BIGSOUND 2010

Official opening by the Hon. Anna Bligh, Premier of Queensland and Minister for the Arts.

OUR BAND COULD BE YOUR LIFE
US author Michael Azerrad is one of the most respected music journalists of all time, having penned two of the most influential music texts of the modern era: Our Band Could Be Your Life – a dissection of the careers of 13 influential underground rock bands of the 80s and early 90s, including Hüsker Dü, The Replacements, Minutemen, Sonic Youth and Fugazi ­ – and the acclaimed Nirvana biography Come As You Are. He’s also written for a myriad of esteemed music publications such as Rolling Stone, Spin and Mojo. Michael will primarily discuss the tenets raised in Our Band Could Be Your Life, and how the DIY approach utilised by many of those bands still has relevance today, as well as recounting lessons he’s gleamed from his time spent with some of the most important songwriters and musicians in the history of the form – this keynote speech is bound to be thought-provoking and inspirational in equal measure.

Sponsored by D-Star.

Enough has been said about declining physical sales. This panel will take a positive focus on the many and varied models and ideas for the future.  It will also open up discussions on the fact that not all of the great ideas have been had and the idea that today could be the best time in music history to be an artist. The panel will also delve into the ideas of subscription models, artist/fan direct purchasing and much more.

This panel will educate aspiring artist and industry folk on the right time to engage legal services in their career. It is also designed to entertain you with music industry precedents and stories from the past that are sure to have relevance on your future.

It has often been said that the Brisbane music community fights outside of its weight division. This was certainly true in the late 70's and early 90's with artists originating from the then sleepy town making a huge impact on the national and international music scenes. Many feel that kind of explosion is about to happen again. Let's kick it around.

This panel will explore the difference between artist-fan direct communication and spamming/stalking, what is interesting to fans and what is annoying. It will also dig into the ideas around the relevance and most effective use of street teams.

Michael Gudinski, chairman of leading Australian independent firm the Mushroom Group of Companies, opens up on his remarkable career and what's next for the award-winning entrepreneur. A doyen of Australia's music scene, Gudinski will trace his early roots in business, through to the creation of Mushroom Records, Frontier Touring Company and the world's first 360-degree entertainment empire Mushroom Group, in what promises to be a must-catch session.

Like the rest of the music industry, the concept of promotions, publicity and plugging is constantly evolving. This panel will ask the questions - Is gimmickry a thing of the past? How much can you do yourself, before you need help? and much more.

What makes a truly great live music experience? They can be completely diverse, running the gamut from an intimate club show to a full blown festival experience. Our promoters panel will share some great stories on what truly unique artists do to stand out from the crowd in the live music environment.

The Quid Pro Quo panel explores the naively beautiful idea of a global music community. It will cover a wide range of concepts, from labels sharing artists in different territories to artists sharing couches. It's all designed to help others find more success in musical territories outside of our own.

Line up early for this one. This songwriting masterclass will give you the opportunity to hear insights on the creation of some of the most impactful songs ever recorded. The panel will explore the concept that the best songs are in charge of the process of their creation more so than the songwriter.

Australian Indie Rock "Album Band" [26] have spent the first part of 2010 touring the USA, Canada, Hong Kong, England and Scotland. Including highlight performances at Musexpo LA (USA), International Design Week (CND), Music Matters (HK), One Movement Aus Showcase (HK), Musexpo EU (UK) and the amazing Rockness Festival (UK). Playing alongside The Strokes, Fatboy Slim, Friendly Fires, Blondie, Doves, Pendulum, Ian Brown, Soul Wax, Vampire Weekend and many more. Their second album 'Births, Deaths & Marriages' is an emotionally honest, melancholic and yet hopeful music. Mixing a four piece band with string quartets, 50 piece marching bands, 100 piece choirs, electronic blips and bleeps and a good dose of rock to create their anthemic music.

[26]'s track ‘A New Beginning’ recently featured in the series finale of NBC’s TV series ‘Life’. Their track ‘Aloha’ debut on the ARIA Digital Charts at #8 and various songs from the record ‘Births, Deaths & Marriages’ have been added to radio in the US, UK, EU & Aus.

