BIGSOUND Unveils First Speaker Lineup For 2017

Brisbane’s annual music-conference-slash-mini-festival, BIGSOUND, has unveiled its first list of speakers for 2017, topped by keynote speeches from Aussie music legends Archie Roach and Tina Arena.

This September, Roach and Arena will share their music industry knowledge among a swathe of other industry professionals, buyers and talent scouts.

“It is my honour to welcome our esteemed first keynote speakers to the lineup this year, Tina Arena and Archie Roach – two Australian icons who have contributed so much to our cultural identity over the past few decades. I know they have a lot to say, and I absolutely can’t wait to hear it,” says BIGSOUND programmer Maggie Collins.

“I’m also so excited to finally reveal just a glimpse of the many exciting, hungry, and passionate people that are chomping at the bit to come out to BIGSOUND. They’re gagging to discover their next favourite Australian band, and work with them around the world.”

Some of the other big names heading to BIGSOUND 2017 include Quentin Tarantino’s music supervisor Mary Ramos, who has worked on the soundtracks for Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill Vol. 2, From Dusk Till Dawn and Jackie Brown; Domino Records’ Peter Berard, whose label signed BIGSOUND 2016 buzz act Middle Kids; and Dub Pop’s Stuart Meyer, who recently signed BIGSOUND alumni Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever.

Triple j‘s new Music Director Nick Findlay will also be in attendance, as will the ever-knowledgable Zan Rowe. View the full first list of speakers and buyers, below.

This year, a panel of international delegates are also set to decide who takes home a part of the inaugural Levi’s Music Prize, from a massive $100,000 prize pool

If you’re an artist or act which wants to perform at BIGSOUND and be eligible for the prize, you can apply now at the BIGSOUND website, which has extended the artist application closing time until 22nd May.

What’s more, this year’s BIGSOUND is also set to feature an expanded music technology section, and a new Music Tech Showcase. Emerging Aussie music tech companies with products being prototyped can submit to showcase their work via the BIGSOUND website.

BIGSOUND announced its 2017 dates last month. AAA passes are on sale now, with general festival passes to go on sale in June.

UPDATE: BIGSOUND has now unveiled its second speaker lineup for 2017. Details below.

Gallery: BIGSOUND Live 2016, Day 2 – Brisbane 08.09.16 / Photos: Rebecca Reid

BIGSOUND 2017 Second Speaker Lineup

Kenny Gates – PIAS (BEL) – Keynote

Sadie Dupuis – Speedy Ortiz (USA) – Keynote

Aminé Ramer – States of Sound (USA)

Ben Godding – AWAL/Kobalt Music Recordings (AUS)

Ben O’Connor – Chapter Music (AUS)

Ben Swanson – Secretly Group (USA)

Bill Wilson – Music Biz (USA)

Cameron Schaefer – Vinyl Me, Please (USA)

Carl Young – Vevo (UK)

Charles Kirby-Welch – Kartel (UK)

Chris Twite – Secret Sounds / Brisbane Festival (AUS)

Clémence Bizien – Super! (France)

Dan Rosen – ARIA (AUS)

David Sheils – APRA AMCOS (AUS)

Elspeth Scrine – LISTEN / Huntley (AUS)

Emma Calverley – Australian Cultural Fund (AUS)

Emily Kelly – Deathproof (AUS)

Farinoush Mostaghimi – SynchAudio (CAN)

Haley Connelly – Little Press (UK)

Heath Miller – Webster Hall & Excess dB Entertainment (USA)

Hugh McClure – Good Manners (AUS)

Jackie Nalpant – Paradigm Talent Agency (USA)

Jake Friedman – We Are Free Management (USA)

Jane Gazzo – Triple M (AUS)

Jeff Owens – Felte / Ghostly International (USA)

Jennie Sager – Twitter (AUS)

Jeremy Yohai – Imagem Music Publishing (USA)

Dr. Jess Carniel – University of Southern QLD (AUS)

Jillian Mapes – Pitchfork (USA)

Joe Greenwald – C3 Management (USA)

Joel Connolly – Blackbird Ventures (AUS)

Karl Richter – Level Two Music (AUS)

Kate Mills – Native Tongue Publishing (AUS)

Keith Tan – Slate Entertainment (SIN)

Lars Brandle – Billboard (AUS)

Leigh Treweek – The Music / Handshake MGMT (AUS)

Marshall Betts – Paradigm Talent Agency (USA)

Matt Fiedler – Vinyl Me, Please (USA)

Mel Yong – Village Sounds & Other Sounds (AUS)

Mike Sniper – Captured Tracks (USA)

Nic Warnock – R.I.P. Society Records / Repressed Records (AUS)

Paul Barclay – ABC RN (AUS)

Peymon Maskan – Media Arts Lab (USA)

Shelli Trung – QUT CEA (AUS)

Simon Napier-Bell – Pierbel Ltd. UK (UK)

Steel Hanf – WME (AUS)

Tom Taaffe – United Talent Agency (UK)

Zena White – Partisan Records (UK/USA)

Ziggy Ramo – Artist (AUS)

BIGSOUND 2017 First Speaker Lineup

Archie Roach (AUS) – Keynote

Tina Arena (AUS) – Keynote

Adel Hattem – D Music Marketing (Brazil)

Alison Wenham – Worldwide Independent Network (UK) Andrew Jervis – Bandcamp (USA)

Ash Kerley – Girls Rock! (AUS)

Bill Roe – Trouble In Mind Records (USA)

Bob Van Heur – Le Guess Who? Festival / Belmont Bookings (NL) Eva Trifonas – Ninja Tune (AUS)

Isla Angus – ATC Live (UK)

Ivy Yuen – Magnetic Asia Limited (Hong Kong)

James Clarke – Aeroplane Agency (AUS)

James Moodie – Vevo (UK)

Jane Abernathy – 4AD Records (USA)

Jenn Yacoubian – Goldenvoice (USA)

Lucy Wood – Festival Republic (UK)

Mary Ramos – Saturday Music Inc. (USA)

Mazin Tappuni – Communion Music (UK)

Mel Brown – Impressive PR (UK)

Melissa Woods – Third Side Music (USA)

Mike Ajayi – All My Friends (UK)

Nick Findlay – triple j (AUS)

Paul Adams – New Community Management / Roc Nation (USA) Peter Berard – Domino Recording Co. Ltd. (USA)

Poppy Reid – Seventh Street Media (AUS)

Rebecca Young – Collective Artists (AUS)

Ric Leichtung – Adhoc (USA)

Roy Amar – Bear Parts Music (AUS)

Stuart Meyer – Sub Pop (USA)

Sullivan Patten – Sullivan (AUS)

Sylvie Piccolotto – Rock City (Argentina)

Zan Rowe – triple j (AUS)