BIGSOUND 2024 IGNITES WITH FIRST SPEAKERS’ ANNOUNCEMENT

Amyl & The Sniffers’ Amy Taylor, UK creative Elijah, A&R legend Korda Marshall + a stacked line-up of international booking giants heading to Brisbane.

09/05/24

BIGSOUND’s first announcement hits today, packed with the brightest leaders in the global music industry, set to enlighten audiences at the southern hemisphere’s largest music knowledge and showcase event.

Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley will again lay host this September to the annual flock of music moguls, lovers and performers alike for BIGSOUND 2024. One of Earth’s most significant arts events, the music showcase and conference program return for its 23rd time to foster crucial discussions around the past, present and future of the industry.

Leading the event’s first line-up is Amyl & The Sniffers frontwoman Amy Taylor for her Keynote event. The three-time ARIA Award winner is everything that it is to be a rockstar. Having come from a regional town to hit the bigtime, she’s gone on to tour the world incessantly with her band, release a sophomore album that debuted at #2 on the ARIA chart, and share stages with legends like Foo Fighters, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The Smashing Pumpkins. Taylor has lived experience as a female punk star making her way in the Melbourne and international scene and has been outspoken on the prejudices she and others face.

BIGSOUND also welcomes London-based creative force Elijah. With roles spanning from Creative Consultant, Writer, and DJ to an Artist Manager and Co-founder of the trailblazing record label, Butterz, Elijah has uniquely positioned himself as a multifaceted influencer with a career marked by a relentless drive to re-think and challenge conventional narratives within the music industry.

A&R extraordinaire Korda Marshall will also be bringing his legendary taste and decades of experience to the BIGSOUND 2024 table. Since starting out at RCA Records as a coffee maker in the ‘80s, he has gone on to launch and run Infectious Records, discovering artists including Muse, Ash, Alt-J, Garbage and The Temper Trap.

"This announcement is really a calling card of what BIGSOUND represents. The cross section of global industry that will be on ground is a testament to BIGSOUND as a vehicle for connecting artists locally and internationally, and we recognise that in 2024 the need for this is greater than ever.

“We’re thrilled to go out of the gates with Amy Taylor as a keynote speaker as she will no doubt give a robust insight from many angles. Ultimately, BIGSOUND is an event where people arrive with a genuine sense of excitement at being immersed in music over three days and three nights,” said Conference Programmer Tom Larkin.

Continuing the establishment of BIGSOUND as the place to be for both connection and continued growth, a trinity of international export giants will be on-ground scouting for acts to join their stages, including Adam Ryan (The Great Escape, Lovebox and Wilderness Festival), Germany’s Patrick Daniel (Reeperbahn Festival, Inferno Events) and Austin’s Dev Sherlock (SXSW), who currently books artists and presenters from Australia and NZ, as well as UK and Ireland. They’ll be joined by Ben Buchanan from Creative Artists Agency (Beck, Florence and the Machine, Solange) and Roxane Dumoulin from ATC Live Agency (Aldous Harding, Japanese Breakfast)

"Over the years we’ve become regular attendees of BIGSOUND, it’s always so thrilling to come to Australia and check out potential acts to sign to our roster. We are really excited to be sending our agent Roxanne Dumoulin this year,” said ATC Live Managing Director Alex Bruford. “We have over 30 Australian acts on our roster, including Amyl and The Sniffers, Julia Jacklin and Royel Otis, and have signed acts including Girl and Girl, Cable Ties, Enola and Good Morning as a direct result of attending BIGSOUND – it has become one of our favourite international events, and is a fantastic place to see new Australian talent.

Casper Mills who currently serves as a key figure at 4AD, one of the globe’s most influential independent record labels whose roster currently includes names like The National and Tkay Maidza, will lend his voice to the conference in September alongside musician Naomie Abergel, fka Mark Johns. Abergel was signed to OWSLA by Skrillex after he discovered her on Soundcloud while living at home in Singapore, and now works with Sound.xyz. Bradly Palmer from A&R Relations at Concord Music Publishing in Los Angeles will also take to the stage at this year’s event.

To round out an already rich wealth of knowledge Elliott Lefko, Vice President of AEG/Goldenvoice Concerts in Los Angeles that books annual festival behemoths Coachella and its Americana counterpart, Stagecoach, will also be heading to Australia for the first time. With over 40 years of experience, Lefko’s career spans collaborations with some of the most influential artists of our time, including Nirvana, Erykah Badu and Leonard Cohen. Lefko will share his experience on the internationalisation of artists, including how to establish contacts and collaborations.

Early bird Delegate tickets for entry to the full BIGSOUND experience are on sale now. The all-access pass is the only way to get into the BIGSOUND keynote, panels, workshops, networking and special events, as well as priority access to BIGSOUND Festival events. Early bird tickets are limited so don’t miss out!

This is your ticket to access the full conference, three-nights of showcase events, parties and workshops. Festival-only tickets will go on sale in June.

Early Bird Offer General: $629 / QMusic Members: $529 / Students $379.

EARLY BIRD TICKETS HERE!