In a dynamic shift for Australia’s premier music festival and conference event, BIGSOUND has announced its new Conference Co-Programmers for 2025. Industry veterans Cathy Oates and Niriko McLure are set to take the reins, ushering in a fresh perspective for the beloved Fortitude Valley gathering.
The duo succeeds Tom Larkin, who departs after an impressive seven-year tenure that helped cement BIGSOUND’s reputation as a cornerstone of the Australian music industry calendar.
Cathy Oates, founder of Original Matters, has been a pivotal figure in Australian music management for nearly two decades. Her keen eye for talent led her to sign Angus & Julia Stone in 2006 and Dean Lewis in 2017, both acts that have gone on to achieve international acclaim. Oates’ longstanding relationship with BIGSOUND as an attendee and participant makes her intimately familiar with the event’s significance.
Photo credit: BIGSOUND/Facebook
Oates expressed that BIGSOUND has consistently been a crucial event in her calendar, not just for her artists’ performances but also as a significant networking opportunity and a concentrated period of enjoyment.
Niriko McLure brings a multifaceted background to the table, having held senior positions across various sectors of the music industry. Her experience spans management, labels, publishing, music tech, policy, and event investments.
Photo credit: BIGSOUND/Facebook
McLure’s client roster boasts heavyweight names like Matt Corby and 5 Seconds of Summer, while her festival experience includes global juggernauts such as Glastonbury, Lollapalooza, and Splendour In The Grass.
As the music world continues to evolve rapidly, BIGSOUND’s role as a crucible for new ideas and connections becomes ever more vital. With Oates and McLure at the helm of conference programming, attendees can look forward to a rich tapestry of insights, opportunities, and, as Oates puts it, “a lot of condensed fun.”
The industry now eagerly anticipates how this dynamic duo will shape BIGSOUND 2025, building on the strong foundation laid by their predecessor and steering the conference into new and exciting territories.
Fortitude Valley will once again become the epicentre of Australia’s music scene as it prepares to host BIGSOUND 2024, the southern hemisphere’s largest celebration of new music and industry conference.
The annual event, now in its third year, will run from 3 to 6 September 2024. BIGSOUND 2024 will showcase over 150 emerging artists across 18 venues in the city’s vibrant live music precinct.
BIGSOUND has announced over 80 performers, with more acts to be revealed in the coming months:
1. Keli Holiday 2. Y.O.G.A. 3. Alex the Astronaut 4. Gretta Ray 5. dust 6. Dear Seattle 7. Sly Withers 8. Stand Atlantic 9. Miiesha 10. Alayna 11. Dear Sunday 12. Tiffi 13. Armlock 14. Bean Magazine 15. Georgia Lines 16. Hannah Brewer 17. Same Blood (J-MILLA x Yung Milla) 18. Stella Bridie 19. Towns 20. AKA Lui 21. Alienist 22. Austin Mackay 23. Belle Haven 24. breathe 25. Cap Carter 26. Charlie Pittman 27. Charlotte Le Lievre 28. Cooper Smith 29. DARTZ 30. Dick Move
31. DoloRRes 32. Erik Sanders 33. Flow Kobra 34. Fool Nelson 35. FRIDAY 36. Front Row 37. Garage Sale 38. Georgia Mooney 39. Hellcat Speedracer 40. Homegrown Trio 41. Hudson Rose 42. ISHAN 43. Jerome Blazé 44. Juice Webster 45. Julian Munyard 46. JUNO 47. Kiwat Kennell 48. Lotte Gallagher 49. LUPO.THEBOY 50. Maanyung 51. Mac The Knife 52. MARVELL 53. Matahara 54. Matt Joe Gow & Kerryn Fields 55. Mau Power 56. Medhanit 57. MUDRAT 58. NO CIGAR 59. Noah Dillon 60. Paige
61. Park RD 62. PEPTALK 63. Playlunch 64. Prink 65. R.em.edy 66. Ray Dimakarri Dixon 67. Reiki Ruawai 68. Rowena Wise 69. SAME PAINS 70. Sesame Girl 71. Sex Mask 72. Sonic Reducer 73. Squid the Kid 74. Stocker 75. sunbleached 76. The Belair Lip Bombs 77. The Velvet Club 78. This New Light 79. total tommy 80. Vetta Borne 81. Vinnie Brigante 82. Wade Forster
Conference Highlights
This year’s conference will feature over 25 industry leaders sharing their expertise on pressing issues facing the music sector. Notable speakers include Lutz Leichsenring from VibeLab, Lyndsey Havens from Billboard, and Josh Simons from Vinyl Group and Vampr.
Panel discussions will cover topics such as youth engagement with Australian music, creating sustainable music ecosystems, and the global perception of Australian music. The conference aims to foster innovative conversations and creative breakthroughs in response to ongoing industry disruptions.