Loon Lake are a garage/pop band of three brothers and their two mates that write high-energy songs with catchy melodies. They have been together rehearsing and writing for the past year and recorded some demos in late 2009. These demos have received attention in the form of airplay on radio stations Triple J, Triple R and 2SER and reviews on major Australian internet blogs such as Who The Bloody Hell Are They and Rose Quartz. Loon Lake have played a handful of gigs in their hometown of Melbourne to very positive responses. The live show can expect a tight and honest display of five mates playing songs they enjoy.

Wearing their blues credentials and big-band music pedigree on their sleeves, The Delta Riggs are a 6-piece jam-band who careen from ramshackle R'n'B to paint-peeling, kick-in-the-teeth rock.

Combining a gritty mix of melancholy, soaring harmonies and relentless energy. The 'Riggs' hit their stride in front of an audience. Their shambolic singer, Elliot Hammond, affirms, "Our music is meant to be played live, as a conversation with the listener".

Sure enough, their blistering shows have spawned a legion of live devotees traipsing after the band's flared footsteps. Hallelujah, come join the jubilee - The Delta Riggs are coming to town!

Her music portrays smoky soul, flights of dazzling invention, and intricate layers of deeply felt emotion. At only 20 years old Kimbra has already earned comparisons to jazz greats such as Nina Simone & Bessie Smith, while also bringing a contemporary edge with her authentic voice.

Gigging solo, she twice won grants from NZ On Air - one of which resulted in a recording session with Greg Haver (Manic Street Preachers) and went on to receive high rotation on radio and television. She then relocated to Melbourne to cultivate her musical profile and paired up with producer Francois Tetaz (Bertie Blackman, Gotye) to begin work on her debut album.

It’s with intimate detail that Sydney two-piece kyü piece together their music. Freya Berkhout and Alyx Dennison have a distinct songcraft that yields the most magnificent results, a distinct style and sound that intersperses vibrant melodies amid vast soundscapes. It’s pop as much as it is experimental, ornate as it is raw, classical and contemporary in equal parts.

Their collaboration dates back to seven years ago, when two eleven year old boys whith a keyboard, a tape recorder and an affection for punk recorded their first song over the top of a dusty Tom Petty cassette.

After acquiring a set of drums and an electric guitar, a three piece band formed, playing together until early 2008, when a strange transition fuelled by a mutual love of electric music occurred. This is where The Honey Month begun.

The boys have recently inked a deal with Brisbane based indie Useless Art Recordings and are releasing a debut EP on Useless Art/Interia on September 24th.

While the mere mention of their name often invokes raised eyebrows and amused smiles among the uninitiated, Brisbane four-piece band Hungry Kids of Hungary produce music that inspires equal measures of curiosity and joy. Dressing their immaculate indie tunes with a healthy dose of 60's pop sensibility and lashings of soul HKoH have wasted no time in carving out a name for themselves on the Australian music scene with a quartet of radio singles and their relentless touring regime.

Their debut self titled EP featured the incadescent single 'Set It Right' which pricked the ears of radio programmers and audiences alike setting the stage for a mammoth 2009.

"Seamless, intelligent shimmering pop with instant appeal and that classic songwriting stamp on songs made to last" Pat Whyte, Courier Mail.

Metals' politically astute debut recalls the electro beats and worldwide suss of artists such as Peaches and MIA, with echoes of Missy Elliot, Santigold, Imani Coppola, Bunny Rabbit and maybe even Lady Gaga in there too. It's future pop music that oozes sex and attitude – filthy but never apologetic; trashy but never disposable; political but always partying.

Determination from singer Candice and professional lead from Christopher Coe is what led to the birth of Metals, first as a duo and then more recently expanding to a live full-on, balls-out four-piece.

The Cairos have turning idle listeners to rabid fans and generating industry interest since their first high-school gig. For the past year and a half they've been building energy and fervour leading up to their debut release, EP Lost At Sea. With its interwoven experimental flourishes and timeless layered textures, Lost At Sea has already helped The Cairos devour their hometown. The launch in iconic Brisbane live venue The Zoo reached its capacity shortly after the foursome hit the stage with their swelling sound.

They have recently played Parklife Festival Brisbane, Big Sound Showcase and previously shared with the likes of You Am I, The Temper Trap, Bertie Blackman, Wolf and Cub, Mercy Arms, and Yves Klein Blue.

