The annual gathering of music tastemakers and industry shapers, the southern hemisphere's biggest music industry conference and live music showcase, BIGSOUND returns to Brisbane's Fortitude Valley for its 22nd chapter in discovering the future of music.
An event that features such illustrious alumni as Tones & I, Flume, Tash Sultana, Courtney Barnett, Gang Of Youths, Rufus du Sol, DMA'S, King Stingray, A.B. Original, Ball Park Music, The Jungle Giants, Budjerah, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Baker Boy, Northeast Party House, Thelma Plum and Tasman Keith (from 1,500-plus artists who've showcased at BIGSOUND), the 2023 artist line-up boasts 141 artists, 300-plus artist showcases at 18 official venues across 3 massive nights – 5-8 September."Once again this year we had the unenviable task of reading, listening to and enjoying several thousand BIGSOUND applications from all over the country and world," BIGSOUND Co-Programming Lead and Sunroom Co-Director Ruby-Jean McCabe says.
"While this is definitely our favourite time of the year, because we get to listen to so much amazing music, it can be our least favourite as well.
"As bookers we have to make the hard decision of whittling down these acts which felt like an impossible task given the talent in front of us.
"We feel this year's line-up is one of the strongest we've ever seen showcase at BIGSOUND, which makes the task harder than ever before.
"The future of music in Australia is continuing on its upward trajectory and with this line-up, it's obvious it will continue to do so."
Some of the line-up highlights include Beckah Amani, Charm of Finches, CLOE TERARE, DICE, FELIVAND, Full Flower Moon Band, Gut Health, J-MILLA, Joan & The Giants, Johnny Hunter, MARLON X RULLA, Moaning Lisa, PRICIE, Platonic Sex, RAAVE TAPES, Rum Jungle, Sachém, Siobhan Cotchin, Sophisticated Dingo, Steph Strings, The Grogans, The Merindas, Tori Forsyth, and Vixens of Fall.
BIGSOUND continues to place an even brighter spotlight on Australia's First Nations talent, with showcases from 27 of the country's best new artists, including – but not limited to – Naarm hip hop act Miss Kaninna, rising country act Loren Ryan, the smooth as butter sounds of Dean Brady, Tjaka, Kobie Dee and the most isolated heavy metal band in the world Southeast Desert Metal.
There'll also be a select few international arrivals with New Zealand's artists Reb Fountain and SWIDT joined by UK talent Casey Lowry and MF Tomlinson.
"At its core, BIGSOUND needs to work for artists," QMusic CEO Kris Stewart says. "It's a global music market and in 2023 we've gone far and wide to attract speakers and buyers from around the world to ensure international relationships are forged and deals are made.
"Our definitive goal is to create a rising tide for everyone. At the end of the week, we want everyone to leave with something – someone new they've met, a deal they've made or new insight to grow their careers. We remain proactive in finding new ways to do this and can't wait for people to discover a whole stack of amazing artists from the showcase line-up."
The conference speaker line-up is headlined by Co-President of JAY-Z's ROC Nation Omar Grant (who was the A&R behind Rhianna's globally acclaimed album 'ANTI'), alongside A&R Coordinator for Interscope, Geffen and A&M Records Michele Ronzon and Australian-born London-based VP of Music Intelligence at Soundcloud Hazel Savage.
Showcase tickets and delegate passes are on sale.
BIGSOUND runs 5-8 September at various venues in Fortitude Valley (Brisbane).
BIGSOUND Artist Showcase 2023 Line-up
1tbspŪla
aleksiah
Alf the Great
Anieszka
Ashli
Aurateque
Baby Prince
Battlesnake
BAYANG (tha Bushranger)
Bec Stevens
Beckah Amani
Behind You
Bella Amor
Ben Swissa
Boomchild
Boox Kid
CAMINO GOLD
Casey Lowry
Charbel
Charm of Finches
CHISEKO
Chitra
CLOE TERARE
Coldwave
Cult Shotta
Dean Brady
Delivery
DENNI
DICE
Dr Sure's Unusual Practice
Dyan Tai
ECB
Elizabeth
Emma Volard
FELIVAND
FELONY.
Foley
Freight Train Foxes
Friends of Friends
Full Flower Moon Band
GAUCI
Georgia Llewellyn
GIMMY
Glenn Skuthorpe Band
Good Pash
Gut Health
Hannah Cameron
Haters
Hevenshe
Isaac Puerile
Izy
Jada Weazel
J-MILLA
Joan & The Giants
Joey Leigh Wagtail
Johnny Hunter
Jujulipps
JUNGAJI
Kavi
Khi'leb
Kid Heron
King Ivy
Kitschen Boy
Kobie Dee
Komang
Kristal West
Kuzco
Little Green
Logan
Lola Scott
Loren Ryana
MARLON X RULLA
Mason Watts
Matilda Pearl
Mazbou Q
Melody Moko
MF Tomlinson
Micah Heathwood
Mikayla Pasterfield
Miss June
Miss Kaninna
Moaning Lisa
Moss
mostly sleeping
Mr Rhodes
Nat Vazer
Nathan May
Nikodimos
Oscar the Wild
Otiuh
PRICIE
Platonic Sex
POOKIE
Porcelain Boy
Porpoise Spit
PRETTY BLEAK
Proteins of Magic
Ra Ra Viper
RAAVE TAPES
Radio Free Alice
Radium Dolls
REBEL YELL
Riiki Reid
Ruby Jackson
Rum Jungle
S.A.B
Sachém
SAHXL
Siobhan Cotchin
smol fish
Sollyy
Sophisticated Dingo
Southeast Desert Metal
Steph Strings
STUMPS
Suzi
SWIDT
Taitu'uga
Tamara & the Dreams
teddie
The Empty Threats
The Grogans
The Merindas
The Omnific
The Slingers
Thunder Fox
Tjaka
Too Birds
Tori Forsyth
Trophie
Twine
Valtozash
Vixens of Fall
WHO SHOT SCOTT
Yawdoesitall
YIRGJHILYA
Yorke
Zheani
Zia Jade
