The Gidgestock Music Festival began in 2015 after a discussion between Steve and Jo Mitcham and their friends Jim and Veronica McGuire over a long lunch. Jim had just returned from a visit to the famous Woodstock festival site in New York where Steve and Jo had been the previous year. Jim is an accomplished musician and Steve is a great music lover and it wasn’t long before the possibility of holding a music festival on the Mitcham’s gorgeous Gidgegannup property was being excitedly considered.

Woodstock was the first of the great music festivals and it’s enduring themes of peace, love and understanding, as well as its influential role in bringing new and emerging artists to the international stage, inspired their thinking and Steve and Jo’s daughter Casey came up with the quirky name, Gidgestock! Always keen to undertake activities to benefit the community, it was decided that all profits from the event would be donated to charity.

The generosity of all the musicians and sponsors, as well as the massive team of volunteers involved in running the festival is truly wonderful – a genuine expression of love which adds to the delightful atmosphere at the Gidgestock Music Festival.

Steve and Jo’s 50 acre property in Gidgegannup has a beautiful natural amphitheatre which has been enhanced significantly over the years by their son-in-law Paul Claxton, owner of Lightning Brick Pavers and Boss Civil. Paul envisioned a tiered seating area on the slope in front of the stage and a large functional dance floor and expanded stage area and then donated manpower, machinery and materials to bring this about, resulting in a first class festival environment that has been thoroughly enjoyed by musicians and festival goers ever since.

Apart from 2020 when the festival had to be cancelled due to Covid restrictions Gidgestock continues to be a highlight of the Western Australian music festival scene.

Join us in October and enjoy the Gidgestock Experience!