This five-piece formed in 2009 and began to play shows together throughout Brisbane and Sydney. Since then, Oh Ye Denver Birds have been fortunate to grace the stage with the likes of Akron Family (USA), Castanets (USA), Leader Cheetah, Cloud Control and friends John Steel Singers. With a focus on exploration, the band work towards a live show that is always evolving and their current progress sees them existing somewhere in the realms of Brian Wilson and Mogwai.

Oh Ye Denver Birds are inspired by everything that surrounds them and draw on influences ranging from Yeasayer to Portishead, and Beach House to Crosby, Stills and Nash. Their first single ‘Walls’ captures the atmospheric and organic nature of the band’s development and is their first track recorded in the studio. A change from their preferred DIY bedroom recordings, ‘Walls’ represents the beginning of what is to be an exciting year ahead as Oh Ye Denver Birds prepare to record their debut EP later this year.

Hailing from Auckland, NZ, Ruby Frost sounds like quaint pop melted on a short-circuiting drum machine.

Writing songs since she was old enough to walk, Frost began playing acoustic folk shows at age 17. At 19 she issued her debut EP titled HOW LONG, which sold out of it's first run. In 2009, she hand-picked a band, turned her sound upside down, and entered the inaugural MTV 42Unheard competition. Coming #1 Frost won a record deal with Universal Music, music funding, and a trip to New York to play at the CMJ Festival in October 2010.

After co-writing new material with writers including Dann Hume (Evermore), Phil Buckle (John Farnham) and Paul Mac, she is now recording her next cache of material.

Daniel Lee Kendall did not plan for this... It is perhaps this unintended beginning that endows his story with such understated genius. It is simple; after an evening spent drinking wine and enjoying the company of fine friends and musicians alike, Daniel penned a song.

The layered melodies are textured lyrical landscapes that set Daniel apart, begin to pour forth, adding to an ever expanding body of work. The best thing to do was share, with friends and strangers alike, these songs of hope and heartbreak. And here we are, on the cusp of the release of DLK's debut EP.

DAN KELLY is no stranger to an epic tale of adventure - in fact, he specialises in this very thing. His vivid three-minute guitar pop jams are epic tales, distilled with essence of tropicalia, bottled into woozy underwater escapist fantasies and coloured with ecological dread, then shaken with his unmistakeable wit. But the story behind Dan

Kelly’s Dream itself is an epic tale – from Daylesford to Sydney then London, from delusion to discovery, folk to metal, luddite to technocrat….

Let’s cast an eye over the past six years to when Dan Kelly and the Alpha Males emerged in 2004 with a debut album, Sing the Tabloid Blues. Since then, Dan Kelly has notched up five ARIA nominations, counted the likes of

Gareth Liddiard (Drones), Christian Strybosch (ex-Drones), Tom Carlyon (The Devastations), Dan Luscombe (Blackeyed Susans/Drones), Lewis Boyes (St Helens) and engineer/producer/musician Aaron Cupples as Alpha

Male bandmates. Second album Drowning in the Fountain of Youth was deemed Album of the Year by Inpress Magazine and nominated for the JJJ Award. He has toured the world many times Solo and playing guitar for Paul

Kelly. He’s had Neil Young’s nod of approval, with the now infamous ‘Drunk on Election Night’ tune from the Pirate Radio EP which Neil included on his Living With War / Songs of the Times project.

Dan Kelly has been a solo performer, a touring guitarist for Augie March and NZ Chanteuse Bic Runga, and a trio with The Ukeladies, whose legacy is ‘The SUV Song’, another among a great many Dan Kelly songs making his trademark confused and slightly rude stand against ecological travesties.

As Dan admits, “A lot of my songs are environmental freak-out songs. Public transport snooze driven psychedelic dreams and songs about trying to escape, but realizing that all the same problems are still there wherever you end up. The planet is decaying, and I’ve been personally decaying along with it and trying to figure out my way through in writing all these songs. Dan Kelly’s Dream is the end of a trilogy, of me not knowing what I’m doing, through to now. That’s why it ends with ‘Grown Up Solutions’, perhaps I see a light at that end of some kind of tunnel, but probably not. Either way I got some new songs happening…’

Danceable indie rock can find itself popping up in the most obsecure of places, but none more so then a misused butcher shop, in the outer suburbs of Brisbane, which is the rehearsal space My Fiction call home.

Things are really starting to happen for powerhouse four-piece. Inspired from the likes of Bowie, Midnight Juggernauts, Battles & Regurgitator. There music speaks of dark and mischievous romance, heartbreak, missing the last train home and taking your BMX for a joyride in the suburbs.

