BIGSOUND Is Returning in 2022 for a Huge 21st Birthday Party Featuring 150-Plus Bands at 21 Venues

Many a Brisbanite has spent their 21st birthday partying their way around Fortitude Valley. Plenty of us have spent several days around the milestone date hopping between venues throughout the inner-city suburb and prolonging the merriment for as long as possible, in fact. It's a Brissie rite of passage; however, it isn't just restricted to people — with huge music-fuelled celebration BIGSOUND planning the same thing when it returns in September 2022.

To mark hitting the big two-one — and its return to in-person events after a pandemic-afflicted couple of years — BIGSOUND will take over the Valley with a massive four-day event. Running from Tuesday, September 6–Friday, September 9, this year's fest will welcome more than 150 bands to its stages, too, and also keep the birthday theme going by popping up in 21 different venues.

If you're a BIGSOUND regular, you'll know what that entails: filling as many spaces as possible with bands, industry folks and music-loving punters, all enjoying the latest and greatest tunes and talent the country has to offer. Expect 2022's iteration to be no different to usual — well, the pre-pandemic usual — although the vibe is set to jump up a few notches given that there's so much to celebrate.

Lachlan Douglas

It's still too early to announce who'll be on the bill, but expect BIGSOUND to commemorate its big occasion — and its first physical fest since 2019 — with an impressive roster of bands. Past events have showcased everyone from Gang of Youths, Flume, Tash Sultana and Courtney Barnett to San Cisco, Violent Soho, Methyl Ethel and The Jungle Giants, so its program is usually a very reliable bellwether of current and up-and-coming musos.

This year's fest will also include 300 artist showcases and more than 20 parties, while the conference side of things will welcome in 150-plus speakers over 55 sessions (and more than 1500 delegates as well). And, a new event called BIGSOUND Country will join the lineup, focusing on the Aussie country music scene.

Lachlan Douglas

BIGSOUND's return to the Valley's streets follows a virtual event in 2020, and comes after 2021's fest was originally slated to go ahead in-person, but had to cancel due to COVID-19.

Announcing the event's 2022 plans, QMusic CEO Kris Stewart said that the BIGSOUND team is "feeling from the industry far and wide that they're itching to be back in rooms together — and we couldn't be more excited to get artists back on stages and industry back in their live element."

If your spring routine usually involves bar-hopping around Brisbane while listening to bands — whether you're a local or you head north for the event — mark your calendars accordingly.  And if you're an artist looking to take part in the event in general, applications are now open until Friday, May 20.

BIGSOUND 2022 will take place between Tuesday, September 6–Friday, September 9 in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. For more information — or to apply to take part if you're an artist — visit bigsound.org.au.

Images: Lachlan Douglas / Bianca Holderness.