R&B ICON AND MILKSHAKE AFICIONADO KELIS TO PRESENT MAJOR KEYNOTE AT BIGSOUND 2024
The multitalented musician, trained chef and cultural icon will present a major keynote at BIGSOUND 2024.
BIGSOUND and QLD Music Trails have joined forces to bring the multi-platinum, genre-breaking US artist to Australia this September where she’ll take to the stage as a headline Keynote speaker at BIGSOUND on Thursday 5 September, ahead of an exclusive live performance at QLD Music Trails’ Sweet Relief! music festival, on Saturday 7 September.
With millions of albums sold and chart-topping hits like “Milkshake” and “Bossy” in her wake, R&B pioneer Kelis has amassed a huge and global fanbase. She exudes the kind of fierce stage presence that only comes with two decades of performing across the globe and soon Brisbane fans will have their turn to witness the magic firsthand when Kelis brings her big energy and party vibes to Sweet Relief!
Kelis’ talents don’t stop at music; she’s long existed as a fashion icon and designer muse, while more recently becoming a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef with several cooking specials at Netflix and beyond and her own cookbook, My Life on a Plate. It’s safe to say she’s mastered the game of change, adaptation and relevancy, which we’ll hear about in her Keynote event at BIGSOUND’s conference in September.
QMusic and BIGSOUND CEO, Kris Stewart, says of the partnership with QMF, “BIGSOUND lights up the heart of the Fortitude Valley each year with a flurry of music lovers, brilliant minds and world class performers. It’s a pleasure to get to partner with QLD Music Trails to bring to the city someone who encompasses all these things and more, Kelis, for what will undoubtedly be an incredible Keynote speech and festival performance.”
Daryl Raven, CEO of QMF, shared his enthusiasm, stating, "QLD Music Trails is dedicated to enriching the cultural identity of Queensland. With the backing of the Queensland Government, we're proud to champion our diverse music community and offer a beacon of hope in challenging times. Sweet Relief! provides a stage where homegrown talent can stand alongside global icons. We're flipping the script, turning up the volume, and proving that music is unstoppable. This is our moment to unite, celebrate, and let the music do the talking."
A staggering 25 years on from the release of her 1999 debut studio album, Kaleidoscope, and 21 years on from her commercial breakout album, Tasty, Kelis has defied the status quo of the music industry. Following a path of radical change and self-exploration, today she juggles her time as a musician, mother, chef and farmer.
The Harlem born artist's BIGSOUND appearance promises to be an honest conversation on the importance of being authentic and her fearless approach to transformation – two subjects that strongly align with the BIGSOUND 2024 themes.
Tourism Minister Michael Healy said BIGSOUND and Sweet Relief! are set to make the month of September even bigger for music lovers.
“Through Tourism and Events Queensland, we made a commitment to bringing global singer-songwriter Kelis to Brisbane, which is a major coup for the city’s music scene.
“Following BIGSOUND’s annual takeover of Fortitude Valley, Sweet Relief! will provide music lovers an excuse to extend their stay in this great city.”
Kelis joins an already stellar line-up of BIGSOUND speakers and buyers, including names like Amy Taylor (Amyl & The Sniffers), Elijah (artist/Thought Leader UK), Korda Marshall (revered A&R guru), and Elliott Lefko (AEG/Goldenvoice USA / Coachella), to ignite conversations and light-up in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley from 3-6 September.
Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said events such as Sweet Relief! and BIGSOUND reinforce Queensland’s reputation as a vibrant contemporary music hub and deliver economic outcomes through cultural tourism and boosting jobs and audiences for local artists.
“Queensland Government support of QMF and its Queensland Music Trails, and QMusic’s delivery of BIGSOUND, amplify our commitment to growing a strong, sustainable live and local music sector with the resilience and capacity to fully embrace future opportunities,” Minister Enoch said.
Early bird all-access BIGSOUND Delegate passes are on sale NOW!
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
BIGSOUND 2024 SPEAKERS & BUYERS - SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT:
Kelis – Musician / Chef / Author (US) - KEYNOTE
BIGSOUND 2024 SPEAKERS & BUYERS - FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT:
Amy Taylor - Amyl & The Sniffers (AUS) - KEYNOTE
Adam Ryan - The Great Escape / Festival Republic (UK)
Ben Buchanan - Creative Artists Agency (CA)
Bradly Palmer - Concord Music Publishing (USA)
Casper Mills - 4AD (UK)
Dev Sherlock – SXSW (USA)
Elijah - Artist / Thought Leader / DJ (UK)
Elliott Lefko - AEG / Goldenvoice (USA)
Korda Marshall - Mushroom Group (UK)
Naomie Abergel - Sound.xyz (USA)
Patrick Daniel - Reeperbahn (GER)
Roxane Dumoulin - ATC Live (FRAN)