There single 'Every June' is being recognised as a finalist in 2 major categories of Queensland song writing awards - Q Song. The track has also picked up regular rotation with Triple J, and Music Director Richard Kingsmill adding "they're one to keep an eye on."

Young Revelry are not your typical production-line indie rock band. Having come together in the wake of a lengthy period of collaborative songwriting between Sebastian Astone & Tom King, young they are indeed, with the bands' existence having barely clocked a year.

You & I, the debut EP offered up by Young Revelry is a dark inspired journey through a myriad of sounds and subjects. Recorded with Paul 'Woody' Annison (Children Collide, Rocket Science) this release seamlessly melds fuzz drencched guitars to pulsating rhythms. Young Revelry burst forth with a discerning snarl and aggression that is far from mediocre. 

Triple J Unearthed artist Disco Nap burst onto the live scene with their first ever show at the 2009 Sounds of Spring Festival, thanks to the 'digging' of Triple J. Since then they have supported acts such as Oh Mercy, Washington and the Boat People, played on the main stage at the Valley Fiesta, and toured the country in support of their debut single 'The Soft Shell'. In August/September the band are hitting the road again to launch their debut album "Running Red Lights".

Disco Nap produce catchy indie-pop with a narrative bent, telling lyrical tales of life, death, love and family. With a grand vision in mind, they set about incorporating strings, drum machines, trumpet and cacophony of digital soundscapes to create a lush, full sound that escapes the genre pigeonhole.

Running Red Lights is out August 20, 2010 through online stores and independent retailers.

The Transients are known for creating catchy melodies with tight polished production, dishing up everything from pounding gritty basslines, to feel-good pop songs and percussive instrumentals.

Both graduates from the WA Academy Of Performing Arts, they started making music together in 2006 and since then have been achieving amazing things.

In 2008 they won Artist of the Year and Best Dance/Electronica Artist in the Musicoz Awards, and in 2009 they released their EP Crossfades through MGM. Playing live as a four-piece, they've performed at festivals such as Southbound, Stereosonic, Summadayze, Good Vibrations, One Movement, Perth Festival and Parklife, and supported artists like Sia, Van She, Grafton Primary and Dukes Of Windsor.

Since the launch of their jaunty and rollicking debut single ‘Mexican Mavis’ and winning the Triple J spot at Homebake 2009, Boy & Bear have been rapidly growing, earning the right to tour with some of today’s most respected artists, including Angus & Julia Stone, Hungry Kids of Hungary and the UK’s Laura Marling. 

From the moment you first hear Boy & Bear, you’ll know this is something special, something different. Rich harmonies, music that breathes, full of unexpected twists and imagination, a sophisticated timelessness.

It’s the sound of an outfit that you’d think has been performing together for years, perhaps decades. Which makes it all the more incredible to discover the five players that make up Boy & Bear are all in their early 20s and this incredible five-track EP, With Emperor Antarctica, is in fact their debut effort.

Megan Washington, singer/songwriter from Brisbane is something of a rarity, she collaborates with some of the biggest names in Australian Jazz & Indie Music to form her unique sound.

She released a jazz EP in 2006, leading her to become part of Old Man River’s band as keyboardist. In 2008 she went solo and won Triple J’s Unearthed, and released her first EP as ‘Washington’ later that year.

Her album I Believe You Liar, was a success and debuted at number 3. With big plans in mind, I’m sure we’ll be hearing a lot more about Washington in the future.

After spending the last year writing, recording and touring the UK, The John Steel Singers are about to hit the scene again in a very big way. With the success of previous singles 'Strawberry Wine', 'Rainbow Kraut', 'Evolution', and many more; they will soon embark on new territories in the form of their long-awaited, forthcoming, debut alum 'Tangalooma'.

The Brisbane six-piece have had a lot to smile about on their journey leading up to this debut. Their catchy blend of pop has seen them become firm Triple J favourites, verified by the station granting them the 2008 Unearthed J Award for best newcomer of the year.

