Sounds Australia Showcasing in U.K. This Week After Three Year Hiatus

Music export body Sounds Australia is returning to the U.K.

With support from Tourism Australia, it is holding showcasing and networking events at The Great Escape in Brighton (May 11—14), and ho

sting the Aussie BBQ at Colours Hoxton in London.

Twenty four Aussie acts head to the beach for two showcases on five stages.

These are on May 12 at the music venue Komedia, which holds 400 in its main basement space and 150 in its Studio, and May 14 on Brighton Beach, which has been rebranded TGE Beach for the festival.

Performing are Alex The Astronaut, Alice Ivy, Allysha Joy, Aodhan, Azure Ryder, Beckah Amani, Budjerah, Didirri, Flowerkid, Grace Cummings, HighSchool, Little Quirks, Party Dozen, Pist Idiots, PLANET, Shady Nasty, Stella Donnelly, Sycco, Telenova, The Lazy Eyes, The Vanns, Thomas Headon, Tyne-James Organ and Yours Truly.

Altogether 500 acts from around the world are playing TGE.

Sounds Australia then heads to London where it is staging its famous Aussie BBQ on May 15 at the Colours Hoxton cocktails and drag bar.

Up to 250 punters can check out 20 Aussie acts across two stages from midday.

Aside from those who played TGE, the London show also has Brekky Boy, Caroline & Claude, Driftwood, Harry Heart, Keli Holiday, Merpire and Somber Hills.

The Great Escape is an important place for Aussies to be heard: executives come from all over the world to check out export-ready acts.

“We’ve been very good at checking the mood and catching artists just before they break,” Adam Ryan, TGE’s head of music, said this week.

He ticked off Foals, Ed Sheeran, Lewis Capaldi, Skepta, Christine And The Queens, Lizzo, Slaves and 1975.

“All were perfectly timed moments,” Ryan said.

This year’s TGE has a greater vibrancy. It’s returning as an in-person event after a few years online, and is determined to make a splash.

It’s partnered with interesting brands for showcases, including Girls I Rate, Gay Times, Amazon Music, BBC Music and Download festival.

After the U.K, Sounds Australia takes its Aussie BBQ to New York’s Central Park on June 18 in partnership with Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage, and n association with the Australian Consul-General, New York and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

There are sets from Baker Boy, Electric Fields, G Flip, Haiku Hands, Peking Duk and You Am I.

The Aussie BBQ SummerStage made its debut in 2019, and 5,000 punters came out to see A.B Original, Hermitude, The Teskey Brothers, Tkay Maidza, San Cisco and WAAX perform.

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