Bigsound 2020 is definitely happening – with some COVIDSafe tweaks

Lock it in: Bigsound is happening this year.

One of the great question marks hanging over the Australian music industry is finally answered this morning with confirmation of Bigsound 2020, spread out across at least ten venues in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley.

In a sign of the times, this year’s conference and showcase event will be scaled-down, pushed-back and guests will observe all the social distancing and safety protocols we’ve come to accept during the pandemic.

Originally set for September 1st through 4th, this year’s Bigsound is rescheduled to October 21st and 22nd.

Spread over just two-days and two nights, this will be the back-to-basics Bigsound, with a condensed program of conferences, workshops and on-stage conversations, showcases, secret shows and official parties.

Artist live showcase applications are now open. Application fees don’t apply this time, on account of Bigsound 2020’s reduced size and capacity.

Angela Samut

The health crisis has dealt a savage blow to the music community.

With flights grounded and venues locked around the around the country, the box-office loss for live music in Australia is expected to blow past half a billion dollars in just six months.

Skipping Bigsound this year would have been a bridge too far, explains Angela Samut, CEO of QMusic, organiser of the annual summit.

“Bigsound has been the leader of conversation and discovery in the Australian music industry for over 18 years and this year we will be forging ahead with a recovery-focused festival,” says Samut in a statement.

“With the culture of our industry under threat from COVID-19, our industrial culture under scrutiny as we face head-on the structural inequities for women, LGBTQI+ and First Nations people, and our culture as a nation under the spotlight as global trends put even more pressure on local artists and local stories, never has it been more essential for Bigsound to proceed and succeed.”

Returning for the 2020 edition is First Nations producer and conference programmer Alethea Beetson.

Alethea Beetson. Photo Credit: LaVonne Bobongie

Also, Janne Scott, previously head of the Bigsound Visual Arts Program and long-time Splendour In The Grass Senior Creative Manager, has taken the role of Bigsound Creative Director.

Taking the reins as Bigsound Festival Co-Programmers are Dominic Miller and Ruby-Jean McCabe, who are charged with identifying and booking the showcasing artists for Bigsound 2020.

Miller and McCabe boast years of industry experience across various roles, including management, agency, festival programming and venue booking, and are “the perfect duo to take on Bigsound Festival in a challenging year,” say reps for the annual event.

In other changes, former Executive Programmer Maggie Collins steps aside after a five-year stint.

Collins, who runs the Morning Belle artist management and events company, finishes up as the longest-serving programmer in Bigsound history.

Meanwhile, BIGTECH, the technology stream that enables entrepreneurs to showcase their products and compete for a cash prize, will skip this year.

Expect it to return in 2021, organisers say.

In a press release announcing the development, Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said Bigsound was too important to let slip into another calendar year.

“The Palaszczuk Government has provided dedicated support to the music industry as part of our plan for economic recovery and creating jobs in the arts sector,” Minister Enoch said.

“Beyond our ongoing long-term investment in QMusic, the Queensland Government has implemented more than $42.5 million worth of relief measures to the arts through COVID-19. This includes a recently announced $22.5 million Arts and Cultural Recovery Package offering funding specifically for the live music industry to assist venues to reopen and employ musicians.

“The reactivation of Queensland’s live music industry is highly anticipated and I am confident that Bigsound will play a central role in Queensland’s plan for recovery.”

Pre-sale registration for delegate pass sales kicks off 9AM AEST on Wednesday, July 29th.

Early-bird delegate passes will be to buy from 9AM AEST Monday, August 3rd.

Visit bigsound.org.au for more information.

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.