"Once they draw you in, you will never forget it"

The Vasco Era burst onto the Australian music scene some five years ago in an arrival that was difficult to ignore. The noisy Apollo Bay natives presented a range of musical conundrums: a surf coast band fuelled by a furious racket; a three-piece that made as much noise as a whole festival; a band that seemingly ran alongside the other entrants in the new rock race and yet outran them all. The country sat up and took notice, and their 2006 debut, Oh We Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside, (produced by Jeff Saltzman) was nominated for a J Award. The band worked closely with producer Scott Horscroft (Silverchair, The Presets, Sleepy Jackson) on their second album, Lucille, which was released in March 2010. The intensive recording session resulted in a record that is rich in atmosphere and depth of feeling.

Formed in 2005 during the dizzy days of high school, Bridezilla began as a group of teenage girls - battling boredom with strings, horns & a storm of emotion. Then along came a boy who put beats in their blood and became the bands drummer... And suddenly the puzzle was complete.

They presented their stunning debut 'The First Dance' at New York's prestigious, Flaming Lips-curated ATP Festival. Bridezilla's unique blend of fragile folk, twisted jazz, and wandering pop has made them a talking point the world over!

In amidst all of this madness, Bridezilla somehow found the time to sign on the dotted line with Interia Records, they now present their debut full-length album helmed by superproducer, Kramer.

Formed in April 2009, Love Connection are; Michael Caterer, Kobi Simpson, Dean Noble and Nathan Burgess. Within six months of forming, their debut album was written, recorded, mixed and mastered: an incredible feat considering the subtle complexities of these tracks, which, when listened to through headphones offers a fuller spectral experience of hidden nuances, intricate frameworks, and multi-tracked instruments and vocals. Mixed by Nick Huggins (Kid Sam, Two Bright Lakes), mastered by Tim Sigmund, and with incredible artwork by Cailan Burns (Qua, Mountains in the sky, Pretty Boy Crossover). Love Connection describes their self-titled debut album as "a collection of low-fi, synth-based electronica, dabbling in new wave and psychedelic sensibilities with a strong pop influence".

It's rare that a band really stands for something, unified in spirit and energised by a shared idea. The Jezabels are one such band, and ultimately they're the only bands that count.

Mixing classic pop and disco with an expansive, emotionally sophisticated attitude to indie rock, The Jezabels present like few bands in recent years. Onstage, they’re intensity personified, with a presence and purpose so emotionally raw, brittle, directed and genuine; they make most other groups look contrived.

At live shows, crowds are struck by the energy, intellect, ambition and emotional honesty they bring to the stage. An audience can’t help but invest in them.

Over the past five years, The Gin Club have established themselves as one of Australia's most exciting bands, both through their studio albums as well as their inimitable live performances. Continually evolving from the traditional folk/country of their self titled debut, The Gin Club's seven-person songwriting roster has developed a unique and distinctive style.

The 'Club' have toured or performed with acts as diverse as The Drones, Band of Horses, You Am I, Liam Finn and Midlake, as well as performing at Splendour in the Grass, Big Day Out, Bluesfest, Sounds of Spring, Sunset Sounds, Musexpo LA and Canadian Music Week.

Their third release, the critically acclaimed double album "Junk", garnered 3 prizes at the 2008 Queensland Music Awards.

Hailing from the cooler southern climate of South Australia, Adelaide's Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire! are regarded as one of the countries hottest promising young talents, having toured relentlessly throughout 2010 off the release of their debut album 'Sea Priest' (Dot Dash/Remote Control Records). Initially discovered through Triple J's Unearthed initiative, which landed them a prized slot on Homebake, Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire! have since gone on to create one of this year's critically acclaimed independent records. Having toured nationally with Sia, Dappled Cities and Band of Skulls; Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire! bring their own highly anticipated live shows to BIGSOUND this year.

Jinja Safari is two equal halves: harmonizing frontmen and multi-instrumentalists Marcus Azon and Pepa Knight. Marcus grew up in Tasmania, the son of a preacher-man. The son of an artist, Pepa hails from the central coast of New South Wales. 

In early 2010, the rhythm and play of their two personalities were revealed, intertwined and born from a debut meeting over a beach campfire beside the semi-tropical jungle of Australia's eastern coastline. Sharing the same adventurous instincts, their imaginations soared over the Indian Ocean to settle in the East-African township of Jinja.

In early June they were selected by Triple J Unearthed to open Splendour In The Grass and their debut single 'Peter Pan' was added on high rotation to the Triple J playlist.

