Overview
From 'King of the Mountain' to federal minister for the arts, Peter Garret knows the Australian music industry better than most. The now former minister, activist and legendary Midnight Oil frontman is locked in to deliver a keynote address at this year's BIGSOUND music conference in Brisbane, running September 9-11. It'll be the first major music industry appearance for Garrett since leaving federal parliament, so we're sure he's going to have few things to get off his chest; about public policy and activism in the music industry and of course, his own marvellous career in Midnight Oil.
Joining Garrett on the keynote lineup of dreams, rapper and activist Brother Ali is heading to BIGSOUND for his very first Australian speech. The albino child of white Muslim parents, Brother Ali is one of the most unique voices in contemporary hip hop. You might have seen him throw down some serious truths in his recent keynotes at the Nobel Peace Prize Forum and Princeton University.
Australia's answer to CMJ in New York or South by Southwest in Austin, BIGSOUND sees all corners of the Australian music industry converge on Fortitude Valley for days of panels, workshops, aforementioned keynotes, and (most importantly) live gigs, showcases and parties.
With plenty of A&R talent also booked in to lay some knowledge on BIGSOUND conference-goers, this year's lineup is already one the event's most internationally-focused yet (bringing it ever closer to CMJ-ness). Of course, it's not all keynotes and panels; BIGSOUND's live music element is one of the prime poaching grounds for the best new talent in Australia, with Courtney Barnett, Flume, Megan Washington, Boy & Bear and more blitzing previous BIGSOUND instalments. If you're wanting to throw your hat in the ring, applications to play at this year’s event will close on May 15 with the first artist lineup announced in early June.
So bands, producers, singer/songwriters? Here's who you need to impress.
BIGSOUND 2015 INDUSTRY SPEAKERS:
Peter Garrett – Keynote (AUS)
Brother Ali – Keynote (USA)
Ashanti Abdullah – Rhymesayers Entertainment (USA)
Alex Maxwell – Troubadour (USA)
Amy Morgan – Beggars Publishing / Glass Animals (UK)
Avery McTaggart – The Windish Agency (USA)
Ben Munro – Hostess (JPN)
Ben O’Connor – Chapter Music (AUS)
Eric Barleen – Another Planet Entertainment (USA)
Guy Blackman – Chapter Music (AUS)
Jacob Daneman – Pitch Perfect PR (USA)
Jacqueline Saturn – Harvest Records (USA)
Josh Moore – Bowery Presents (USA)
Julia Wilson – Rice is Nice (AUS)
Justin Sweeting – WME / Clockenflap (HK)
Laura Snapes – Freelance Writer (UK)
Lesley Olenik Golindo – Goldenvoice (USA)
Lio Kanine – Kanine Records (USA)
Lorrae McKenna – Remote Control Records (AUS)
Marshall Betts – The Windish Agency (USA)
Meg Helsel – Grandstand Media (USA)
Melissa Yong – Other Sounds / Village Sounds (SGP)
Meredith Fraser – Panache Booking (USA)
Paul Buck – Coda Agency (UK)
Phil Waldorf – Secretly Group (USA)
Rachel Cragg – Nettwerk Music Group (USA)
Robin McNicol – Superfly (USA)
Sat Bisla – A&R Worldwide (USA)
Talya Elitzer – Capitol Music Group (USA)
Tunji Balogun – RCA Records (USA)
BIGSOUND will take over Fortitude Valley from September 9-11, with early bird tickets capped at 100 this year from $350 for three days of panels, discussions and industry seminars and two nights of 140 bands across 14 venues. The limited allocation of early-bird tickets sold out quickly when they went on sale earlier this year, but another 50 have been released today with prices rising when they are sold out or on May 15, whichever comes first. Head here for details.