Urthboy is most certainly one of Australia’s foremost wordsmiths. The fulcrum around the Elefant Traks lable, his style has revolved and evolved this independant record label from a garage concern to a internationally recognised empire.

A member of one of Australia's premier hip hop groups, The Herd. Alongside many other Elefant Traks artists, this well known group have released three steller hip hop albums over their 7 years together, toured relentlessy to all legs of the country, playing all the major festivals and selling out large capacity venues..

His second and latest masterpiece on the shelf. “The Signal” (July 2007) was recorded with mates Count Bounce (TZU) and Elgusto (Hermitude). This release represents so much more than just rhymes over beats, its a massive leap forward in structure and maturity, setting a bench mark for modern hip hop, it has become essential music for this generation – The Signal shows Urthboy’s deserved reputation as an MC, but also displays a unique songwriting talent rarely seen in popular music.

Its always a beautiful thing to watch such a talented artists evolve. From witnessing her through a glass eye at some small pub a number of years back, to seeing her on the main stage of Austrailia's biggest festivals. She won the 2005 ARIA Award for Best Blues and Roots Album for her second album, ‘Parking Lots’. (Her debut, ‘Cold Water’, had been nominated in '03). She's toured with some of the best in the business, Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt and Joe Cocker, not to mention packing out her own shows all around the country. If you haven't seen orheard of Mia, you really should prepare yourself, for this is one woman with a whole lot of heart and soul.

Three lads with inspirational awesome power, The Vasco Era play songs to sing along too... thats if you can sing like Sid does...!

Michael Fitzgerald (drums) and brothers Sid O'Neil (vocals, guitar, percussion) and Ted O'Neil (bass, backing vocals) were still in their teens when they formed The Vasco Era in the (otherwise) quiet coastal town of Apollo Bay in Victoria. Their instant live musical chemistry, has taken them to some pretty awesome places, large outdoor performances at The Falls Festival, Southbound, East and West Coast Blues & Roots Festivals, Apollo Bay Music Festival and The Great Escape, further tours with The Black Keys, Gomez, The Violent Femmes, You Am I, and even opening for Wolfmother in London last year.

May 5th 2007 saw the release of their debut album, "Oh We Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside". The album was recorded in 2006 in San Francisco with renowned producer Jeff Saltzman (The Killers "Hot Fuss") and the first two singles, "When It First Showed Up" and "When We All Lost It" were massive hit tracks on Triple J, with the album being a hot nomination for 2007’s J Award for Album of the year.

If there was a rule saying you could only have one type of rock a year, I would choo choose this rock...

Custom Kings are a tight little unit from sunnyside Melbourne...

After three critically acclaimed EPs, the band have just released their debut LP 'At Sea', recorded in Melbourne and co-produced by Custom Kings and Steven Schram (Augie March, Ground Components). A very organic record that sends the listener on an adventure to say the least. Displaying Nick as an awesome song writer, and the band as a well caught machine, with a really interesting take on what would otherwise be titled folk hip hop. A clear horizon of folk, hip hop, reggae, dub, pop and rock, with an atmosphere in each song has reviewers comparing Custom Kings to some big names like, Jack Johnson, G Love & Special Sauce and Nick Drake. www.myspace.com/customkings

Bursting onto the scene in 2004, The Fumes were named Blues Artist of The Year at the 2005 Music Oz Awards, and along with the release of their debut album ‘Guns of Gold’ (Silent Partner/Inertia) in July 06, they're still gaining prime spots at many of the major festival; Falls Festival, Festival of The Sun, The Great Escape, Woodford Folk Festival, Great Southern Blues and Rockabilly Festival and the West & East Coast Blues & Roots Festivals.

The Fumes are gearing up for their much anticipated second album release later this year, but first you'll have to prepare for an exclusive sample at Gum Ball 2008 . www.myspace.com/gunsofgold

Dan Sultan has become somewhat of a phenomenon... a man born with pure and extraordinary talent he is quickly gaining the momentum and recognition that he deserves.

In the last year this Melbourne based artist has achieved many great feats. Along with a nomination for 'Artist of the Year', Dan picked up the 2007 National Aboriginal Deadly Award for best “Single Release of The Year” with the stellar track ‘Your Love is Like a Song’ . He was invited by Paul Kelly to contribute to the Kev Carmody tribute album and was also identified by John Butler, who has funded Dan’s debut album through The JB Seed program.

