At a concert, there’s always the chance the unknown support act could be The Next Big Thing – though many gig-goers proclivity for doubt and limited time means we scarcely take a punt. The EXTRA support act program is here to provide an alternative to beer-sipping boredom, by substituting frustrating YouTube ads with grassroots artists cultivated by some of Australia’s biggest acts.
The four acts with the most support at the end of the competition will be crowned with the title of Australian Music’s Next Big Thing(s) and receive exclusive mentorship from one of the four headline acts, as well as a chance to perform at the 2018 Universal Music ARIA Awards Showcase. YouTube users can vote for their favourite acts simply by resisting the skip button – the longer they watch, the more votes a support act earns.
So far The Rubens are behind some particularly notable picks of the bunch with their promotion of Rackett, a psych-punk outfit from Sydney, and Southern River Band, a pub-rock quartet. Each of the acts chosen by the groups correspond directly to each of their individual sound.
Check out the 16 support acts at the EXTRA Support Acts channel here.
Feature image via Cybele Malinowksi.
