BIGSOUND
Fortitude Valley's huge annual music event is back for 2024, with 125 artists hitting the festival's stages across four big days — and Kelis and Amy Taylor as speakers.
Overview
"Nobody likes you when you're 23," blink-182 once told the world, but that sentiment doesn't apply to long-running music events that take over Brisbane every year. BIGSOUND reaches that very number in 2024, and there's plenty to like and downright love. A heap of names lead its conference lineup, including Kelis and Amyl and The Sniffers frontwoman Amy Taylor — and there's 125 acts on the showcase bill, too, getting the River City's venues echoing.
Between Tuesday, September 3–Friday, September 6 in Fortitude Valley, attendees are in for not one but two Peking Duk experiences, with Adam Hyde and Reuben Styles — the former as Keli Holiday, the latter as Y.O.G.A. — making their solo BIGSOUND debuts. Alex the Astronaut, Gretta Ray and Sly Withers are also on the program, as are dust, Dear Seattle, Stand Atlantic, PEPTALK, total tommy and Noah Dillon. The list goes on from there, including Australian First Nations talent Maanyung, Ray Dimakarri Dixon and Kiwat Kennell, plus New Zealand's NO CIGAR, Dick Move, Paige, Park RD, Reiki Ruawai and DARTZ.
If you're keen to see the results of the pair's curatorial efforts but can't stretch your budget, BIGSOUND is a cost-of-living crisis-friendly ticketing option this year: $25 one-night Music Festival tickets if you're under 25 years of age.
BIGSOUND 2024 also spans London-based DJ, artist manager and Butterz co-founder Elijah among the speakers — and Korda Marshall, who started his record label career in 1983 making coffee and scouting talent at RCA. Casper Mills from independent record label 4AD will also share wisdom and experiences, as will Naomie Abergel, fka Mark Johns, plus AEG/Goldenvoice Concerts Vice President Elliott Lefko.
Performance-wise, the event's commitment to showcasing impressive acts, artists and bands usually sees more than 100 talents hit its stages at 20-plus River City venues. If you're a BIGSOUND regular, you'll know that this entails filling as many Brisbane spaces as possible with musos, industry folks and music-loving punters, all enjoying the latest and greatest tunes and talent the country has to offer.
Images: Simone Gorman-Clark and Dave Kan.
