Official Artist FAQ

We are so excited to host you at BIGSOUND25. BIGSOUND is a huge event with nearly 500 activities across the few days, so we highly recommend you read on, get prepared and absolutely come and make the most out of your time at the biggest music industry event in the southern hemisphere!

#Get in contact!

Key Contacts

Your main contact in the lead up & during BIGSOUND is Mystique our Showcase Program Coordinator & Artist Liaison.

Ticketing

If you are enquiring regarding ticketing (your delegate passes, artist passes etc) please contact programming first. In the event we are unable to resolve your enquiry we will triage your request to our ticketing team.

Feel free to reach out directly to our ticketing team at ticketing@qmusic.com.au if you feel it necessary.

BEFORE BIGSOUND;

Address your enquiries to Mystique using:
programming@qmusic.com.au

DURING BIGSOUND;

For a quick response please call the Artist Liaison mobile: 0416 416 638

For non-urgent enquiries please email programming@qmusic.com.au

During BIGSOUND we may not be able to respond to your emails promptly as there will be a lot happening – if you need a quick response please call the Artist Liaison phone or come and see us in the Artist Hub.

#Passes & Accreditation

During BIGSOUND you will be given one (1) Delegate pass per act and an Artist Wristband per performing member. If you are bringing a stage tech/sound engineer please inform the programming team so we can ensure they receive a Crew pass within your artist pack.

Your accreditation is what will gain you access to the world of opportunities available to artists during BIGSOUND, we strongly suggest collecting your passes & wristbands as the first step on your BIGSOUND journey.

Please do not lose these as we are unable to offer replacements.

WHAT DOES MY DELEGATE PASS GET ME?

Every act is entitled to claim one (1) delegate pass. This is per act NOT per performing member.

Your Delegate Pass MUST be registered prior to BIGSOUND.

This pass is to be claimed by a band member or someone in your direct team and is non-transferable. All Delegate Pass holders are to be over 18 years of age.

Your Delegate Pass comes on a lanyard; we are unable to provide additional/replacement passes so please ensure you do not lose this. In the event you lose your complimentary Delegate Pass, you will need to purchase a new one at the full rate for continued access to all BIGSOUND events (excluding Showcases – your artist pass will gain you access to these)

With a Delegate pass you can access the following:

BIGSOUND’s world-class conference program including Keynotes, Panels, the Roundtables

Special Events (please rsvp) and After Hours Events

Artist Hub and all workshops program

The BIGSOUND online delegate portal and networking tools

Anything in the program that allows either a delegate pass or artist wristband

Please reach out to our QMusic ticketing team for all enquiries regarding registering your delegate pass.

ticketing@qmusic.com.au

Proof of Identification must be provided in order to collect your Delegate Pass. COLLECTING YOUR DELEGATE PASS

Your Delegate Pass is to be collected from our Box Office which The Fortitude Music Hall | 312-318 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley.

Opening hours to collect your pass are as follows:

Monday 1st Sept: 2:30pm – 6:30pm

Tuesday 2nd Sept: 9am – 6pm

Wednesday 3rd Sept: 9am – 6pm

Thursday 4th Sept: 9am – 3pm

EVERYTHING TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR ARTIST WRISTBAND

You will receive one (1) Artist Wristband per performing member. This wristband is for the entire duration of the event and cannot be replaced, please do not take it off.

Along with this you will receive one (1) guest wristband per performer. This will be a GA, 3-night festival wristband, to be given to a guest of your choosing.

Artist wristbands:

If you wish to request modifications on the number of performers, please email programming@qmusic.com.au immediately. 

- Provide access to all showcase venues, including your own venue, on all nights (Tuesday 2nd, Wednesday 3rd and Thursday 4th Sept) between 7pm to late.

- Access to the Artist Hub, all Workshops listed in the schedule BIGSOUND After Hours events, the BIGSOUND closing party, as well as any other event marked open to Artists on the schedule.  

Guest Wristbands:

- Access to the 3-night Festival on the 2nd, 3rd & 4th of September.

- Guest Wristbands are also non-refundable and non-transferable. All standard conditions of use apply.

Please Note; guest wristbands do not guarantee entry, and are not permitted to restricted areas such as backstage and the Artist Hub. This pass has the same level access as the general public.  

ARTIST WRISTBAND COLLECTION

You will find your artist wristband in your Artist Pack to be collected from the Artist Hub (located in BrewDog Fortitude Valley – 235 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley, 4006).

BIGSOUND Artist Hub opening hours are as follows:

10am-8pm on the 2nd, 3rd & 4th of September.

The hours in which your Artist Packs can be collected are 10am – 8pm in the Artist Hub.

AUSTRALIAN VISAS International artists (excluding NZ nationals)  

Every international artist entering Australia for the purpose of performing at BIGSOUND and any other public shows (paid or unpaid) anywhere in Australia must have a Temporary Activity Visa (subclass 408) for the period of stay in the country. It is the responsibility of the Artist and/or their representatives to apply for this visa for all members of the travelling group. 

