The first announcement of this year’s BIGSOUND speakers and buyers is here, and the 2016 conference will welcome legendary radio presenter and punk rocker Lindsay McDougall.
Spending his career in the spotlight, be it a decade at the mic on Triple J radio or onstage with Sydney punk-rock band Frenzal Rhomb, Lindsay McDougall’s appearance at the event will certainly be an occasion not to miss.
In its 15th year, the BIGSOUND gathering has grown into one of the most exciting music industry conferences in the Southern Hemisphere. This year the event will host over 100 speakers and buyers, featuring industry talents, professionals and innovators including the likes of Vance Joy's career-steerer Jadden Comerford, booking agents from New York's The Bowery, London's ATC Live and many more.
Lindsay will be joined onstage by A.B. Original, a collaboration between two of Australia's leading hip hop artists come social activists, Briggs and Trials. The duo have recently released their first single, '2 Black 2 Strong’, which has received strong support among community radio stations and Triple J rotations.
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Audiences will be enlightened by the hilarity of the trio, as Lindsay, commonly known by his Triple J nickname ’The Doctor’, interviews the two about their experiences in the industry and life in general, particularly the racism and oppression they’ve endured as Indigenous musicians. “I imagine one of things that people take away will be ‘why you shouldn't do black face ever’ and… how people [should do what they want] uncompromisingly and unapologetically,” Lindsay says.
“Even though you're dealing with oppression and you don't come from privilege, you can still fucking make your mark and you don't have to compromise.”
Though Lindsay is taking a step back onstage, to let the rappers take the show where they want it. “I’m a fucking middle-aged white dude, I’ve had everything handed to me. To be honest, I’ll probably just stand there agreeing with them,” he laughs.
"Brisbane has got this conference that people from all over the world and Australia come to learn, to teach and to rock."
On a more serious note, however, Lindsay says that “if you don't get out of there and want to fucking smash the system and do some good stuff, then you probably have some cold, cold blood running in your veins".
Though what better way to raise these issues onstage at BIGSOUND, which Lindsay suggests might just be the kicker for the Queensland Government to abolish the looming lockout laws currently plaguing southern states. “I’ve been in Brisbane when BIGSOUND was on, and just walking up and down Fortitude Valley, every door that you open is a concert venue and bands are playing.
“I’m from Sydney where you're forced at gunpoint to go to bed at 6:30am because the sun’s out… but in Queensland it’s all systems go, because you haven't put the lock out laws in yet. I’m just so excited to see that much music in the one place, which you honestly can’t really do in NSW anymore, which is a bit sad.”
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And with the conference hosting people from all over the globe, it will be the perfect opportunity to witness the music industry at its finest. “You think about SXSW in Austin… Austin was just another tour date you went through on the giant bunch of cities in between Los Angeles and New York City, and now it’s on the map as one of the cultural centres of America,” Lindsay says.
“That’s what Brisbane is cementing itself as. They've got this conference that people from all over the world and Australia come to learn, to teach and to rock. That sounds like I’m Jack Black or something but it’s pretty awesome.”
BIGSOUND is held 7-9 September. Stay tuned for the artist announcement later in June.
