BIGSOUND 2022: scenestr's National Music Editor Picks Their Must-See Artists

After receiving more than 1,300 artist applications for their 21st birthday celebrations, BIGSOUND programmers selected a record-number of 182 bands and artists to showcase at this year's event (6-9 September).

Spread across 23 stages in 21 venues over 3 nights in Fortitude Valley, BIGSOUND offers an expansive network of neighbouring music venues, forming a zig-zag, choose-your-own-adventure musical journey between intimate rooms to world class outdoor stages.

Some of the highlights of the 2022 artist programme include Budjerah, flowerkid, Hope D, Mia Wray, Tasman Keith, Teenage Joans and The Terrys, while BIGSOUND is thrilled to also welcome a small contingent of artists from New Zealand: JessB, Soaked Oats, Troy Kingi, TE KAAHU, Church & AP, MELODOWNZ and Jenny Mitchell.

Keep scanning the line-up and you'll continually find plenty of talented acts from a wide range of genres. . . indie pop and garage rock, to hip hop and rap plus the heavy sounds of metal, hardcore, punk and heavy rock.

Not forgetting all the colours of EDM and indietronica as well as singer-songwriters, R&B, shoegaze, country, Americana, jazz, soul, world music and so much more. BIGSOUND is the place music punters can scope the hippest, trendiest acts currently forging their own path to the stardom.

Here's your chance to jump aboard at ground level before the bandwagon is even wheeled out.



These are some of the acts who have caught my eye and ear across the last year or so that I reckon you definitely should be adding to your next playlist as well as scoping out live at BIGSOUND.

Adrian Dzvuke

Since 2019, Australia's Prince of Afropop, Dzvuke (pronounced Zu-Kay) has built a name for himself with an energetic Afro-infused sound that's a soulful mixture of R&B and pop. Adrian has played Splendour and Groovin The Moo and supported San Cisco and Spacey Jane.

Bones and Jones

This Victorian alt country rock & roll six-piece will capture your heart with their classic songwriting, melody and harmony. Over several years Bones and Jones have emerged as one of Naarm's most energetic performers.

Death By Denim

Honey vocals, dreamy synth and vibrant guitar riffs are fast becoming the signature of this indie four-piece of close friends who formed in 2016. Their latest album 'Moonbow' deserves repeat listens.

Folk Bitch Trio

Marrying confessional songwriting and gentle instrumentation to craft a sound that brings you both joy and heartache, Folk Bitch Trio blend lush, three-part harmonies with a style which draws influence from contemporary and traditional folk, alt rock and pop.

Grace Cummings

Grace is a spellbinding folk-rock musician from Melbourne who has developed a global audience following the release of her 2022 album, 'Storm Queen'. Cue album cuts 'Heaven', 'Raglan', 'Freak' and the title track for honest, raw songwriting.

Great Sage

Formed in late 2018, and led by the creative intelligence of Troy Doolan, Great Sage draw sonic inspiration from late '90s French house combining it with the visual enthusiasm of Tron and Studio Ghibli.

Jem Cassar-Daley

The daughter of Troy, the talents of indie pop artist Jem Cassar-Daley have dazzled since her debut in 2021. Jem's captivating performances, stellar vocals and timeless songwriting earned her the Indigenous Award at the 2022 Queensland Music Awards (not to mention a goosebump-inducing performance at the Awards ceremony with her father that ended with a rapturous standing ovation).

Teenage Dads

The youthful Teenage Dads continue to win over the music industry as well as punters with their charming indie-pop DIY sound that they self-produce and record. Act quick 'cause the bandwagon is filling quick.

WIIGZ

Only 18 months into the project, dance-pop Meanjin locals WIIGZ have already signed to tastemakers Dew Process (the folks behind Splendour) and toured with Sofi Tukker and Client Liaison. The ladies also direct, edit, produce, perform and organise all their own content, music and video productions. Boss energy!

Yb.

Local singer-songwriter who has collaborated with Winston Surfshirt and Stevan among others, YB. also earlier this year won a triple j Unearthed comp to play This That. After touring with Golden Vessel in August, his current single is 'Change Your Mind'.



