Overview
When it comes to showcasing up-and-coming Australian musical talents, and also celebrating the country's music industry in general, Brisbane's BIGSOUND has never held back. Going big is right there in its name, after all. So, with the event finally making its in-person return after a pandemic-afflicted couple of years — and also marking its 21st birthday — it should come as no surprise that it's set to host its biggest lineup ever.
Back in April, BIGSOUND confirmed its comeback details for 2022, including dates and basic numbers — a four-day event including the conference side of things, running from Tuesday, September 6–Friday, September 9, and popping up in 21 different venues, to be precise. It also promised that more than 150 bands and artists would take to its stages, too. Now that the full bill is here, that figure has gone up to a whopping 182.
Jess Gleeson
That's 38 artists more than the last in-person event, in 2019, boasted — and they'll take to 23 stages at those 21 Fortitude Valley venues over three nights. Leading the charge: Adrian Dzvuke, Budjerah, flowerkid, Dallas Woods, Mia Wray and Teenage Joans, as well as Dulcie, Ghost Care, Ashwarya, Birdz, Jem Cassar-Daley, Concrete Surfers and VOIID.
The list goes on, and also includes the event's first BIGSOUND Country lineup, spanning country The Buckleys, Hinterland, DARLINGHURST, Loren Ryan, Melanie Dyer, Taylor Moss and The Wolfe Brothers.
A contingent from New Zealand will head over as well, with JessB, Soaked Oats, Troy Kingi, TE KAAHU, Church & AP, MELODOWNZ and Jenny Mitchell making the trip.
Lachlan Douglas
Wondering which venues will be doing the honours? The list features everywhere from Black Bear Lodge and both inside and outdoors at The Brightside through to The Wickham and The Zoo.
If you're a BIGSOUND regular, you'll know what all of this entails: jumping between as many spaces as possible, all teeming with as many bands, industry folks and music-loving punters as possible, and enjoying the latest and greatest tunes and talent that's on 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.
Bianca Holderness
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, making the BIGSOUND program 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). Leading the conference bill so far: 'Friday' singer Rebecca Black; activist, author and #MeToo movement founder Tarana Burke; Mushroom Group CEO Matt Gudinski; and Jaguar Jonze and Example.
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.
Lachlan Douglas
BIGSOUND 2022 FESTIVAL LINEUP:
Adam Newling
Adrian Dzvuke
AGUNG MANGO
Alter Boy
Andrew Gurruwiwi Band
Andrew Swift
Andy Golledge
Anesu
Aodhan
Asha Jefferies
Ashwarya
Ayesha Madon
Baby Cool
Banjo Lucia
Beckah Amani
BIG SKEEZ
BIG WETT
Birdz
BLOODMOON
Blusher
Bones and Jones
BOY SODA
Brekky Boy
Bud Rokesky
Budjerah
Bumpy
C.O.F.F.I.N
Caroline & Claude
Chanel Loren
Chloe Dadd
Church & AP
CLOE TERARE
Club Angel
Cody Jon
COLLAR
CONCRETE SURFERS
cookii
Dallas Woods
dameeeela
Daniel Shaw
DARLINGHURST
Dean Brady
Death by Denim
Diimpa
Dulcie
Eastbound Buzz
EGOISM
Eilish Gilligan
Eliza Hull
Eluize
Enclave
ENOLA
Evie Irie
Fash
Five Island Drive
flowerkid
FLY BOY JACK
Folk Bitch Trio
Forest Claudette
FOURA
Franko Gonzo
Full Flower Moon Band
Future Static
Germein
Ghost Care
Girl and Girl
Gold Fang
Grace Cummings and Her Band
Grand Pine
Great Sage
Greatest Hits
grentperez
Greta Stanley
Grievous Bodily Calm
Hallie
HANNI
Hauskey
Hinterland
Holliday Howe
Hope D
ISUA
JACOTÉNE
JELLY OSHEN
Jem Cassar-Daley
Jenny Mitchell
Jerome Farah
Jess Day
JessB
June Jones
KANADA THE LOOP
Kee'ahn
KEYAN
Kid Pharaoh
Kutcha Edwards
LÂLKA
Lee Sugar
LION
Liyah Knight
Loren Ryan
LOSER
MALi JO$E
Melaleuca
Melanie Dyer
MELODOWNZ
Memphis LK
merci, mercy
Mia Wray
Mitch Santiago
Molly Millington
Monnie
Moonboy
Moss
MOUNTAIN WIZARD DEATH CULT
Mr Rhodes
Mulalo
MUNGMUNG
Mvlholland
Newport
Nick Griffith
Nick Ward
Noah Dillon
OK HOTEL
Old Mervs
Phoebe Go
Pink Matter
Platonic Sex
Queen P
RinRin
Romero
Roy Bing
Ruby Gill
Ryan Fennis & Voidhood
Saint Ergo
Sam Windley
San Joseph
Sappho
Sarah Wolfe
SayGrace
Selfish Sons
Selve
Shanae (FKA MADAM3EMPRESS)
Shannen James
Siobhan Cotchin
Skeleten
Soaked Oats
SOPHIYA
South Summit
Srirachi
Stevan
Suzi
Talk Heavy
Tasman Keith
Taylor Moss
TE KAAHU
Teenage Dads
Teenage Joans
Teether & Kuya Neil
Tentendo
The Atomic Beau Project
The Buckleys
The Last Martyr
The Rions
THE RIOT
The Terrys
The Wolfe Brothers
To Octavia
Toby Hobart
Troy Kingi
Tulliah
VOIID
VOLI K
Waxflower
WIIGZ
Wildheart
Woodes
Yb.
Yen Strange
yergurl
YNG Martyr
Zeolite
ZPLUTO
BIGSOUND 2022 VENUES:
Black Bear Lodge
Blute's Bar
The Brightside
The Brightside Outdoors
EC Venue
Ivory Tusk
King Lear's Throne
La La Land
O'Skulligans
The Outpost
Press Club
The Prince Consort Hotel
Prohibition
Ric's Bar + Backyard
Stranded Bar
Summa House
Tomcat
The Warehouse
The Wickham
Woolly Mammoth Mane Stage
The Zoo
BIGSOUND 2022 will take place between Tuesday, September 6–Friday, September 9 in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. For more information, or to buy tickets, visit bigsound.org.au.
Top image: Bianca Holderness.