"Edge of Colour delighted MOFO audiences with a stylish mix of throbbing dance grooves, striking fashion sense and intense visuals. These guys are tremendous" Brian Ritchie of the Violet Femmes Curator of the MONA FOMA Festival.

Producer-DJ, vocalist-visual artist Michelle Xen and producer-DJ, MC John Teh form the surreal avant-pop group, Edge of Colour. They create a lush and energetic stage show bringing together live-looped vocals, surreal costuming, symphonic pop dance beats and hypercolour video. Somewhere between Bjork, The Presets, Moloko and Empire of the Sun, Edge of Colour are making new forms and sounds for their beloved dancefloor.

Edge of Colour launched with a swift rise up the triple j Unearthed Charts with favourites ‘Glimmer’, ‘Sweet’ and ‘World Orchestra’. They followed it up with a string of buzzing gigs and a killer debut EP release, ‘Glimmer’.

From the deep, dark south of Dunedin soars a brand new band, initiators of the ‘doom pop’ genre, Knives At Noon. 

After a prolonged hiatus, Perry Keyes re-emerged in 2003, playing solo sets featuring songs that would make up the bulk of his debut double album 'Meter', released in 2005 by Laughing Outlaw Records. It was hailed by EMI Australia CEO John O'Donnell as one the best Australian debuts ever and by Whitlams main man Tim Freedman as the best Australaian album of the past five years.

Keyes' next album, 'The Last Ghost Train Home' was received with even greateer acclaim upon its' release in October 2007. It went on to be short listed for the Australian Music Prize and was named the ABC Radio National Album of the Year.

In March, 2010, Perry Keyes realeased his much anticipated third album, 'Johnny Ray's Downtown'. 16 tracks that speak of his local environment, rapidily decaying inner-city areas, growing up and getting past your adolescence.

Brian Ritchie is Curator of MONA FOMA (Museum of Old and New Art - Festival of Music and Art) in Hobart, Tasmania. Brian is also the founding bassist/multi-instrumentalist of the seminal American alternative group Violent Femmes. He moved to Australia in 2006 and formed The Break, a modern Australian surf band with three members of Midnight Oil. Brian is also a licensed master of shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute). Extra-musically he operates an Asian teahouse Chado-the Way of Tea.

Asia is much closer geographically than the US & UK, but Australian and New Zealand artists generally pursue opportunities in these territories prior to Asia. This panel will touch on the realities of the Asian music communities supporting their local repertoire as a priority and focus on new emerging opportunities.

Exploring the previous theme that "not all of the great ideas have been had” is a natural discussion for those with an entrepreneurial bent. This panel is designed to make you feel lazy and to inspire you with stories of people carving their own path in the music industry and look at what typifies the spirit of an entrepreneur.

Publishing and Sync is a much sought after and increasingly important income stream for artists. It is also one of the least understood areas of the music business. This panel is designed to give experts in the field the opportunity to share examples of how publishing and sync can have a positive effect on your art.

International launch of a specialist carbon calculator for touring.
The movement of people and production to put on music shows will have a climate impact. Julie's Bicycle, a UK-based group focused on greening the music industry, recently published Moving Arts a study identifying the scale of emissions UK bands touring globally produce and the solutions for joint industry action. A key solution is for every touring artist and the agents, promoters and suppliers to understand the emissions produced from a tour so they can make informed business decisions to cut emissions. At BIGSOUND we are launching the free and easy-to-use international Industry Green tour tool so wherever your tour is happening in the world you can calculate its emissions. We will be showing how the tool works with the demonstration of Australian band Drawn From Bees and UK band Melodramas.

Imagine having your artist bio, videos, gig info and buy music ‘content’ appear instantly on station playlists and broadcaster social network pages when your track is aired.

Imagine if this tool also enabled you to instantly update this content across YOUR websites and social network pages.

Amrap’s new ‘AirNet’ service will deliver this for free to Australian Record Labels and Unsigned Australian Musicians. AirNet will bridge the gap between radio airplay and your official online content. Chris Johnson from Amrap will unveil AirNet in this exclusive BIGSOUND session.

Having a strong booking agent on your side is one of the best ways to ensure longevity in your musical career. This panel will discuss strategies in the early part of your career to book your own shows while making yourself more appealing to professional agencies. It will also discuss the skills it takes to become a successful booking agent.