After the release of the album, titled ‘Homemade Biscuits’ 2008 now looks set to be an even bigger year for Dan and his band. Interest in his Jimmy Little meets James Brownesque swagger is on the increase, with a lot of festivals handing out the invitation for his performance. So far many Victorian based events such as The Falls, Queenscliff, Woodford, The Dreaming , Port Fairy , Apollo Bay and St Kilda. Now, as his influence spreads up the coast, we can all get excited to see what all the fuss is about when he jumps on at Gum Ball...

Before Rock, there was Rockabilly, Blues, Rhythm n’ Blues and Country. The Detonators, through their original songs, reinvent the styles that made the mid to late 50s such a vital time in music’s history. Their inimitable sound is infused with the driving energy inherent in the music of their heroes -Chuck Berry, Little Walter and Hound Dog Taylor.

Fans from all over, will testify to this bands top fuellin’ kick-arse live shows.

www.detonators.com.au

There is no doubting Botanics’ hip hop pedigree, these three young men have got their roots well grounded and founded in the live music arena, working extremely hard, cementing themselves a place of their own in the Australian music scene. Emerging from the northern beaches of Sydney, they deliver a genuinely stylish and rare Roots Hip-hop sound that appeases the senses.

Seeing Botanics perform live is where it’s at. A combination of two guitars, bass guitar, drums, percussion, keys and two MC’s, performing tight live organic hip hop beats with jazz influences and timeless hooks, their style is unique and tasty. you be the judge...

The ‘wild man’ of Australian blues, Fitz hails from Queensland. Backed by his longtime drummer, Itchy, Fitz plays guitar (usually a metal-bodied resonator), stomps his foot and sings the blues with a physical presence and power that remind listeners of past blues greats like Son House and Charley Patton. In many ways, he is Australia’s counterpart to R.L. Burnside or T-Model Ford, playing gritty blues of mesmerizing, deceptive simplicity.

Over the last decade, Fitz has toured regularly, playing at festivals around Australia (including twelve successive years at the East Coast Blues festival), and in Europe. He has released several independent CDs, including the 1998 encounter with guitar maestro Jeff Lang on The Silverbacks.

His repertoire includes his own interpretations of blues classics like ‘Shake ‘Em On Down’ and ‘Crawling King Snake’, as well as a swag of original songs. Thanks to Fitz’s telepathic rapport with Itchy, the duo can build their performances through a series of frenzied, almost-out-of-control crescendos.

I've been trying in vain to get Fitz and the Itch on Gum Ball for the last three throws.... now i am stoked, cause it is time!

www.myspace.com/hatfitzanditchy

Laura Imbruglia is a rather crazy, yet uncomplicated figure, her music is a mix of classic pop sensibility and punk attitude inspired by the discontent that comes with being a glass-half-empty kind of person.

Its her unusual blend of style, that makes this young lady something special, and i'll bet... you can’t help but be charmed.

Her debut self-titled album has become an underground pop gem, surprising those not familiar with her music and confounding those who may have seen her play solo. Check out songs like “Looking For A Rabbit” and “My Opus”. They’re the perfect illustration of both her disarming originality as a songwriter and the punchy and infectious power of her band - featuring heavy-hitting drummer Nick Kennedy (Big Heavy Stuff, The Cops) and unique bass player, Stiff. Since her debut self-released EP, It Makes A Crunchy Noise in 2003, Laura has completed international and national tours of her own, scored support slots along the way with Fiery Furnaces, The New Pornographers, Violent Femmes, Jon Auer (The Posies), Josh Pyke, Bob Evans and many more. Add to that some huge festival performances at Big Day Out & Splendour in The Grass, and tv appearance on MTV’s “The Lair” and JTV, and you have a very busy gal!

www.myspace.com/lauraimbruglia

From the heart & soul of Sydney’s exploding entertainment scene, the inner west has formed Ooh La La - 4 young souls with a thirsty passion for early boogie, soul music and early rock n roll.

Ooh La La gives it to you, like a hit in the heart, injecting one whole hunk of Rhythm & Blues, Sweet Soul Music.