BIGSOUND (Brisbane) takes place 6-9 September.

BIGSOUND 2022 Artist Line-up

Adam Newling
Adrian Dzvuke
AGUNG MANGO
Alter Boy
Andrew Gurruwiwi Band
Andrew Swift
Andy Golledge
Anesu
Aodhan
Asha Jefferies
Ashwarya
Ayesha Madon
Baby Cool
Banjo Lucia
Beckah Amani
BIG SKEEZ
BIG WETT
Birdz
BLOODMOON
Blusher
Bones and Jones
BOY SODA
Brekky Boy
Bud Rokesky
Budjerah
Bumpy
C.O.F.F.I.N
Caroline & Claude
Chanel Loren
Chloe Dadd
Church & AP
CLOE TERARE
Club Angel
Cody Jon
COLLAR
CONCRETE SURFERS
cookii
Dallas Woods
dameeeela
Daniel Shaw
DARLINGHURST
Dean Brady
Death by Denim
Diimpa
Dulcie
Eastbound Buzz
EGOISM
Eilish Gilligan
Eliza Hull
Eluize
Enclave
ENOLA
Evie Irie
Fash
Five Island Drive
flowerkid
FLY BOY JACK
Folk Bitch Trio
Forest Claudette
FOURA
Franko Gonzo
Full Flower Moon Band
Future Static
Germein
Ghost Care
Girl and Girl
Gold Fang
Grace Cummings and Her Band
Grand Pine
Great Sage
Greatest Hits
grentperez
Greta Stanley
Grievous Bodily Calm
Hallie
HANNI
Hauskey
Hinterland
Holliday Howe
Hope D
ISUA
JACOTÉNE
JELLY OSHEN
Jem Cassar-Daley
Jenny Mitchell
Jerome Farah
Jess Day
JessB
June Jones
KANADA THE LOOP
Kee'ahn
KEYAN
Kid Pharaoh
Kutcha Edwards
LÂLKA
Lee Sugar
LION
Liyah Knight
Loren Ryan
LOSER
MALi JO$E
Melaleuca
Melanie Dyer
MELODOWNZ
Memphis LK
merci, mercy
Mia Wray
Mitch Santiago
Molly Millington
Monnie Moonboy
Moss
MOUNTAIN WIZARD DEATH CULT
Mr Rhodes
Mulalo
MUNGMUNG
Mvlholland
Newport
Nick Griffith
Nick Ward
Noah Dillon
OK HOTEL
Old Mervs
Phoebe Go
Pink Matter
Platonic Sex
Queen P
RinRin
Romero
Roy Bing
Ruby Gill
Ryan Fennis & Voidhood
Saint Ergo
Sam Windley
San Joseph
Sappho
Sarah Wolfe
SayGrace
Selfish Sons
Selve
Shanae (FKA MADAM3EMPRESS)
Shannen James
Siobhan Cotchin
Skeleten
Soaked Oats
SOPHIYA
South Summit
Srirachi
Stevan
Suzi
Talk Heavy
Tasman Keith
Taylor Moss
TE KAAHU
Teenage Dads
Teenage Joans
Teether & Kuya Neil
Tentendo
The Atomic Beau Project
The Buckleys
The Last Martyr
The Rions
THE RIOT
The Terrys
The Wolfe Brothers
To Octavia
Toby Hobart
Troy Kingi
Tulliah
VOIID
VOLI K
Waxflower
WIIGZ
Wildheart
Woodes
Yb.
Yen Strange
yergurl
YNG Martyr
Zeolite
ZPLUTO

BIGSOUND Official Venues

Black Bear Lodge
Blute's Bar
The Brightside
The Brightside Outdoors
EC Venue
Ivory Tusk
King Lear’s Throne
La La Land
O'Skulligans
The Outpost
Press Club
The Prince Consort Hotel
Prohibition
Ric's Bar + Backyard
Stranded Bar
Summa House
Tomcat
The Warehouse
The Wickham
Woolly Mammoth Mane Stage
The Zoo