News September 29, 2020

BIGSOUND unveils full program, including BIGSOUND50 artists

Weeks after the now-virtual edition of BIGSOUND unveiled its keynote speakers, the annual Queensland music conference has now revealed its full program, including the much-anticipated BIGSOUND50.

Originally set to take place in early September, the changing nature of events in a COVID-19 world meant that BIGSOUND organisers were forced to take their festivities online. Returning for its 19th year, organisers revealed that BIGSOUND would be a completely different experience in 2020, with everything free and virtual, with no physical live performances.

Weeks after the announcement, it was revealed that this year’s event would feature a raft of high-profile keynote speakers, including the likes of Tom Morello, Kev Carmody, Tones And I, and Amy Shark, just to name a few.

Now, with less than a month to go until the virtual festivities begin, organisers have today unveiled both its official program, and list of artists in the BIGSOUND 50; which comprise some of the biggest up-and-coming names on the local scene.

“From The BIGSOUND50 to the conference conversations, First Nations voices are prevalent across the entire event as we hold valued perspectives on re-futuring the music industry,” explained First Nations Programmer Alethea Beetson.

“Working alongside the festival programmers to curate The BIGSOUND50 list has led to an even stronger representation of Indigenous artists than ever before at BIGSOUND. This is supported by a First Nations program and a number of decolonial conversations within the wider conference schedule offering solutions to the issues faced by the music industry in 2020.”

In addition to First Nations artists such as The Merindas, DOBBY, Yirgjhilya, BIRDZ, and Kee’ahn, the full list includes a number of acts who have been making waves in recent months and years, including colourblind, Jaguar Jonze, Beddy Rays, No Money Enterprise, and Melbourne’s Harper Bloom.

“When it became obvious that we wouldn’t be able to do anything physical this year, we came up with a whole new way of showcasing our BIGSOUND artists in 2020,’ explained co-programmer Dom Miller. “The BIGSOUND50 are the 50 artists BIGSOUND believes the world should be paying attention to in 2020 and beyond.”

Meanwhile, organisers also unveiled its full virtual conference program, which includes a keynote from Wait But Why co-founder, and artificial intelligence and creativity thought leader Tim Urban, whose TED Talk on procrastination has managed to exceed 41 million views since being uploaded.

Other keynotes and conferences on the program include the likes of “Pay The Rent”, which focuses on Indigenous quotas across the music industry; “Beyond the Bla(c)k Tile”, which looks at performative allyship; and “A Licence to Live”, which explores the topic of making a living through composing for video games, ad sync, and theme songs.

This year’s edition of BIGSOUND will be completely virtual, and entirely free, with registration to the event available via the official website.

THE BIGSOUND50

Adam Newling
Aodhan
ASHWARYA
Bad/Love
Beans
Beddy Rays
BIRDZ
Boox Kid
Bow and Arrow
CLOE TERARE
colourblind
Dallas Woods
Death By Denim
Debbies
DOBBY
Eastbound Buzz
Harper Bloom
Hauskey
Hayley Marsten
J-MILLA
Jaguar Jonze
Jerome Farah
Jess Day
JK-47
Jordan Dennis
Kee’ahn
KYE
L-FRESH The LION
Lydia Fairhall and The She
Oaks
Matalja
Memphis LK
Middle Name Dance Band
Ms. Thandi
Nerve Damage
No Money Enterprise
Noah Dillon
Oetha
Order Sixty6
River Boy
Shannen James
SOPHIYA
Southeast Desert Metal
Squid Nebula
Sycco
The Dreggs
The Merindas
The Yorke Band
We Set Signals
Yawdoesitall
Yirgjhilya