All too often, Tassie gets left off the map of Australia on the world stage, making it a haven of well-kept secrets for those who make it Down Under for real – but with popular annual events like Good Gumnuts Festival on the rise since 2022, its secretive days may be numbered.
The first iteration of Good Gumnuts Festival in Haybridge, Tasmania wasn’t a festival at all, but a wedding anniversary celebration for now-festival directors, Harry and Charlotte Badcock – an event that has since grown happily “out of control”.
“The first year was only about 100 people. Then in 2023, we had the chance to book Kim Churchill to do a house gig, and we decided to throw a few more bands on and do a mini music festival, and it's just grown since then,” Harry says.
The growth of Good Gumnuts is made all the more impressive by the challenges facing so many Aussie festivals, and the fact that Harry and Charlotte self-fund the entire event each year, including the 2026 iteration at Burnie’s Agriplex.
Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter
“Every year has its challenges, especially as we grow, like this year's insurance is insane compared to previous years," Harry explains. "Last year was a bit of a tough one for ticket sales for us, but this year is shaping up to be a good one. We’re expecting to sell about 3,000 tickets – double what we sold last year.”
In 2026, headline acts including Dope Lemon and The Jungle Giants are expected to please the crowd.
“We’re very excited about Dope Lemon. [Angus Stone] had a new album in the works, so we just reached out to his booking agent, and it turns out he just finished his sold out Aussie tour and was keen to come to Tassie, where Julia [Stone] also happens to live.”
When it comes to securing emerging acts, Harry and Charlotte use the selection process to fulfil their vision of “creating a space for everyone”.
“We try not to be genre-bound,” Harry says. “We like to be like a multi genre festival, and we have a mix of well established acts and up-and-comers. We try to book acts that are diverse enough that nearly anyone can come along and there'll be something for everyone in a nice environment.
“We just listen flat-out all year and highlight people we want to feature for the next festival,” he adds. “Last year, we had 500 applicants, and we listened to every single one to get a feel for genres and vibes, shortlisted them and whittled it down to however many slots we’ve got available – so it's a bit of a process.
Harry says the marketing approach that has taken the festival from its humble beginnings to the 2026 blueprint was mostly down to his own research into the world of advertising – and although they have a marketing agency on board for the first time in 2026, locals can still expect to see the festivals iconic posters around town, as well as social and digital marketing interstate.
With sustainability and community as core pillars of the event, organisers are dedicated to supporting positive environmental and economic outcomes for Burnie, starting with the common problem of waste.
“We’re working hard to reduce it,” Harry said.
“This year, we partnered with Wallaby Water to cut down on single use drink bottles or plastic bottles. We also donate all cans and bottles to a local charity partner that will get the benefits from the container reward scheme.”
It’s the “Merch on Demand” concept, introduced at last year’s Good Gumnuts festival, that really stands out.
“We grab heaps of blank T-shirts and hoodies and we have a transfer setup so people can pick out what sort of merch they want – or they can even bring their own from home – and we'll press it right there in front of their eyes," Harry notes.
"They have the freedom to make it their own. Then after the event, we can send back the leftover blanks to the manufacturer, and there's no waste.
Each year, Good Gumnuts Festival partners with local businesses, including the local brewery and cidery, car rental businesses, and Burnie Central Townhouse, which provides accommodation for festival artists and guests.
These partnerships and facilities lend themselves to extended trips, with the festival actively promoting broader itineraries that encourage longer stays in Tassie.
The spirit of partnership and collaboration lives through several elements of the festival, from the interactive installations and workshops to the growing collaborative art work originally designed by local artist Ariel Pascoe.
“The artworks from last year – the first official year of this project – are in our shed, and we’re going to build on it every year until, hopefully, the whole festival fence line will be a big art project made by our attendees.”
Attendees are also largely responsible for the selection of workshops and activities on offer between songs, with organisers seeking on-the-ground feedback each year.
“Workshops are a perfect all-ages solution for something to do in between sets. We’ve got Bella the Bookworm, a travelling librarian, and Mini Rhythms is music catered for kids, for example, but then we've got a pop up tattoo studio as well, which is a really cool thing. I got a gumnut last year, and this year, I want a kookaburra.”
While the team haven’t seen anyone show up in a kookaburra costume, they said they would welcome the addition at the next instalment of Good Gumnuts.
The next edition of Good Gumnuts runs from March 6th–8th at the Agriplex in Burnie, Tasmania, with tickets on sale now.
This piece of content has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body