One particularly intriguing panel, titled “Aged out: what does Australian music mean to youth?”, will explore how young people discover and engage with music in an increasingly digital world. Another panel, “Who gives a fuck about Australian music?”, promises to critically examine the growing positive global perception of Australian music while also exploring the veracity of local engagement.
Artist Showcase
BIGSOUND’s music festival component will feature a diverse range of up-and-coming talent. The second wave of artists includes Miiesha, an Anangu/Torres Strait Islander performer known for her powerful voice, and Alayna, an Aotearoa singer-songwriter who has collaborated with Finneas Eilish.
Other notable additions to the lineup include Dear Sunday, Tiffi, Armlock, and Bean Magazine. These artists represent a mix of genres and styles from across Australia and New Zealand. The festival provides a platform for these emerging artists to showcase their talents to industry professionals and music fans alike.
BIGSOUND’s Music Programmers, Casey O’Shaughnessy and Katie Rynne, have carefully selected the performing artists from over 1,200 applications, ensuring a high-quality and diverse lineup. This meticulous curation process means that attendees have the opportunity to discover their next favourite band among the showcasing acts.
Bigsound 2023 Photo Credit: Bigsound/Facebook
Ticket Information
BIGSOUND 2024 offers various ticket options to cater to different attendees. Single-night music festival tickets are available, with discounts for those under 25. Three-night wristbands are also on offer, providing access to all performances across the weekend.
For industry professionals, all-access delegate passes are available through the BIGSOUND website. These passes grant entry to both the conference sessions and the music festival showcases, allowing for a comprehensive BIGSOUND experience.
Since its launch in 2002 by industry development organisation QMusic, BIGSOUND has played a crucial role in launching the careers of many successful Australian artists. Past performers who have gone on to achieve significant success include Flume, Rufus du Sol, Gang of Youths, and Tones and I.
The event continues to attract over 1,700 conference delegates and an aggregate showcase attendance of over 16,000, cementing its position as a key player in the Australian music industry calendar.
Bigsound 2023 Photo Credit: Bigsound/Facebook
Community Impact
BIGSOUND’s presence in Fortitude Valley has a significant impact on the local community. The influx of visitors during the event provides a boost to local businesses, particularly in the hospitality and accommodation sectors. Moreover, the festival shines a spotlight on Brisbane’s thriving music scene, further solidifying the city’s reputation as a cultural hub.
The event also plays a crucial role in fostering connections within the music industry. It provides a unique opportunity for emerging artists to network with industry professionals, potentially leading to career-changing opportunities.
All eyes are set on Fortitude Valley as BIGSOUND 2024 opens its doors for artist applications until April 16, 2024. The event is set to run from September 3 to 6, 2024.
BIGSOUND has made its name as the platform for spotlighting up-and-coming artists and bringing them to the world stage. Notable artists like Flume, Tones and I, and Courtney Barnett had their names skyrocket after being on BIGSOUND.
Flume Photo Credit: Facebook / Flume Tones and I Photo Credit: Facebook / Tones and I Courtney Barnett Photo Credit: Facebook / courtney barnett
Kris Stewart, the CEO of QMusic and BIGSOUND encourages artists to apply.
“We are calling for diverse acts of all genres, signed and unsigned, emerging and established – BIGSOUND’s role is to create opportunities for artists, so if you’re ready to play in front of industry reps from all over the world, we urge you to apply.”
BIGSOUND has taken it up a notch this year by introducing two new names to their team. Casey O’Shaughnessy and Katie Rynne are their new Music Programmers, both hailing from Select Music. Their combined experience and passion will bring a fresh perspective to the event.
Casey O’Shaughnessy and Katie Rynne, BIGSOUND’s new Music Programmers Photo Credit: BIGSOUND
If you are interested in joining BIGSOUND 2024, applications are now open at www.bigsound.org.au. Applications close on Tuesday, April 16, 11:59pm AEST.
As BIGSOUND evolves every year, it remains committed to fostering talent and shaping the future of Brisbane’s music industry.
Fortitude Valley is fortunate enough to host Bigsound Festival, Australia’s largest music industry conference and festival. Held from September 5 to 8, Bigsound 2023 ended on a high note after four days and three nights packed with up-and-coming musical acts, insightful panels, and exciting revelations.
First launched in 2002 by industry development organisation QMusic, Bigsound has grown into a thriving community of musical innovation and togetherness.
The conference now draws over 1,700 music industry delegates, whilst the festival showcases attract an impressive combined audience of more than 20,000 fans eager to discover the next big thing.
