What's it all about?
Dashville Skyline - Cosmic Country Weekender is a super laid back, family friendly, music festival, held at Belford in the Hunter Valley over three days, the (Labour Day) Long weekend September 28-30 September 2018.
Escape to the Hunter Valley countryside and wallow in a laid back music festival full of quality country music in its varying forms from all around the world.
A tribute to the traditional art of songwriting by some of today's best songwriters.
It's a showcase of the roots of "alternative country music", from its beginnings in the '60s and '70s to its widespread influence on today's performing artists.
The 2018 festival will be the fourth instalment of this growing event.
You can come visit for the day, or camp onsite for 1, 2 or 3 days. Various entry options exist, in an effort to make it achievable for all to experience a slice of Dashville magic. See the ticketing page for a more detailed run down on ticket types and prices.
An incredible seed has been planted with Dashville Skyline. Since its inception in 2015, the artists, the food, the audience, the collaborations and the friendships have engrained themselves in the Hunter's finest musical soil, Dashville, and built a remarkable weekend escape for those free enough to pack the camping gear and roll on up.
We hope you can share in the pleasure of such a cool little country music and culture festival.
It matters little if you're a musical superstar or a musical muppet, what matters is that you're willing to sign up for an awesome weekend away in the bush, kicking back with friends and family, supporting quality live original music and chowing down on the best food and booze money can buy.
Along with the music will come the culture surrounding it: the food, the beer, the cow-lickin', the markets, the cars/bikes and more. All pieces combined, this festival is super chilled and something incredibly special for the whole family to enjoy.
The Dashville team are on to it, so please grab your tickets and get ready for a great weekend in the bush at Belford.
EVENT RUNNING TIMES
For this festival you can purchase PER DAY ticket(s) for one or two days, or if wanting the whole three-day experience, purchase a slightly cheaper FULL EVENT ticket.
For info on who's playing on what day, visit the who's playing page. Please see hours of operation below.
Friday, September 28, 2018
- Campground is open for arrivals from 10am, Friday, September 28
- The festival arena and bar will open at midday.
- Live music will commence from 2pm
- Festival, music and bars close at 12 midnight.
- Please note, you will have to BYO breakfast into your campsite if you are only operating a Friday pass, no Saturday morning arena entry permitted with the Friday ticket.
- Ticket upgrades will be available at entry to arena, unless sold out prior.
Saturday, September 29, 2018
- Campground opens for new arrivals from 9am on Saturday, September 29, 2018
- Arena open from 8am. Breakfast in there will be amazing. Bar Open at 11am, last drinks 11.30pm.
- Please note, you will not be permitted entry into arena unless you have an entry ticket for the Saturday. (This can be via a valid day pass or Full Weekend Pass.)
- Live Music and other activities scheduled from 9am until 12 midnight
Sunday, September 30th, 2018
- Sunday music kicks off around 9am, and will run on all stages up until midnight.
- Bar Open 11am, last drinks 11.30pm
- Please note this year the Sunday is a full day of programmed events. (In the past Sunday has been a half day.)
- Punters without a Sunday ticket are not eligible to enter the arena at any point on the Sunday morning.
- Monday morning breakfast will be available for purchase in the arena for all onsite.
FOOD OPTIONS
It's cool to bring your own food into the campground, but not into the Skyline festival arena. But we'll have you covered with an amazing array of tucker!
RANGA'S BBQ
It wouldn't be Dashville Skyline without some serious Texas-style BBQ, and this year we're pleased to be partnering with local mob Ranga's BBQ.
Think big BBQ breakfast plates, three-meat plates (brisket, pork and cracked pepper links), brisket nachos with five-cheese sauce, beef ribs and pork spare ribs (limited numbers). Plus sides of their delicious slaw, pickles and mac 'n' cheese.
NIGHTHAWK DINER
It's with hankering taste buds that we announce the return of The Nighthawk Diner to Dashville Skyline 2018, whose burgers are about as good as it gets. Before taking a bite, you'll just want to talk to your burger, get to know it a little bit, connect with it on a spiritual level, buy it a drink. You know how it is...
AGAPÉ ORGANIC
If you're a herbivore - vegetarian or vegan - then Agape Organic Food Truck have you covered.
Try this on for size: ancient grain rice bowl (veg chile, cheddar, chimichurri, tomato sauce, sour cream, rice & royal black quinoa - vegan option available with baby spinach and vegan mayo), butternut pumpkin & lentil dahl curry, mint yoghurt (optional), rice and royal black quinoa, mushroom tostada, caramelised onion, truffle mayo, radish, slaw, chervil... plus many, many more options!
For breakfast you could try their vegan breakfast spelt bun - mushrooms, baby spinach, kale, chimichurri, vegan mayo - or their veg huevos rancheros - veg chile, fried egg, cheddar, chimichurri, tomato sauce, sour cream, rice and royal black quinoa (vegan option available with baby spinach and vegan mayo).
THE SWOOP INN
The Swoop Inn is Dashville's permanent on-site cafeteria, a place to pull up a seat with friends, grab a cup of coffee, a freshly squeezed juice or a milkshake. You might even drop in for a hot breakfast, a meat pie or a sausage roll, or grab yourself one of their sweet treats. Need a cheese platter for you and your Skyline buddies? The Swoop Inn has got you covered.
View Skyline Ticket Prices
Visit the ticketing page for a listing of all ticket prices.
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
Simple Pleasures - GLAMPING
No need to find a spot and set up your tent, or worry about pack up when you leave.
