BIGSOUND Returns To Brisbane This September

Photo Credit: Dave Kan

BIGSOUND has announced it’s return to an ‘in-person’ event for 2022. It will be the first since 2019!

BIGSOUND is now more important than ever. As the live music and events industry realises the current landscape, it’s time to reconnect with each other to navigate the post-pandemic future through live music, idea sharing, change- making conversations and the electric energy that BIGSOUND provides.

QMusic CEO Kris Stewart says, “This year sees the return of our first live conference and festival since 2019. We’re feeling from the industry far and wide that they’re itching to be back in rooms together and we couldn’t be more excited to get artists back on stages and industry back in their live element.”

It’s very welcome news for an event of this scale and importance to be hitting the streets of the Fortitude Valley for another year. Over the years BIGSOUND has given some of Australia’s biggest names their start including A.B. Original, Ball Park Music, Courtney Barnett, DMA’s, Flume, Gang of Youths, The Jungle Giants, Miiesha, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Sampa the Great, Tkay Maidza, Tash Sultana, Thelma Plum, Vera Blue, Violent Soho, Ziggy Ramo and many more. It’s also provided many punters (myself included) some of the best memories and hangovers over the week long event.

Former BIGSOUND artist and newly elected QMusic Management Committee member Thelma Plum says she can’t wait for Fortitude Valley’s streets to come alive, with the incredible energy BIGSOUND brings.

“Growing up in Meanjin, BIGSOUND has always been such a huge vibe where fans, artists and industry from all over the country assemble over our common love for music. I played my first BIGSOUND in 2013, when I was super young, it was a huge opportunity for me and I absolutely encourage artists to apply. From totally new artists to more established acts, the line-up is always amazing.”

BIGSOUND Festival Co-Programmer Ruby-Jean McCabe said “By the time we get to September, it will have been three years since we have had an in-person BIGSOUND. This year we’re going big with 150 artists across 21 venues. That’s 300 performances over three nights with our industry all in the same rooms again across Fortitude Valley.”

“It’s been two years of artists sitting in their bedrooms, lounge rooms, hometowns. These are artists who may not have yet performed live but are ready to make their industry debut at BIGSOUND. We’ll also have export-ready favourites to rediscover who will finally be able to impress BIGSOUND’s international delegates and speakers and take their music overseas.”

WHAT’S NEW IN 2022?

This September will see the addition of a new arm of the BIGSOUND family in the form of BIGSOUND Country. Australia has been identified as the world’s fastest-growing country music market, however the conference and development side here at home still has plenty of room for expansion. Introducing BIGSOUND Country, which will fill this gap by creating artist and industry development opportunities whilst further growing the profile of Australian country music both here and overseas.

Developed in partnership with industry bodies including APRA AMCOS and The Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA), and supported by the Brisbane Economic Development Agency, BIGSOUND Country will be threaded throughout this year’s event, and will include a party, showcases, dedicated panels and a special show featuring some of Australia’s finest country music artists.

BIGSOUND 2022 is looking for Australia and New Zealand’s finest country music artists, in particular those who may have felt in the past BIGSOUND wasn’t for them.

Kris Stewart said, “Our feedback in the past has been that a large proportion of country music artists and industry haven’t felt that BIGSOUND serviced them. We want to change that. We want artists from every spectrum of country music; pop, alt-country, bluegrass, First Nations country artists. Everybody!”

ARTIST APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN AND CLOSE ON FRIDAY 20 MAY 
APPLY NOW – bigsound.org.au

BIGSOUND
Tuesday 6 – Friday 9 September 2022
Fortitude Valley
Brisbane, QLD