Photo credit: bigsound.org.au
Now in its 22nd year, Bigsound brought the music to Brisbane, showcasing over 150 artists across dozens of Valley venues each night. This year’s Bigsound was full of incredible highlights that left crowds buzzing.
Photo credit: BIGSOUND/Facebook
Powerhouse indie rocker Beckah Amani electrified audiences with her high-energy set on Wednesday night. On Wednesday and Thursday night, soulful folk duo FELIVAND wowed with their breathtaking vocal harmonies. Meanwhile, King Ivy and Southeast Desert Metal represented First Nations artists, bringing powerful messages and hard-hitting rock to the stage.
Thursday night saw the massive lineup of Battlesnake, Chitra, and Radio Free Alice take over Fortitude Valley. These three emerging acts showed off their distinct sounds and awe-inspiring talent, capping off the festival on a euphoric note.
With its impeccable track record for spotting stars on the rise, Bigsound has cemented itself as a can’t-miss event on Brisbane’s cultural calendar. Music lovers eagerly anticipate what fresh faces the festival will unveil each year, knowing Fortitude Valley will play host to future household names in the Australian music scene.
Rob Carroll, a local resident, is aiming to break the Guinness World Record for the longest Macarena dance at the upcoming Bigsound Festival in September.
The current record is for the largest Macarena dance, which was set in the UK back in 2011, and involved 2,219 participants dancing for five minutes.
Carroll’s attempt will take place on September 4, 6:00 p.m. at the Black Bear Lodge in Fortitude Valley, a day before the highly anticipated Bigsound music festival kicks off.
As the founder and director of Sydney-based artist services agency Good Intent, Carroll has organised the record try as part of Good Intent’s 5th birthday bash.
The event will also feature live performances by Gold Coast duo Bootleg Rascal and local pop act JUNO. Good Intent, launched in late 2018, provides management and other services to artists like Bootleg Rascal, FANGZ, Close Counters and more.
In a statement, Carroll thanked the team, artists, managers, labels, promoters, media, venues and supporters who have made this endeavour possible. He will attempt to out-macarena the current record of 5 minutes of nonstop dancing. If successful, Carroll’s name will go down in Guinness World Records history.
Bigsound
Photo credit: bigsound.og.au
Dubbed as the southern hemisphere’s largest music industry event, Bigsound will return this year in Fortitude Valley, from 5-8 September 2023 to present Australia’s leading artists and industry conference.
Now in its 22nd year, Bigsound brings together musicians, industry professionals, media and music fans for a massive celebration of Australian music. Last year’s event drew over 20,000 spectators across multiple venues and showcased 186 artists.
The final tickets for the Bigsound Festival are on sale now, with music showcase passes starting at just $49. Visit the festival’s website for more information.
Mike Shinoda, Linkin Park’s MC, guitarist, songwriter and producer is headlining BIGSOUND, Fortitude Valley’s annual showcase event and music conference, as its third conference speaker this year.
There will be THREE music showcases held every evening, Secret Shows, conferences and official parties held throughout the event dates. The initial round of artists for the festival arrived in July and over 140 acts will be performed between September 5 and 8, at over 18 venues in the Valley.
Mike Shinoda at Fabrique in Milan, Italy Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Dennis Radaelli
Delegates and fans are excited to see Shinoda take the stage, particularly after the release of METEORA|20, the 20th anniversary edition of their original Meteora album, full of unreleased songs and video footage.
Aside from the original album, METEORA|20 contains some rare 2003-2004 material, demos, and live sets in Texas and Nottingham. In “Breaking the Habit,” the final piece on Meteora which was written by Shinoda, he took a break from rapping and presented dark emotions, with a focus on dark, heavy guitar sounds and emotion-wracked music.
Some up-and-coming local talents that are part of the BIGSOUND line-up for this year are Aussie DJ Anna Lunoe, Bluey composer Gordi and Jof Bush, Ziggy Ramo, Christine Anu, Kate Miller-Heidke and Camp Cope’s Georgia Maq.
As fans and followers know, BIGSOUND isn’t just about the music. The event provides a glimpse into the heart of the music industry.
Each year, the annual conference provides the perfect opportunity for a behind-the-scenes look, with some valuable insights from industry heavyweights representing Coachella, Netflix, Sub Pop, and Paramount thrown into the mix.
For 2023, BIGSOUND has made some exciting additions to its speaker line-up with the former manager of English pop duo Wham! and Simon Franglen, the man behind the music of the Avatar films) with Chris Duncan (The Orchard), Dev Sherlock (SXSW), Hannah Skolnick (Secretly Group), Tony Kiewel (Sub Pop), Alexandra Idiart-Benavides (The Vault), Chloe Pean (AEG Presents), Seth Hubbard (Polyvinyl) and Jackie Palazzolo (Riot Games).
The full program now spans 40 names. Check them out here.