QMusic is unable to apply for this visa on the artist's behalf. 

BIGSOUND Artist Hub

This year the Artist has been curated to maximise your opportunities to get the absolute most out of your experience at BIGSOUND.

Located at BrewDog Fortitude Valley, the BIGSOUND Artist Hub will be the location for Artist focused workshops, conversation corners, special events and more.

When you arrive, please head straight up to the top level where you will be greeted by your artist liaison to give you your artist pack previously mentioned. The top level of Brewdog will be the home of artist services and will be the place to come to chill out between events/activities and ask any question you may have. Artist Services will be available between 10am – 8pm.

INSTRUMENT LOCK UP

FREE Instrument Storage at Enigma! Ground level, 299 Brunswick St (enter via Brunswick Street Mall)

We're excited to offer FREE, secure instrument storage to make your BIGSOUND experience stress-free! Drop off your gear when you arrive in Fortitude Valley and collect it before your show.

Storage Hours:

Tuesday 2nd Sept: 10am-10pm

Wednesday 3rd Sept: 10am-10pm

Thursday 4th Sept: 10am-10pm

Important Details:

Our friendly staff will help you check in/out using a QR code check-in

Only you can collect your own instruments – please plan for this

**Must be collected before closing each night - no overnight storage and no returning to lock up after your show. Gear should be taken from Showcase and back to your accommodation afterward**

BIGSOUND isn't liable for uncollected items

This service is all about making your festival experience smoother - arrive early, store your gear safely, and focus on what matters most: your performance!

#New This Year

MERCHANDISE

BIGSOUND x American Apparel Merch Partnership

BIGSOUND has always championed artist merch sales to help offset your travel costs, and this year we're taking it up a notch!

Custom Shirt Program: We're partnering with American Apparel to create custom shirts for each artist - printed on demand at our dedicated activation space in Fortitude Music Hall. Each shirt features your unique design, the festival lineup, and exclusive BIGSOUND x American Apparel branding.

The Numbers:

Shirts retail for $25 AUD

You earn $15 AUD per sale (handled by American Apparel)

One BIGSOUND Artist will be selected by a panel to be the winner of the American Apparel StAArt Up Fund - BIGSOUND Edition. The winner receives AU$10,000 RRP worth of merchandise.

Winner also gets to collaborate with American Apparel on social content

Next Steps: You'll receive detailed communications soon requesting your unique merch asset and other necessary details.

Pro Tip: The more you promote this on social media, the better your chances of winning that $10,000! Encourage your fans and BIGSOUND punters to grab your exclusive collaboration merch.

Bringing Your Own Merch? If you're planning to bring additional merchandise, that's entirely self-managed and should be handled at your showcase independently. Please consider your fellow showcasing artists and their audiences and check with the venue manager before setting up your merch in-venue.

Content House

Presented by CLIPPED.TV, Content House is a new BIGSOUND activation hosted at Summa House, a vibrant, open-air venue transformed into a creative HQ for artists, media, content creators, and platforms.

Come on down to content house to recharge, connect and create viral content moments at BIGSOUND 2025.

Looking to create something a little more bespoke on-ground or have highlights of your show/event captured? ? Get in touch with the team at CLIPPED.TV to chat all things content at BIGSOUND.

#General Information

Acknowledgement of Country

An Acknowledgement of Country is a way to acknowledge and pay respect to First Nations peoples as the Traditional Owners and ongoing custodians of the land. If you would like to do an Acknowledgement at the start of your showcase, please do so with respect and sincerity.

The traditional land BIGSOUND occupies is called Magandjin (Brisbane) and the Traditional Owners are the Yuggera and Turrbal people. 

Here’s a helpful article for writing and understanding an Acknowledgment of Country: https://www.commonground.org.au/article/acknowledgement-of-country

Here’s an acknowledgement of country written by our Elders in Residence, Toni Janke and Uncle Kev Starkey;

“As First Nations peoples and Elders-in-Residence, we proudly acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Magandjin (Brisbane), the Yuggera & Turrbal peoples. We pay our respects to Elders and all who have walked before us through the many songlines and ancient pathways across this country. We acknowledge their wisdom, resilience and enduring connection to the land and seas for countless generations, connecting people and places through song and ceremony.

We are committed to learning from and respecting these timeless ways of knowing and being, as we journey together towards a shared future.”

Uncle Kev Starkey  & Toni Janke, Elders in Residence

FIRST NATIONS SUPPORT

At BIGSOUND, we recognise the immense talent, resilience and cultural richness that First Nations Artists bring to the creative landscape. As you embark on your artistic journey, we want you to know that we are here to offer our support.

In addition to all the wonderful support from our Artist Liaisons, to our ground techs, we also have a First Nations team, who lead our Goolwal Goolwal program. This team are on ground at BIGSOUND all week! Whether you’re forging connections, seeking resources, simply sharing stories, or need a mate, our team are here for you.

