BIGSOUND 2025 Archives - Fortitude Valley News

BIGSOUND Turns It Up for 2025 with a Star-Studded Lineup

Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley is set to come alive this spring as BIGSOUND 2025 rolls out one of its most dynamic lineups to date.

Read: BIGSOUND 2025: Fortitude Valley Prepares for Southern Hemisphere’s Largest Music Showcase

Running from September 2 to 5, the four-day music festival and industry conference is marking its 24th year by bringing together a powerful mix of artists, thinkers, and emerging talent — all contributing to a week that places Brisbane at the centre of the Australian music map.

A Meeting of Music Minds

On the conference front, the event will feature appearances from some of the country’s most recognisable artists and influential industry figures. Briggs and Kobie Dee will take the stage for an in-depth conversation on culture and creative pathways, while Tash Sultana joins the program fresh off a new EP release. Blur’s Dave Rowntree, also on the speaker lineup, adds an international flavour with insights from his recent creative ventures outside music.

BIGSOUND 2025 — Photo credit: BIGSOUND/Facebook

They will be joined by names such as Mallrat, Josh Pyke, and Elly-May Barnes, alongside key global players like Darcus Beese — the first Black president of a major UK label — and Anne Booty, a music supervisor for acclaimed films. Industry leaders from SXSW, Reeperbahn Festival, and The Great Escape will round out the discussions, giving attendees a broader view of the global music landscape.

Over 120 Artists Across 18 Stages

BIGSOUND’s signature showcases will once again transform Fortitude Valley into a multi-venue music hub, with more than 120 acts scheduled to perform across 18 stages. The 2025 lineup features a diverse mix of genres and styles, from soulful voices to high-energy rock and genre-blending experimental acts.

Highlights include performances by WAFIA, KAIIT, Inkabee, Azure Ryder, The Southern River Band, and Hatchie, each bringing their own unique sound and fan base to the heart of Brisbane. For many, it’s a chance to connect with future stars in intimate settings, continuing BIGSOUND’s tradition as a launchpad for the next big thing. Previous alumni have included Flume, Courtney Barnett, Baker Boy, and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard.

Read: Darcus Beese Leads Star-Studded Lineup at BIGSOUND 2025

As BIGSOUND edges closer to its 2025 edition, this event is shaping up to be a bold celebration of Australian talent, global influence, and creative exchange. From early-career breakthroughs to industry-defining conversations, it’s an event that continues to evolve and lead with the beat of the times.

Published 8-July-2025

BIGSOUND 2025: Fortitude Valley Prepares for Southern Hemisphere’s Largest Music Showcase

Photo Credit: BIGSOUND 2025/ Facebook

Over 120 rising music acts will transform Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley into the southern hemisphere’s largest music discovery hub, BIGSOUND 2025, offering a glimpse into the future of Australian and international music.

This major music industry event, known as BIGSOUND, will take over 18 vibrant venues across the Valley for three jam-packed nights, running from Tuesday, 2 September to Friday, 5 September 2025. A single wristband will grant music enthusiasts access to all the performances.

A Launchpad for Future Stars

BIGSOUND has a long history of being a crucial launching pad for artists who go on to achieve widespread fame, with past attendees including successful acts like Flume, Lime Cordiale, The Jungle Giants, and Vera Blue. This year’s lineup continues that tradition, featuring a diverse range of genres from punk to pop, indie-rock, folk, country, electronic, and hip hop.

Among the highly anticipated acts are WAFIA, known for her soulful electronic and R&B blend, and neo-soul favourite KAIIT, who returns with exciting new material. The program also includes Perth’s 12-year-old hip-hop sensation Inkabee, indie-pop breakout Azure Ryder, beloved Brisbane artist Hatchie, and high-energy rockers The Southern River Band.

Festival Programmers Casey O’Shaugnessy and Katie Rynne expressed immense pride in the selected artists, highlighting the incredible depth and creativity present in Australia’s music scene. They stated that the artists chosen reflect truly exciting things happening with music.

Community and Industry Collaboration

The event is a significant draw for both music fans and industry experts looking for the next big thing. Minister for the Arts John-Paul Langbroek recognised BIGSOUND 2025 as a key event that brings together musicians, industry managers, and visitors to Queensland, reinforcing the state’s reputation as a lively cultural destination.

He said the government supports BIGSOUND to back local artists, venues, and businesses, helping to create a flourishing live music environment, especially leading up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

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The festival encourages attendees to enjoy a “choose-your-own-adventure” experience, moving between different venues that offer everything from open-air stages to intimate spaces.

The unique opportunity for artists to perform for both a keen audience of music lovers and industry delegates makes BIGSOUND a standout event in this part of the world. Programmers O’Shaugnessy and Rynne extended their gratitude to all artists who applied, noting the high quality, creativity, and variety of submissions received this year.

Published Date 24-Jun-2025

Darcus Beese Leads Star-Studded Lineup at BIGSOUND 2025

Fortitude Valley will once again pulse with the energy of the global music industry as BIGSOUND 2025 kicks off from 2–5 September, presenting a bold new direction and a stacked lineup of international tastemakers.

Read: Dynamic Duo Takes Helm: BIGSOUND Announces New Conference Co-Programmers for 2025

Positioning itself as the Southern Hemisphere’s definitive gathering for music professionals, this year’s event is anchored in a theme of “connection that counts” — a timely response to a sector undergoing rapid change across technology, touring, and artist development.

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One of the most highly anticipated guests is Darcus Beese OBE, the iconic former head of Island Records UK and US, whose signing credits include Amy Winehouse, Sabrina Carpenter, and Remi Wolf. Now heading his own venture, Darco Artist Partnerships (DAP), Beese is known for championing artist development over data-driven decisions — a stance that sets the tone for BIGSOUND’s artist-first agenda.

Reflecting on the evolving industry landscape, Beese noted that while the business is more challenging than ever, music still holds profound value for audiences. He’s excited to explore these changes at BIGSOUND, and to potentially discover new Australian talent for his roster.

Joining Beese is an impressive delegation of booking agents, promoters, and label reps from across the globe, including heavyweights from Wasserman, CAA, Ground Control Touring, and One Fiinix Live, as well as festival programmers from Reading and Leeds, Communion ONE, and C2C Festival.

Indie label powerhouses such as Secretly Group, Nettwerk Music Group, Third Man Records, and Believe will also be on the ground, all with a keen interest in scouting Australia’s next breakout acts.

According to QMusic and BIGSOUND CEO Kris Stewart, the event is designed as a checkpoint and a springboard — a chance for the industry to reflect on where it’s been and envision where it’s going. Whether it’s on a panel, in a showcase, or during a coffee break, the aim is to foster meaningful exchanges that can shape careers and collaborations.

Behind the scenes, 2025 marks a programming shift, with Cathy Oates and Niriko McLure stepping in to reimagine the conference’s structure. Their vision places a premium on relevance, resilience, and real-world opportunity, tailored to the unique challenges and possibilities facing today’s artists.

Oates acknowledges that the music landscape has dramatically shifted in recent years, with traditional gatekeepers losing influence and new fan-building strategies emerging. The upside, she says, is that barriers to entry have never been lower — and Australian artists are making waves on the global stage.

Read: Music Under the Stars: Night at The Parkland Debuts in Brisbane

McLure adds that the conference will spotlight those pushing boundaries and doing things differently, offering a platform for new voices and practical pathways to international growth.

As BIGSOUND continues to evolve with the industry it serves, 2025 is shaping up to be one of its most globally connected and forward-thinking editions yet — a hub for ideas, discovery, and the next chapter in music’s future.

Published 26-May-2025