Shortcuts, traditions and hidden gems – the BIGSOUND bests from an ex-Brisbanite

Hi! My name’s Velvet, I’m a proud Queenslander and I have been attending BIGSOUND since I crossed that wonderful divide into adulthood and could get into 18+ venues.

About three months ago I made the move to Sydney, so 2k18 marks the first time in a long time that I won’t be with my Brisbane crew, milking BIGSOUND for all it has to offer.

Instead of getting increasingly depressed with every afterparty invite that lands in my inbox I thought I would share with you, dear reader, the gathered knowledge and secret weapons that I’ve collected over the past five years.

I do this in hopes that even though I will not be there in person, my spirit will live on in the sticky streets of Fortitude Valley.

No matter if you’re a BIGSOUND newbie or a seasoned pilgrimager, I hope you enjoy the following bests of that glorious city called Brisbane.

Best spot for a business lunch – District 1: 7/8 Duncan St, Fortitude Valley

Eating time is scarce at BIGSOUND and you’re more often scarfing down a museli bar in-between keynotes than sitting down to lunch. That’s why beloved Vietnamese joint District 1. is so great for a profesh lunch when you’re short on time cause they are FAST and CHEAP. A hole in the wall that will provide a quiet-ish place to talk turkey while diving into the best pho Brisbane has to offer makes it a must-do.

Best shortcut – that weird tunnel that links Black Bear Club & The Brightside

Let us be honest, a good 70% of BIGSOUND is running between the dozen or so venues in the Valley so God bless that weird tunnel that links Black Bear and The Brightside. Hidden next to the Maccas in the middle of Brunswick Street, it provides a direct path from venues like The Foundry and Crowbar to The Brightside and The Valley Drive In. It allows you to skip the pedestrian crossing-less south side of Warner Street and provides shelter on the off chance of a sprinkle.

Best place for a quiet coffee – Bear Bones Speciality Roasters: 68 McLachlan Street

BIGSOUND runs on caffeine but it’s often hard to find a place quiet enough for a cup o’ joe and to hear a new track coming out of sub-par smartphone speakers. Enter Bear Bones, a speciality roaster just a hop, skip and jump down from Judith Wright. The calm shop front is just far away enough from the fray that you can hear yourself think but close enough to jump right back into the action. Bonus! They make a salted caramel milkshake that will knock your socks off and they sell their blends by the bagful which make for great souvenirs.

Best place to carry on a BIGSOUND tradition – 5 Dogs Hot Dogs: 290 Brunswick St

Since my second-ever BIGSOUND this unassuming hot dog hot spot has been a beloved tradition. Picture this: you stream out of various after parties in the early hours of the morning, truly understanding the meaning of “open bar” and in front of you in a golden beacon. You approach nervously and decide to forgo the dogs and go straight for the poutine – a wonderous mound of fries, melty cheese and the best darn gravy in Brisbane. You shovel this masterpiece into your mouth, then and ONLY then will you understand what true satisfaction is. You’re welcome.

Best place to decompress – New Farm Park

We all know BIGSOUND can stress out even the most serene of us. While you might not get the chance to take some me-time when you’re in the thick of it, it’s important to properly decompress after shaking approx. 1,000,000 hands. So it’s often a good idea to skip the lingering parties on Friday morning and instead grab some friends and some pastries and hightail it to New Farm Park. Here you will see out the last moments of BIGSOUND surrounded not by the grittiness of the Valley but the beauty of New Farm and the mighty Brown Snake (aka Brisbane River).