It isn’t a statement that’s likely to be uttered by anyone who has actually seen Magpie Diaries perform at Gum Ball or Dashville Skyline. Knowledgeable music fans know Johnston has the chops.

But it hasn’t prevented the Dashville organiser from feeling pressure when Magpie Diaries take to the Lower Belford stage.

“I’ve always kind of got that hang up,” Johnston says. “A lot of people always say to me, ‘you can do what you want because it’s your festival. You can play.’

“People almost expect it. That’s definitely not the way I look at it. I’ve probably played less festivals than I could have played.”

That’s why the release of Magpie Diaries’ debut album Sanctuary last week has been a pivotal moment for Johnston. There is a sense it’s legitimised his music. This has been further emphasised by Magpie Diaries being booked to perform at the famed Woodford Folk Festival next month.

“If I didn’t have the album I wouldn’t be able to do that and it’s the catalyst for the future fun times,” he says. “For me that’s a motivator, to finally get that piece of evidence, that catalogue of music.”

Sanctuary’s gestation has been a long and winding road. Johnston, who once fronted the band Johnny Real & The Lovemakers with his brother Dan, put his own musical dreams on hold through much of his 20s to focus on establishing the Gum Ball.

A turning point came in 2012 when Johnston’s friend Fenwick Joyce, 29, fell to his death after climbing a construction crane to watch Australia Day fireworks in Manly. A grieving Johnston returned to music as a coping mechanism and a song from that period, This Spring, appears on the album.  

“It hurts to know/I won’t see you this spring,” Johnston sings.     

The recording of Sanctuary has also been a lengthy process. The tracks Strawberries & Cream, If You’re Hurting and Don’t Give Up Now were recorded in 2015 in Nashville when he met Crowded House drummer Matt Sherrod through William Crighton. 

The rest of the album was completed over a three-year period with Sherrod at Mullumbimby, Laguna and Maitland.

Magpie Diaries also features Johnston’s wife Jessica (drums), Lyle Dennis (lead guitar), Chris Dale (bass) and Cassie Bofinger (saxophone). The interplay between the band is the highlight of the album, which is filled with smooth Americana and elements of country and psychedelia.

“It was never wham-bam-thank-you-mam and I’m out of here and here’s your album – it was always a slow burner among all the other things we’re doing,” Johnston says.

“A couple of the songs I’ve been listening to for a while now and that’s where the element of relief and joy comes in, because it’s finally getting to see the light of day.”

Magpie Diaries play the Grand Junction Hotel on January 20 and Stag & Hunter Hotel on January 31.