BIGSOUND Delegate Pass holders are spoilt for choice with this year's offerings of special events and parties on offer, with a week full of festivities planned to showcase some of the best talent and hospitality you'll find at BIGSOUND.
Everything will kick off on Tuesday at 10am with the Women and Gender Diverse Folk in Music event at The Prince Consort Hotel, presented by QMusic's Safety and Diversity Group. This is an opportunity for woman and gender diverse people to network and forge friendships early in the week.
The Victorian Meanjin Mixer at The Outpost from 1.10pm offers networking with a free lunch for Victorian delegates and artists in town for BIGSOUND, thanks to Music Victoria and VMDO. Mushroom Group kicks off this year's showcases with the Mushroom50 BIGSOUND Showcase at La La Land from 4pm, which is a free delegate-only event featuring up and coming acts Dean Brady, Logan and Jada Weazel.
It's decision time for the night owls, because 11pm Tuesday sees three BIGSOUND After Hours events running simultaneously: AUD'$ x Marshall Street Studios have curated some of Australia's next breakout R&B and Hip Hop artists over at Stranded Bar, while The Brightside is hosting Up Late & Unsigned, curated by three independent, female-run businesses, featuring Kavi, Behind You, Gauci, Elizabeth and Chitra; and over at The Wickham it's a Pride celebration with a diverse range of acts.
Brisbane music businesses making a splash overseas should keep an eye on their delegate portal for an exclusive invitation to a boat cruise on Wednesday. For everyone else, the NZ Music Commission is presenting the Waiata Māori Music Showcase featuring Georgia Lines, Jordyn With a Why, MOHI, YAHYAH, Chad Chambers and RIIKI Reid plus solo performances by Georgia Lines and Delaney Davidson over at Blute's Bar from 4.30pm. Live Nation will host an artist discovery showcase at The Outpost from 5pm, promising stellar performances from some of Australia's hottest new acts they're calling Ones To Watch.
BIGSOUND After Hours presents two options at 11pm on Wednesday: Matilda Pearl, Pricie and Moss will perform at the Sweat It Out Music x October Records event at La La Land, while over at The Sound Garden you'll find Loren Ryan, Tori Forsyth and Beccy Cole for the Kix Country event.
If the lure of free breakfast is enough to drag you out of bed by 8am on Thursday, Creative Australia and Music Australia are presenting brunch at the Hotel X Iris Bar on Brunswick Street, and it will be a good chance for some one-on-one time with CEO of Creative Australia and Chair of Music Australia, Adrian Collette AO, and Head of Music, Kirsty Rivers.
For those preferring a later start, the South Australian Government's Music Development Office is offering beers and BBQ at Made in SA at The Outpost from midday, with performances by Aleksiah, The Empty Threats and Marlon x Rulla from 12.30pm. Ticketing outlet Oztix is turning 20 this year, and will celebrate with a birthday bash at The Brightside from 4pm on Thursday. This one promises a secret headliner not to be missed, as well as sets from some of the country’s best artists.
Around the corner at The Prince Consort Hotel, UNTITLED Music Group's annual showcase will also kick off at 4pm, featuring Full Flower Moon Band, FELIVAND, Steph Strings and The Grogans. You can also get a taste of Canada at Made in Canada: A Glitch in Brisbane at The Warehouse from 4pm, where independent label Kartel Musik and entertainment company Musik Iz The Motive are teaming up to present a very special Canadian artist showcase.
The Official BIGSOUND Closing Party kicks off at 11.30pm Thursday night at Fortitude Music Hall, with a host of special guest DJs to be announced soon. The 2023 After Party is open to all BIGSOUND artists and delegates as well as three-day and Thursday night showcase ticket holders, pending capacity limits.
The final special event on Friday offers the perfect hair of the dog for the stayers, with Felons playing host to the Queenslander BBQ Brunch from 10am. The Gold Coast's Bella Amor and Townsville's Alex Thomas (from Late November) will provide the perfect tunes to close what promises to be another exciting, jam-packed week beyond the BIGSOUND conference.
