With an artist showcase featuring over 150 bands to see across 4 days, it's easy to forget there's a whole other side to BIGSOUND.
Apart from the showcase, the BIGSOUND conference comprises a healthy programme of talks, presentations and workshops from national and international industry professionals sharing a wealth of knowledge, expertise and experience.
From the mum of one of the world's biggest rock stars to label heads, promoters and performers, the BIGSOUND conference in 2018 once again brings the best of the music world into our very own backyard.
Here, we introduce the keynote speakers for BIGSOUND 2018 as well as a selection of other presenters and take a look at what has made them leaders in their field.
Andrew McMillen
Andrew McMillen is the national music writer at The Australian newspaper. In 2014, Andrew’s book 'Talking Smack: Honest Conversations About Drugs' was published by UQP. 'Talking Smack' is a collection of stories featuring 14 prominent Australian musicians – including Paul Kelly, Gotye, Tina Arena, Holly Throsby and Steve Kilbey – who spoke about their experiences with illicit, prescription and legal drugs.
Andrew McMillen
Erin Kelly-Burkett
Erin Kelly-Burkett is a name you may not be familiar with. She's the woman behind the stage at one of the world's most successful indie labels, Fat Wreck Chords, who's been quietly making everything work for the last 28 years. She started the label with her (now) ex-husband, Fat Mike Burkett of NOFX and Me First & The Gimme Gimmes, and they have been running the company together ever since.
Erin Kelly-Burkett
Joey Cape
Joey Cape is the singer-songwriter of Lagwagon, guitar player of Me First & The Gimme Gimmes, and co-owner/ co-founder of One Week Records. Cape's been active in the music industry since the '80s and is still going strong today. Cape also runs the digital-only record label One Week Records, releasing ten-song albums that are recorded in seven days.
Lindsay McDougall
Lindsay McDougall is the Drive presenter on ABC Illawarra and before that he spent ten years at triple j on Drive and Breakfast. Lindsay is the guitarist in Frenzal Rhomb and has been for as long as he can remember (about 22 years). He quite likes asking questions to people more talented and successful than him, in the hope that he will somehow steal their essence.
Lindsay McDougall
Mardi Caught
Formerly General Manager for Warner Music Frontline Marketing, Mardi carries a weight of global and domestic experience, having earned a reputation as a skilled marketer and digital strategist, most recently on campaigns for Ed Sheeran, Twenty One Pilots, Dune Rats, Illy, Kita Alexander and E^ST. In 2018 she launched The Annex which is a marketing services division working with talent, management and labels to tailor and deliver marketing strategies.
Paul Kelly
Known to so many Australians, Paul Kelly has recorded over 21 studio albums as well as several film soundtracks and two live albums, in an influential career spanning more than 30 years. He was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1997. His 2017 album, 'Life Is Fine', gave him his first #1 ARIA charting record.
Virginia Hanlon Grohl
Virginia Hanlon Grohl, the mother of Grammy-winning rock star Dave Grohl, retired from a 30-year teaching career, then jumped on tour buses and planes to travel to rock shows throughout the US, Canada, Europe and Asia with her son and the Foo Fighters. Her next tour, travelling to meet the mothers of other stars, provided the profiles for her book 'From Cradle To Stage'. Her conversations with the women of this special sorority yielded surprising answers to questions about raising creative children and the importance of family history and values.
Outside the keynote addresses, a range of topics will be covered by people such as the First Nations Producer of BIGSOUND Alethea Beetson, Alex Zaccaria the head of Bolster, digital guru Amber Carew, booking agents Anna Benefield and Brianna Liebling, A&R pro Blake Rayner, one of the industry's youngest woman-identifying A&Rs Bronte Jane, entertainment agent Dan Rozenblum and Brisbane's own Dave Byrne from Bigfish design studio.
Also speaking will be Dorienne Spennato with her experience in human resources and counselling, plus festival programmer Emily Roehl, Music SA General Manager Lisa Bishop and legendary concert promoter Michael Chugg.
Some of the other 2018 speakers include Esti Zilbar, Gabe Cramb, Guy Morrow, Isabella Trimboli, James Adair, Joe Greenwald, John Patterson, Kate Garcia, Leanne de Souza, Liz Ansley, Markell Casey, Nick Findlay, Paul Bridgewater, Paul Sloan, Rachael Comerford, Rhianna Patrick, Samuel Bright, Shelley Hankins, Terry Gold, Tim Price, Tom Larkin (Shihad) Vanessa Burt and Viv Fantin, plus many more.
