BIGSOUND 2018 Gets Fatter:

Paul Kelly, Lagwagon’s Joey Cape & Fat Wreck Chords founder Erin Kelly-Burkett Plus First-Of-Its-Kind Mental Health Workshop

After the bombshell of its delicious first-half live lineup last month, BIGSOUND has again stepped it up a notch today, welcoming Australian music legend Paul Kelly for a keynote interview. 

Reflecting on both his career and the future of Australian music, Paul Kelly will educate and inspire both those new to the industry and veterans needing a reminder of why Australian music is the best in the world. And once the patriotic sentiment clears, seminal US punk label Fat Wreck Chords will crash the party with Lagwagon’s Joey Cape and label founder Erin Kelly-Burkett heading Down Under for a presentation set to rock the house.

#Meet our new keynotes


#Mental health workshop, first for the industry

BIGSOUND will also lead change through a partnership with Support Act, Levi’s® and Access EAP to present an exclusive workshop helping delegates identify mental health issues, learn to manage them and create strategies to help others. A practical session run by trained clinicians, the session will be a first for the industry and is another step towards breaking down the stigma of mental illness in the music community, following on from the recent launch of Support Act’s Wellbeing Helpline.

"Employees of corporate organisations in other industries have free access to professional development opportunities that independent music entrepreneurs could only dream of being able to afford,”

“This is a big reason that the music industry is decades behind many other industries in terms of gender equity, mental health, corporate governance and overall people and culture development. The evolution of the BIGSOUND conference experience is designed to give delegates exposure to learning experiences that can radically transform how they think, work and relate to other people"

QMusic CEO and BIGSOUND producer Joel Edmondson.

#One of BIGSOUND’s biggest ever contingents

In keeping with this year’s new BIGSOUND format, we also welcome a whole host of experts who will participate in workshops, panels, case studies and forums including triple j, Double J and Unearthed music directors Nick Findlay, Dorothy Markek and Dave Ruby Howe, US visa expert Brian Zabinski (Tamizat), expat legend and Collab Asia YouTube guru Jerry Soer, indie label organization A2IM UK’s Sky McElroy, Gusher Magazine’s Juliette Younger and Isabella Trimboli and ex-industry worker and now life coach Viv Fantin.

Complementing these exciting changes are yet another round of international legends including agents, labels, festival promoters, sync and publishing A&R and media, all heading to Brisbane to both share their wisdom and check out one of the 150 acts spearheading the future of Australian music.

In what is one of BIGSOUND’s biggest ever contingents of promoters and agents, we welcome reps from Panache, Billions, 33 and West and Superfly in the US as well as ATC Live, From the Fields and Live Nation UK and France’s Live Art Factory as well as those previously announced. From the world of labels, publishing and sync we welcome reps from Universal Music (US), Downtown Music (AUS), Low Profile (US), Nettwerk (Canada), The Orchard (AUS) and WhatsYourRupture (US).


#Music Tech mentors announced

The expanded BIGSOUND Music Tech showcase is also open for applications until July 15, with mentors including Innovyz’s Philip Vafiadis, international funding expert and consultant Paul Niederer and Techstars’ Terry Gold ready to help take Australian tech to the next level through practical business help and industry linkages which will benefit both creative industries. If you work in music tech and would like to showcase your product, idea or innovation apply now.

#2018 Music Tech Mentors

#Tickets of sale now, book before July 31 and save

Purple Passes are available now at a special rate from from just $470. The passes allow entry to all BIGSOUND events, shows, workshops, panels and more over all four days. It will also give exclusive access to parties and networking events (and the odd sneaky secret show!) as well as fast-track access to all live shows, so you’re getting the full VIP BIGSOUND experience.

Hurry… special rate for Purple Passes ends strictly on July 31. Just want the music? Never fear… Festival only tickets for four big nights of live music are available for just $85+bf.


Conference overview


BIGSOUND is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and Tourism and Events Queensland. BIGSOUND has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body. Queensland, home to Australia’s best live events in Australia’s best destinations