Sydney based, Percussion Junction's fuse traditional percussion and hard hitting drums with funky-ass bass lines, to form a sound that sends crowds into a dancing frenzy. Their infectious tribal blend of house and funk driven breakbeat draws influence from other live instrumentation bands such as The Bird, Basement Jaxx and The Freestylers. Their rapid rise in support over the last few months has seen them play alongside some high profile international acts including krafty kuts, Talvin Singh and Panjea.

Rogerthat are a band that could have come from just about any era. Their contemporaries could be the Black Crowes or the Black Keys; or perhaps from the Woodstock era. Or Marley and Lee Scratch Perry. Or the steel blues of Muddy Waters (circa Electric Mud). If you could mash the raw electric, psychedelic, rock-reggae rep’s of those and you’d get close to this emerging funksters.

The band have been melding their influences together at their own pace – since drummer Dan Briffa joined - for a year now and, along the way, connecting with people thru their live show. And in that time they have toured and toured, racking up the miles, and along the way gigging with a stack well respected bands: Alabama 3, The Herd, The Beautiful Girls, Bob Evans, Spiderbait, Butterfingers and the Custom Kings.

The rogerthat experience is working its way into the ‘not to be missed’ file through their bloody minded touring work ethic, don't miss them at Gum Ball, they're sure to impress.

Marshall & the fro create Aussie-Mojo workin Rock-Roots music; music that feels so natural and so comfortable it's like slipping into your favourite pair of double plugger’s and heading down to the pub for a coldie. Comprised of Marshall O’Kell on Guitar, Slide guitar, & Vocals, Nick Ohlson on Bass and Jacob Mann on Drums.

Marshall & the fro are a refreshing modern Face generating a Progressive Roots Rock energy. Roots based, and 100% original, the band’s music moves through the rich, raw and dirty, to the sweet and melodic. Featuring Marshall’s Delta edged vocals, filthy slide guitar, underpinned by massive driving rhythms from Nick and Jake, the band has an appeal beyond conscious control. From the first sound audiences are invariably drawn in …heads turn, feet tap, body’s sweat, endorphins flow … before you know it you are totally absorbed in the Marshall & the fro experience.

“Never again will there be spun a tale like this,” sings peregrine songwriter Brett Winterford in Oludeniz, one of the standout tracks from the pop-rock quartet’s new album, Stay Inside and Misbehave.

Peregrine’s tale starts somewhere in the band’s hometown of Sydney, Australia. Playing a two-year residency to a packed, beer-soaked, corner-pub in Glebe, Peregrine first stumbled upon a national audience courtesy of ‘Fingerpointing’, the opening track from their debut album “One Big Happy Heart Attack”. With ‘Fingerpointing’ finding its way onto Triple J rotation, the band spent the next 18 months playing big cities and rural towns alike, peddling an album that reviewers unanimously hailed as one Sydney’s best kept secrets.

Lead singer Brett’s year long journey around the globe would form the basis of songs for the band’s follow-up album “Stay Inside and Misbehave”, due for release in February 2008.

More diverse and emotionally intense, the album is inspired by the likes of Elvis Costello and Jarvis Cocker - songwriters that have explored the more fragile aspects of their personalities. Blessed with rockabilly swing, alt-country swagger, irresistible melodies and a mighty fine turn of phrase; Sydney pop-rockers Peregrine has been helping geeky, sincere men meet stunning women since 2001.

The Re-Mains are a bunch of rock 'n roll musos who have a deep seated passion for country music and the need to play it with an unmistakeable rock 'n roll attitude.

It's known as Australian Country Rock'n'Roll, and thes guys are the definition.

Lets just say if Johnny-Cash married The Blues-Explosion, then gave birth to a Beast of Bourbon only to later give it away to Gram Parsons, you might be getting closer to the bastard child that is The Re-Mains.

The band is Mick Daley (acoustic guitar, vocals, harmonica), Mick Elliot (dobro/guitarist), Tom Jones (bass) and Grant Bedford (drums).

Based in the hills of northern NSW between Nimbin and Byron Bay, these guys have travelled around more parts of Australia then any band I know. Punishing tour schedules, inside and out of civilisation, including appearances at the Byron Blues and Splendour In The Grass. This year will see them maul East Coast Blues Fest, and jet off for a historical three month tour of Canada in May.

