Mellow crowd rocks under the stars at Gum Ball

Canadian rockers The Sheepdogs were tight and sharp. Picture by Paul Dear

Suzi DeMarchi was all class with The Baby Animals. Picture by Paul Dear

Suzi DeMarchi and the Baby Animals. Picture by Paul Dear

The Skyhooks Show with singer Laura Davidson was real jolt into the good old days. Picture by Paul Dear

Kirsty Tickle (saxophone) and Jonathan Boulet (percussion/sampler) of The Party Dozen kicked off the night. Picture by Paul Dear

Dashville locals Johnston City led by Dan Johnston were stunning in their six o'clock set. Picture by Paul Dear

The natural bush setting is part of the magic of Gum Ball. Picture by Paul Dear

Puppets among the crowd at Gum Ball. Picture by Paul Dear

Bob 'Bongo' Starkie, an original Skyhooks member, had plenty to say in the Skyhooks show set. Picture by Paul Dear

Guitarist Ricky Paquette and bass player Ryan Gullen of The Sheepdogs. Picture by Paul Dear

The Skyhooks show. Picture by Paul Dear

Punk rockers The New Christs led by singer Rob Younger. Picture by Paul Dear

A mellow,, family-oriented crowd of 2500 enjoyed an eclectic, quality line-up to get them through starry Saturday night at Gum Ball on the Dashville property at Lower Belford in the Hunter Valley.

Saturday headliners The Baby Animals were up to the task, with lead singer Suzi DeMarchi as classy as ever, delivering hit and hit and hit with panache and style. One Word, Early Warning, Painless and more.

Little known Canadian rockers The Sheepdogs were simply stunning, with vocal harmonies, catchy hooks and blazing guitar riffs that passed back and forth between lead guitarist Ricky Paquette and lead singer Ewan Currie.

Sydney duo Kirsty Tickle (saxophone) and Jonathan Boulet (percussion/sampler) kicked off the evening with their energetic electric jazzy fusion instrumental numbers.

Johnston City flipped the switch in the next set, with a big band of locals laying anthemic rock tracks, including a new number Girt by Sea, that showed they can mix it with the best and certainly belonged in this slot.

Rob Younger and The New Christs stepped up next, and certainly captured a moment in time from the past.

The Skyhooks show was a crowd favourite, for the fact they played a ton of memorable (and danceable) hits, like Living in the 70s. Smut, and You Just Like Me Coz I'm Good in Bed.

The Gum Ball opened on Friday afternoon, with Mudhoney headlining on Friday night, and continues through Sunday, with Paul Dempsey headlining on Sunday.