One of Australia’s premiere music industry conferences, BigSound have let the proverbial cat out of the bag listening a diverse and exciting first announcement of speakers and performers for their 2012 event.
The event will feature three keynote speakers: Australian-born musician Ben Lee, chairman of EMI Records Mark Poston and musician David Bridie. These three will all head up a stellar list of speakers from radio announcers, festival bookers, music managers and of course artists.
The international talent arrives on our shores in the form of Ben Swank from Jack White’s Third Man Records, Rene Chambers from Spotify – a US-based music streaming company, Lisa Hresko from CMJ, David Jimenez-Zumalacarregui from Spanish touring company Heart of Gold, Aly Ehlinger who works on both Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits, former Shock Records CEO Charles Caldas, who now represents British company Merlin which supports independent labels and Nicky and Ben Berger who manage LA-based indie band Grouplove.
But you don’t just want to see international music industry wizards lecturing you on how to run your business, do you? Of course not! That’s why there is a hefty whack of Australian speakers as well.
The local entourage is represented by Ian Haug, formerly of our very own juggernaut commercial rock band Powderfinger, Jessica Ducrou, who helps bring you Splendour in the Grass and runs booking agency Village Sounds, Richard Moffat who runs Way Over There as well as booking acts for The Falls Festival, Parklife and Groovin’ The Moo and Triple J presenter Nick Findlay to top it all off.
So, let’s say you head up to BigSound in September and all of this speaking is starting to make you forget about the music they’re supposedly speaking about? It’s okay! BigSound has that covered too. You see, there will also be performances by Kate Miller-Heidke, Violent Soho, Eagle and the Worm, The Paper Kites, King Cannons, The Cairos, Oliver Tank, Kira Puru and the Bruise, The Trouble with Templeton and The Preachers.
Don’t forget there are plenty more acts and speakers to be announced.
If this sounds like it’s so far up your alley you’re going to require surgery after hearing about it, well you had better get yourself a ticket then.
Tickets will set you back $295 if you’re a Q-Music member and $395 if you’re not. You can snap tickets up from www.bigsound.org.au where you’ll also find travel and accommodation info.
Oh, and it takes place in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley (you know, the home of Brisbane’s music scene) and runs from September 12 to 14, 2012.
Follow the author Tim Cashmere on Twitter.
