News October 27, 2015

BIGSOUND announces Peter Garrett, Brother Ali, 20+ A&R Executives for 2015 conference

PRESS RELEASE:

This year’s BIGSOUND music industry gathering in September has launched with two fascinating keynotes and a gaggle of talent spotting executives from across the music industry including live bookers, labels, publishers and more.

In his first major music industry appearance since leaving federal parliament, former Federal Arts Minister, activist and Midnight Oil front man Peter Garrett will deliver a keynote address outlining his thoughts on the direction of the industry, public policy and will reflect on his revered music career. Revered rapper and activist Brother Ali will deliver his first Australian speech after recent keynotes at the Nobel Peace Prize Forum and Princeton University. His unique experience as a rapper who was the albino child of white Muslim parents in mid-western America is sure to provide fascinating insight into contemporary hip hop.

BIGSOUND 2015 also welcomes a host of A&R talent including RCA Records’ Senior Director of A&R Tunji Balogun (Kendrick Lamar, Diddy, OneRepublic), Harvest/Universal’s General Manager Jacqueline Sutton (TV On the Radio, Morrissey, Kasabian, Death Grips), Goldenvoice/Coachella’s senior VP of talent buying Lesley Olenik Golindo, A&R of Beggars Music Publishing Amy Morgan (Glass Animals, Cat Power, Yo La Tengo), A&R for Nettwerk Music Group Rachel Cragg (Father John Misty, Stereophonics, Boy & Bear) and many more.

“International interest in BIGSOUND this year has confirmed something that we already knew; that it's one of the world’s most exciting A&R markets”, said BIGSOUND programmer Nick O’Byrne. “The incredible success of Australian artists overseas combined with the strength, depth and quality of our local music communities mean that some of the world’s most influential labels, publishers, bookers and agents are now making it part of their annual calendar.”

BIGSOUND has been the breeding ground for some of the biggest Australian acts of the last decade, with national and international industry and punters converging on Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley to scout the next big thing. BIGSOUND alumni includes Courtney Barnett, Flume, Seth Sentry, Sheppard, The Jezabels, The Naked and Famous, The Temper Trap, The Aston Shuffle, The Church, Adalita, Ball Park Music, Jungle Giants, Boy & Bear, Clare Bowditch, David Bridie, Closure in Moscow, Kingswood, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard and Megan Washington, with nearly a thousand bands playing over BIGSOUND’s fourteen year history.

Applications to play at this year’s event will close on May 15 with the first amazing line-up of artists announced in early June.

This year’s event will take over Fortitude Valley from September 9th-11th, with early bird tickets capped at 100 this year from as low as $350 for three days of panels, discussions and industry seminars and two nights of 140 bands across 14 of the hottest indoor and outdoor live music spaces.

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.

Stage and Screen is the Official Travel Partner for BIGSOUND 2015. As Australia’s leading entertainment travel specialist the Stage and Screen team will be hard at work to negotiate fantastic accommodation rates for all delegates and attendees.

To apply to play at BIGSOUND 2015, purchase early bird tickets or accommodation please visit www.bigsound.org.au

BIGSOUND 2015 INDUSTRY SPEAKERS/BUYERS

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)