But hey, not before showing you what for at Gum Ball, so bow down, and hail the kings of Australian country rock n roll.

Fig present a rare exciting blend of contemporary acid jazz/funk/folk style sounds with an experimental edge. Instruments include bass, percussion, saxophones and midi synthesizer. All three members are soaked in the cultures of the world, from organic African Djembe to funk/jazz, what these guys bring to the table as an ensemble is nothing short of amazing.

Leader Gregg Telian, (saxophones, EWI and voice) has played all over the world. Born in USA, raised in South Africa, is originally a self taught musician, who has studied Jazz Improvisation and classical composition with some of the best. Gregg a local Wollombian, will be familiar to folk audiences through his association with Maureen O’Brien, JigZag and Liz Frencham.

Fig... rhythmic, percussive landscapes, explored by some very talented musicians.Don’t miss this unique sound.

Every now and then an exception to the rule is exposed. In this case it comes in the form of a group of young bluesmen that despite their youth, exhibit all the traits of the most time honoured blues players to grace this most celebrated musical genre. The enigmatic style of Hendrix; the heart and soul of BB king; the silky sleekness of Clapton; the rock solid sound of Stevie Ray and much more are all handled with respect and excellence by these boys.

The Blue Zone morph the tunes they cover to create a synergy of new and old that has audiences in admiration. The real quality of the blue zone, although easily recognized in their exhilarating renditions of the blues greats, is most evident when they launch headlong into one of their own tunes.

It’s no wonder, looking at their history, as to why these guys are so good at what they do. Formal training aside, each of the guys have been born to their respective musical talent (as only the blues would have it). The heart and soul of the blues are born into its artists, just as the blue zone was born to play the blues.

The Evening Son are a local Newcastle three piece, well aware that Newcastle is one of, if not the most, competitive and aggressive scenes in Australia. With members forming from two well accomplished bands that existed around 2003-04. Paperhalo and Quirk.

But as the familiar story goes.....the bands folded...members went their separate ways, but Sam Peterson from Quirk and Cain Horton, Jared Melrose and Cameron Groth from Paperhalo decided to collaborate on a new music project. In 2006 Cameron parted from the group and they recruited Heather Barnes (formerly in The Good) to fill the position.

From a combination of vibrant melodies to hard hitting quakes of noise, The Evening Son are a big friendly giant, covering a wide sound spectrum with a suspenseful energetic live performance. In 2007 The Evening Son began work on their debut release, working with engineer Chris Vallejo who has worked with such artists as Sneaky Sound System, Katie Noonan, Luke Steele (Sleepy Jackson), Bluebottle Kiss, Teenager and more.... The Evening Son plan to launch their musical campaign with a solid set at Gum Ball 2008. www.myspace.com/theveningson

For the Dennis family, the trade is country rock and roll. Take brothers Shane, Erle, Lyle and little sister Leah, throw in drummer Dave Birk and you've got one hell of a hard working, down to earth, rockin family band. The Dennis Boys have been travelling around for a lifetime playing their own unique style, a combination of jump up jazz, country and blues music, to audiences all over Australia and parts of the world, gracing some pretty big stages from Tamworth to Nashville and a shit load of spots in between.

Brother Shane has great song writing ability, brother Erle won the golden harp in Tamworth a few years back and brother Lyle plays the right hand guitar upside down with no string change. Very unique indeed, dragging a huge stomping guitar sound and very distinct vocal chords, here you have a band that will impress and disappoint Slim Dusty fans the world over.

Hailing from the swimmers width of Sydney’s northern beaches, Radiophobia are a blues rock powerhouse that are rapidly gaining a widespread reputation for their raucous and fun live shows.

Relatively new to the scene, the five piece band consisting of guitars, drums, harp and soul, have spent the past six months playing around Sydney’s live music venues, quickly spreading their influence up the East Coast, as far as on stage at the Wonderland Festival on the Gold Coast.

On the back of the release of their debut self titled EP out in the next month, the boys will be ready and firing to hit the road around Gum Ball to show you their take on whats otherwise known as twisted blues rock.

www.myspace.com/radiophobiaa

Tim Crossey's EP is as flash a debut as you're likely to get from a Maitland boozehound with caring pals.