BIGSOUND 2025: scenestr's National Music Editor Picks Their Must-See Artists

One of the best places to discover untapped independent music talent anywhere in the southern hemisphere, if you're a music lover who owns the playlist in your friendship circle then BIGSOUND is totally your jam.

Now into its third decade, BIGSOUND continues to be the ultimate incubator of next-gen artists and bands destined to own world stages.

The alumni of artists who have treaded BIGSOUND stages includes The Temper Trap, Cloud Control, DZ Deathrays, Meg Washington, Ball Park Music, Boy & Bear, Kimbra, The Naked & Famous, Courtney Barnett, Flume, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Violent Soho, DMA'S, Tash Sultana, Amyl & The Sniffers, Baker Boy, The Teskey Brothers, Winston Surfshirt, G Flip, The Chats, and Tones And I.

Need further proof that BIGSOUND helps hatch the biggest names of Australian independent music, read on. I Heart Hiroshima, Regurgitator, Abbe May, Dappled Cities, Bluejuice, Bob Evans, Last Dinosaurs, Little Red, Philadelphia Grand Jury, The Middle East, Big Scary, Oh Mercy, The Delta Riggs, The Jezabels, Busby Marou, Horrorshow, San Cisco, Thundamentals, Dallas Frasca.

Then there's Kingswood, Kirin J Callinan, Northeast Party House, Seth Sentry, Gooch Palms, The Paper Kites, The Preatures, Bad///Dreems, Cub Sport, Dune Rats, Lime Cordiale, Sheppard, Thelma Plum, Holy Holy, KLP, Marlon Williams, WAAX, Gang Of Youths, Hockey Dad, Methyl Ethel, Skegss, A.B. Original, Alice Ivy, Confidence Man, Mallrat, Middle Kids, RVG, The Vanns, West Thebarton.

Honestly, the list goes on and on.

 

 

 

 

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2025 sees another chapter of independent music fostered, but I must admit this is the first year where the vast majority of the line-up are almost complete unknowns to me.

Sure, there are still names that resonate personally like Charlie Needs Braces, DENIM., Downsyde, Eliza & The Delusionals, Fred Leone, GLVES, Hatchie, Josh Setterfield, Polish Club, The Southern River Band, Velvet Bloom, WAFIA and Yirrmal.

However, BIGSOUND is about new discoveries, so in that spirit here are some picks who I reckon will become bigger names in the (not so distant) future. Nearly 25 years into this life in the music industry, I'm still amazed I can discover an artist-band who have already created enough ripples to make the mainstream.

Amélie Farren is one of those artists, her angelic voice and captivating melodies embodying dreamlike storytelling with a shimmering allure. Take a ticket, cause the bandwagon is certainly overflowing with followers.



Although an almost all-Aussie affair, BIGSOUND still offers a platform annually for a handful of international arrivals to shine. I'm tipping Auckland's Coast Arcade to blossom with their grungy, alt-pop flavours giving off Wolf Alice meets The Grates flavours.

Harper Bloom is another artist who really should be on your (and my) radar. BENEE with Mallrat vibes, the indie pop singer-songwriter from Melbourne is due to return with their third EP 'House Of Cards', which was produced by Edward Quinn (Royel Otis, G Flip, Sycco) and Tim Cox (Woodes).

I'm not gunna lie, I've picked Jet Walker A. cause his name sounds damn cool and B. he's from Gympie, and originally a bush kid (although a city slicker these days) I naturally lean towards artists from regional areas, country towns.

Still in his infancy, Jet's latest single 'Backroads' is a legit bop mixing his love of country and hip hop. No doubt the spotlight will be beaming bright on Walker in the coming years.



I could go on, and wish I had more column centimetres (that's publishing jargon kids) to dedicate to other showcasing acts at BIGSOUND.

However, BIGSOUND is a choose-your-own-music adventure. With close to 150 artists on the line-up, you're bound to find someone who rocks your boat. So prepare those bouquets 'cause it time to hand out some flowers.

BIGSOUND runs across multiple venues in Fortitude Valley (Brisbane) 2-4 September.

BIGSOUND 2025 Artist Line-up

1nn3r53lf
Aidan Fine
Akala Newman
Ama
Amélie Farren
Atlvs
Azure Ryder
Badassmutha
Bad/Love
Bad Juju
The Beefs
Besties
Birren
Borderline
Briana Dinsdale
Buddy Knox
BVT
Charli Lucas
Charlie Needs Braces
Cheeky Leash
C_H_L__O_E
Chloe Styler
Chor Bazaar
Cloning
Closure
Coast Arcade
Cooper Smith
Cora
Corrella
Dani Enli
Darcie Haven
Daste.
Day We Ran
Denim
Denzel Kennedy
Disphing
Dogworld
Down And Out
Dylan Wright
Effe
Eliza & The Delusionals
Ella Ion
Elly May Barnes
Emeree
Flamingo Pier
Flynn Gurry
Frankie Venter
Fred Leone
George Alice
Georgia Knight
GLVES
Grecco Romank
Harper Bloom
Hatchie
Headsend
Heartline
Heyzuko!
Homesick
Horse
Ijale
Inkabee
Intermood
James Range Band
Jämo & Kumi
Jet Walker
Jet Vesper
Josh Hannan
Josh Setterfield
Josie
Kaiit
Kat Edwards
Kayps
Ksmba
Kye
Last Quokka
Late 90s
Lazy Ghost
Le Shiv
Letters To Lions
Lola Scott
Lucky
Lumens
Lyric
Mannequin Death Squad
Mariae Cassandra
Marlon
Mel Blue
Michael Honan
Mid Drift
Mikeyy
Mincy
Mozë
Mumfighter
Nate G
Nightlight
Phoebe Rings
Pisco Sour
Polish Club
Purée
Rageflower
Redd.
Ringlets
Robbie Mortimer
Robert Baxter
Rod Coote
Rnzō
Seb Szabo
Shock Corridor
Sleepazoid
The Southern River Band
Spike F...
The Stamps
Sunsick Daisy
Sweet Talk
Taija
That Gurl Bella
Theeth
There's A Tuesday
Tiana Khasi
The Tullamarines
Tyla Rodrigues
Ugli
Ullah
Velvet Bloom
Vv-Ace
Wafia
The Wet Whistles
Wishlist
Yung Maynie
Zafty