Get in touch with the Artist Liaison who can connect you with the team, or pop into Goolwal Garden (The Sound Garden) for a yarn.

SAFETY AT BIGSOUND & OUR COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY 

Like any good host, we want everyone to feel safe and welcome at this year’s event regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, race or religion. “Party Safe” is our #1 house rule, and anyone involved in harmful behaviour will face serious consequences. 
 
By participating in BIGSOUND you agree to Party Safe by following BIGSOUND’s Collective Responsibility. 
 
If you see something, say something. 
 
In an emergency call 000, or call Fortitude Valley Police Beat (07 3737 5488) or the BIGSOUND Event Hotline (0492 502 638) to request support from the Concert Care team. 
 
Or, speak to the nearest BIGSOUND staff member, volunteer, or venue staff member. 

CONCERT CARE SERVICES 

The 2025 BIGSOUND Concert Care program includes a dedicated Concert Care safety hub open 9am – 12am on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of BIGSOUND, with roaming Concert Care crew members (powered by ConsciousNest), and support services provided through the following Community Partners: Hey Mate, Let’s Go Support Service and Support Act.

The Concert Care crew are identifiable by their bright blue Concert Care vests, and can be contacted via the Event Hotline (07 3737 5488) or by visiting the Concert Care Hub.

ConsciousNest & Hi-Ground: inclusive harm reduction teams, in the Concert Care Hub and roaming BIGSOUND venues from 9am – 3am, Tue - Thu as part of the Concert Care crew.

Hey Mate therapeutic staff: drop-in mental health support service at the Concert Care hub, from 9am – midnight, Tue - Thu.

Let’s Go Support Service: disability support service, roaming each evening during BIGSOUND Showcase as part of the Concert Care crew, and providing accessibility consulting to the BIGSOUND team and venues.

Support Act First Nations Team: drop-in artist support desk at Goolwal Garden from 11am – 1pm, Tue – Thu.

SUSTAINABILITY

We all know that music has a huge impact: on our emotions, our memories and our community, but it also impacts our environment. BIGSOUND recognises that supporting the future of music means supporting the future of our planet! 

This year we are reducing single use materials with Bettercup reusable cups in all BIGSOUND Showcase venues, making more mindful manufacturing decisions (this year’s wristbands & lanyards are made from recycled PET containers thanks to Oztix), and we are continuing to work with Green Music Australia to improve our environmental impact and track our carbon footprint to make informed decisions.

Join us in caring for the environment by:

Travelling lightly and by public transport wherever possible (hooray for 50c fares!)

Bringing your own reusable water bottle and/or reusable coffee cup

Adding on an optional Green BIGSOUND Levy to your Delegate Pass to help contribute to offsetting the event’s environmental impact

Parking

No parking is supplied by the venues; street parking is available on the surrounding streets, or you may park in Secure Parking – Pre-booking will save you $$$. 

#Your Showcase

Sound Engineers

Sound engineers and Event Coordinators are provided at all venues. If you wish to use your own engineer, please notify programming@qmusic.com.au ASAP as they need to be accounted for when organising your passes in your artist pack. Sound Engineers must use the venues front of house consoles and any IEM needs to also be flagged with BIGSOUND Artist Liaison. 

Riders

BIGSOUND does not supply artist riders.

Sound Checks

Due to the large-scale nature of this event, sound checks will only occur at the direct request of our production manager. If a soundcheck is requested for your act you will be directly contacted.

If you wish to rehearse, we can suggest getting in contact with the following rehearsal spaces:
Red Star Music – Bowen Hills (Red Star Music) 

VIA Studios – Bowen Hills (VIA STUDIOS) 

GDI – Eagle Farm (GDI Studios)

Set Times & Load In

Please have your equipment ready to set up 30min prior to your set time.
Sets will be kept strictly to the allotted times.

Please introduce yourself to the Event Coordinator on arrival.

Check that your set list will not run over time and make sure you are promptly on and off stage.

Equipment will have to be unloaded quickly and vehicles moved. Please be careful parking in Fortitude Valley, there are many no parking zones and you will be fined if parked illegally. No parking is provided at BIGSOUND.

Venues accept no responsibility for gear left in the venue so please plan ahead and think about where you plan on storing your gear after the show. Instrument lock up is available until 10pm, after this time you will need to have all instruments out. No exceptions.

Technical & Production

Basic backline is provided across all venues. This does not include keyboards, percussion, cymbals, snares, kick pedals, wireless mics, and IEMs. We recommend IJS if you’re needing local hire.

Due to the large-scale nature of this event, we are not able to re-position the drums as per some stage plot requests. Each kit will be located centre back. No extra lighting, strobe, lasers, props, smoke machines and /or hazers are allowed on any of the festival venues. All equipment must arrive with current testing and tagging in place. Production details including screens and projection for all venues are below.

Please note: It is highly unlikely that any additional accommodations will be made from this point.

Production details can change, so please check your venue specs regularly.

For any queries contact Programming on; programming@qmusic.com.au