.
The good feelings continued with Leo Sayer hitting the stage. This was his first time at the Bash and he was clearly overwhelmed by the event and the crowd response. While snapshots of his early career flashed on the rear screen, Sayer launched into his extensive back catalogue. From the dynamic “Thunder in my Heart” to the poignant “When I Need You” it was all part of the magical experience. “One Man Band”, “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing” and much more – it was a perfect set.
Kate Ceberano is a legendary part of Australia’s music scene and was also clearly excited to be on stage performing her much-loved songs. Her guitarist Kathleen Halloran was a standout and is someone to watch on the scene. It really felt like a giant party dropped into the middle of a remote desert.
Keeping the dance vibe alive as the sun started to set was The Cat Empire. Lead singer Felix Reibl prances and dances around stage, daring everyone not to dance. Their infectious jazz funk grooves are a perfect antidote to whatever ails you. The band has a new lineup that includes bassist and vocalist Grace Barbé, percussionist Neda Rahmani, Daniel Farrugia on drums and cornet player Kieran Conrau with trumpeters Ross Irwin and Lazaro Numa. The result is a tight and classy affair. Hello, Hello….
Before no time, the final act of the Bash, Hoodoo Gurus hit the stage. What a way to finish the bash. The Gurus were flawless, heading back into their decades old backlog. “I Want You Back”, “My Girl”, “Leilani”, the hits just flowed after hit. The lighting and stage show was flawless and the finale was amazing. An amazing way to finish an amazing event.
Check out all the photos below:
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