This easy and luxurious glamping option takes the hassle out of your Dashville Skyline stay if you're not a seasoned camper
Glamping option includes: 5m Bell Tent, Persian carpet, beds made up with fresh linen, bedding and pillows, bamboo patio matting, outdoor table and chairs and solar lighting.
Camplify
Sunset Super Round returns
Around sunset on Saturday and Sunday this year, a bunch of artists performing the festival will be coming together for a massive spectacle known as the 'Sunset Super Round'. A songwriter in the round/jam-type scenario where artists come together to perform live their choice of one of the greatest songs of all time.
These songs are going to be recorded live and then at the end of the festival, we're going to give them back to all ticket holders to enjoy as many times as you like. How cool is that!
GRAND FINALS
Since its also grand final weekend for some football codes, we will have a sneaky sizeable television set up to allow people the opportunity to watch the game as required.
BEVVIES
You can BYO into the campground (no glass) but not the Dashville Skyline arena - but that's okay! Because we've got a tasty selection of beer, cider, wine, champagne and cocktails at our Bird Bath bar.
Beer-wise, we'll have Coopers Pale Ale, Batch's American Pale Ale, classic Pabst Blue Ribbon cans, Iron Jack, IronBark Hill Black Forest Stout, Modus Operandi IPA, Trevor Red Ale, Crawl Summer Ale and Batlow cloudy cider!
ACTIVITIES
Of course the music is high on the agenda, but it's not everything... Particularly those with young ones, Dashville packs a lot into its paddock for both young and old.
Take a stroll through the quaint yet supreme selection of market stalls, take the kids to the jumping castle or the bumper farmyard petting zoo, featuring Hunter legend Hamish the Llama. There's also the Farmyard Photo Booth and Llama Kissing Booth! Or why not book in for one of Annie Lou's flower crown-making workshops (Saturday and Sunday only), or head to the official Dashville Skyline merch tent to grab some gear by our amazing musicians.
LIVE RECORDING STUDIO!
You may have sat in on it last year, but let it be known, that after the success of last year, we'll be bringing back the Pop Up Recording Studio, so prepare your chops!
LOCATION
The festival is held 2 hours north of Sydney, 45 minutes west of Newcastle, at Belford in the Hunter Valley, NSW. It's obviously easy to drive from either of these cities. If coming interstate, Newcastle Airport is your best option. If in need of travel assistance, please hit us up via email or perhaps try the Facebook event page community.
IMPORTANT RULES - Terms & Conditions
Please read these carefully, some of these are standard terms for Dashville, some are new, so make sure you take note and pass this information on to all in your party.
- NO GLASS
- NO PETS
- NO FOOD OR BEVERAGE BYO INTO ARENA (BYO alcohol allowed in campground - but no glass)
- NO DIPSHITS OR DIPSHIT-ISH BEHAVIOUR. We at Dashville pride ourselves on hosting events full of considerate, consciencious good folk, which always guarantees a good time for everyone else. Let's keep it this way.
- NO AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR (See above policy on dipshits).
- NO FIREWORKS OR EXPLOSIVES
- NO LOUD MUSIC IN CAMPGROUND
- NO EXCESSIVE NOISE AFTER MIDNIGHT
- NO PERSONAL FIRES
- NO LITTERING
- NO UNDERAGE DRINKING
- NO INTOXICATION
- NO DRUGS, WEAPONS OR CONTRABAND
- UPON ENTRY - All vehicles will be subject to a search prior to entry to the festival campgrounds.
- GAS BOTTLES - will be checked by security and must in suitable condition with valid service date to be permitted into campground. All compressed cylinders require responsible use at all times.
Basically these days if you think its illegal or not allowed, it probably isn't. If there is anything unclear or something you are not sure about, please email dashville@live.com for further clarification.
Festival Organisers reserve the right to refuse entry or evict any person at any time for any of the above breaches. Any person caught behaving in a threatening, malicious or inappropriate manner (aggressive, riotous, abusive, or insulting actions) towards other patrons or event staff or equipment, will result in the permanent removal of the patron from the site and possible referal to police for prosecution.
OTHER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is Dashville Skyline BYO booze like The Gum Ball?
Not quite. Unlike The Gum Ball, you can't bring your own food or alcohol into the arena. You can still have your own food and alcohol in the campground though, but glass is still strictly prohibited.
Do you have showering amenities?
We have a large block of private shower cubicles to cater to the needs of all campers and there are always a sufficient number of portaloos within the arena and campgrounds.
Can we bring deckchairs?
Yes, deckchairs and picnic blankets are allowed and encouraged.
Is the property wheelchair-friendly?
Yes, the campground is flat and the main arena gently undulates. We have had wheelchair-bound music lovers visit in the past and they’ve had an excellent time.
Is there a limit on the size of campervans and caravans?
At this time there is no limit on the size of campervans and caravans. The campground is expansive but is at the mercy of the natural vegetation. If you and your friends have large campervans and would like to be parked next to each other, we recommend getting to Dashville as soon as gates open, as our policy is first-in-best-dressed. Early campers get the best spots.
Can we park next to our tent/campsite?
Yes, provided there is room. The campground has a first-in-best-dressed policy, so get there early to ensure the set-up you’re after. We also ask campers to respect that a large number of people need to squeeze in, so don’t take up any more space than necessary.
Can I bring my own generator?
Small generators are permitted but please be respectful of your fellow patrons in regards to noise. Switch off the genny when others are trying to sleep.
CAN'T FIND YOUR ANSWER?
Or you would like to ask us a particular question, feel free to shoot us an email via the contact page. We'll endeavour to get back to you asap.
