Born from the Australian bush, Magpie Diaries permeate an authentic heartfelt folk rock sound, dreamy alt country, with lush full band arrangements, bathed in some kind of 70's folk/Americana velour.
In 2025, Magpie Diaries are excited to bring you their next body of work, the follow up to the 2018 debut LP, ‘Sanctuary’ with current singles Old Road, Love is Hard and History, examples of the self-produced sounds they are creating in the recording studio Magpie has built at Dashville.
Magpie Diaries is very much a dedicated vocation and a lush musical mechanism for a captive powerful heart.
Matt ‘Magpie’ Johnston is the promoter, curator and maintenance guy of regional live music venue and events business Dashville.
Growing up in the bush of Wonnarua Country (Hunter Valley), partying away and playing in country punk bands. It was in 2004 as a 20yr old that he started The Gum Ball as a short fast lightening bolt idea. 20yrs later, Dashville has evolved into a supreme regional live music venue and community. The venue hosting a number of boutique camping festivals annually, including Dashville Skyline, Dashville Nights and Thrashville.
2026 Album Tour on sale now
Info and links to tickets below..
GIG GUIDE
January 23
‘Sounds of Twilight’
Toyota Park, Tamworth, NSW
Free Concert
February 12
The Grand Junction Hotel
Maitland, NSW
Tickets on sale soon
March 27
Upper Lansdowne Hall, Upper Lansdowne, NSW
with Kingsley James
Tickets available via the venue
March 28
Buffalo Farm, Eungai Creek, NSW
with Special guests
Tickets on sale soon
VIDEOS
MERCH
Blending soul, country, and ‘70s folk-rock, Some Kind of View is more than a collection of songs - it’s a time capsule, a heartfelt nod to family and to the land. With their trademark harmonies wrapping Magpie’s reflective lyrics in warmth and weight - as heard in singles Go Anywhere, Old Road, Love Is Hard, History, and the newest, Land For Sale, now on high rotation across ABC Country - the album finds Magpie Diaries at their most grounded and inspired yet (Jess even tracking drums with a baby strapped to her back). It's an incredible achievement, and now it's the world's to enjoy.
11 Songs written through the journey of childhood into impressionable manhood. Recorded over the course of a few years 2015-2018, between Dashville, Laguna, Mullumbimby and Nashville. Also available on CD and VINYL (with download card).
