Among the impressive list of new speakers announced, Australian rock icon Paul Kelly will be giving a talk reflecting back on his career and speculating about the future of the Australian music industry as a whole to remind everyone why the scene is so rich in talent and diversity and continues to produce such world-class acts. Alongside this, US punk label Fat Wreck Chords is sending down Lagwagon’s Joey Cape and label founder Erin Kelly-Burkett to give a presentation set to bring down the house.
A few more experts featured on the lineup include directors of the Triple J family Nick Findlay, Dorothy Markek and Dave Ruby Howe, as well as representatives from Panache, Billions, 33 and West, and Superflyl, plus label, publishing and sync personell from Universal Music (US), Downtown Music (AUS), Low Profile (US), Nettwerk (Canada), The Orchard (AUS) and WhatsYourRupture (US).
BIGSOUND has also partnered up with Levi’s, Support Act and Access EAP to give a first-of-its-kind workshop in which it will focus on the prevalent mental health issues that arise within the music industry. The aim is to discuss some of the techniques and support avenues available to help tackle them as a wider musical community by running practical sessions hosted by trained clinicians to assist in breaking down the stigma that pervades the issue.
With these new announcements and the host of ones that came before them, it’s clear that BIGSOUND 2018 is not an event to be missed if you are in any way involved in Australian music.
For more information, or to get more details on the fantastic offerings the BIGSOUND crew has put together, head over to their official website here.