And just like that, the skies cleared and the sun came out in time for Mundi Mundi Bash debutants The Teskey Brothers to breathe in the event’s most glorious sight – the outback sunset.
The music and camping festival has been chasing the Melbourne rhythm and blues band to grace its spectacular stage overlooking the sprawling plains of Belmont Station, 40km from Broken Hill in outback NSW, since it was first held in 2022.
After a rain-soaked lead-up to this year’s event forced organisers to turn away thousands of ticketholders because the site was too wet, the rain stopped and the skies cleared on Thursday in time for The Teskey Brothers’ sublime, highly anticipated sunset show.
“Sometimes you just have to wait for the right time and fit,” Sam Teskey told AAP.
“There are so many places we would love to go to and festivals we would love to play, so once the opportunity came up to play Mundi Mundi Fest, it became very exciting and we couldn’t wait to finally play.”
He said performing at sunset was a dream.
“Well what an experience – there’s something so magical about that time of the evening and last night didn’t disappoint,” he said.
“It was very special and a great experience.”
Event founder and director Greg Donovan told AAP on Friday the best set for artists at his festival was sunset.
“They stand up on the stage and they look out to their right, which is the north, with the sun setting in the west, and you see the most amazing sunsets I’ve seen,” Donovan said.
“We didn’t want the artists looking directly into the sun so we sort of positioned the stage where the sun would be off to their right.”
It’s a view that stops many artists in their tracks – including seasoned outback adventurers like Kasey Chambers, who paused her 2025 show to take a photo of her bird’s eye view.
“It’s the absolute star of the show,” Donovan said.
“You get one every night here – Boy & Bear will be playing when it happens on Friday.”
Donovan said the sun had worked enough magic to allow his team to invite disappointed ticketholders left on the wrong side of the gates to join the party – for free – for the event’s final day on Saturday, which features performances by artists including Baby Animals, Jon Butler and Jon Stevens.
“There are still some wet areas around but it’s a big difference to what it was on Thursday,” he said.
“We could easily get a couple of thousand people in, but unfortunately, I think by this time a lot of people have headed off, so it’s really for people who are hanging around and can make it in.”
Bashers with one-day early entry and standard entry tickets who are still in Broken Hill or surrounding areas are welcome to attend as visitors for free on Saturday without affecting their ticket refunds.
“We remain unable to accept additional campers,” Donovan said.
“You must arrive in a single, untowed vehicle and must not bring a caravan, trailer, or anything else being towed.”
Donovan has been overwhelmed by the patience and understanding patrons inside and outside the gates have shown.
“Our Bashers are probably Australia’s most resilient and determined festival-goers – and our event team matches that energy,” he said.
“For all of us to get to the stage where we’re opening the gates to the people who have not yet been able to make it to site, and to already have 10,000 people camping out here, is nothing short of phenomenal considering we were dealing with record rain in a remote outback location.”
Despite its reduced footprint this year, the bash has still raised more than $125,000 for the Rural Flying Doctor Service and more than $70,000 for Beyond Blue.
* AAP travelled to the Mundi Mundi Bash with the assistance of event organisers.
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