This panel explores the idea of committing your life to something as fragile and important as music. The magic of music is that no two people have an identical emotional response. The panel will discuss these concepts and how your attitudes change and how they stay the same as you respond to music as a fan, industry professional and as an artist.

This is the first of a two part series of panels that endeavours to answer the eternal question: How do we break the U.S and the UK markets? The panelists will dissect recent and not so recent examples of success as well as touch on the perception of Australian and New Zealand music from their points of view.

History shows countless instances of music making significant cultural and political differences.  This panel sets out to discuss the dichotomy between having a conscience and having a career in the music industry.

For two industries so close, there are some undefinable differences between the New Zealand and Australian music communities. This panel will discuss these differences in detail and will dig into ideas on how we can loosen the borders. Surely the goal is that once most Australian and New Zealand artists reach a certain level, they can include both as significant territories in their careers.

This is the second of a two part panel that endeavours to answer the eternal questions: How do we break the U.S. and the U.K. markets? Our panels will dissect recent and not so recent examples of success. Our International guests will discuss perception of Australian and New Zealand music from their points of view.

In an age where a wah pedal and a couple of beards are enough to get a band labelled 'psychedelic', it's great to see a band doing it properly. Sydney's Richard In Your Mind are just such an outfit.

Full of inventiveness and spark, Richard In Your Mind make beguiling, genuinely odd, mind-bending music, the kind as likely to veer off into a hip hop verse as it is an extended sitar workout.

Now, four years after starting out, the newly expanded five-piece have blessed us with their keenly awaited second lp, My Volcano.

Stiff Gins are Nardi Simpson & Kaleena Briggs. In the 11 years since their first meeting at the Eora Centre in Redfern, Stiff Gins have performed at cultural institutes in New Caledonia, Vietnam, Spain, been part of cultural exchanges to Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Egypt, Lebanon, Kuwait, UAE & Cyprus, played festivals and shows throughout Canada, the US, Ireland and performed extensively throughout Australia. Stiff Gins are through harmony & song, reclaiming a derogatory term for Aboriginal women, instead declaring its meaning as proud, passionate & talented.

Stiff Gins distinctively tight vocal harmonies will stun and seduce you simultaneously
Diaspora World Beat

The Stiff Gins are becoming synonymous with excellence
ABC Online

The Medics released "This Boat We Call Love" EP in early 2010. Produced by Mark Myers (The Middle East) it features “Joseph” (Finalist ISC Rock Category 2010) and “Her Song".

From Cairns, Far North Queensland Indigenous cousins Kahl Wallace and Jhindu Lawrie with friends Andrew Thomson and Charles Thomas collaborate via electric & acoustic guitars, bass, drums, glockenspiel, keyboards, percussion and vocal harmonies to create rock music epic in scope and with heart.

The Medics were unearthed by Triple J in May 2010 have toured nationally and performed at Groovin' The Moo, The Dreaming, Peats Ridge and Woodford Folk Festivals.

City Riots is generally so busy playing live that it took 2 years before they found the time to record a full-length album. Not being ones to cut corners, the South Australian group flew to Chicago to record with legendary producer Bjorn Thorsrud. 'She Never Wants To Dance' is the first taste of the debut album and is currently on high rotation on Triple J.

In late 2008 the band self-released the 'Socialize' EP in Australia, which garnered significant airplay through Triple J, ultimately leading to them being nominated for Triple J's Unearthed Artist of the Year Award.

Pikelet began in Melbourne mid last decade as a solo project for Evelyn Morris, a onetime hardcore drummer who picked up an acoustic guitar, an accordion and a loop pedal, and never looked back.

Since then, Pikelet has released two albums, including this year's critic-conquering Stem, and grown into a four piece live band, which brings a cosmic edge to Evelyn's wide eyed style.

Pikelet has toured the world with the likes of Jens Lekman, Jeffrey Lewis and Bachelorette, while at home has been handpicked to support Sufjan Stevens, Dirty Projectors, Devendra Banhart and many more.

Originally planned on creating a four-piece band, Tom and Joanna decided that creating a full-band sound with the two of them would be more challenging, and fun. Forced to look beyond their comfort zone, exploring various genres and experimenting with different instrument combinations. Inspiration came from anything that provoked thought or emotion: from the contemporary expansive Melbourne music scene, to the classics from their parents' record collections.

The result was Big Scary, a two-piece band, as the name suggests is not what is seems. Sometimes acoustic driven and harmoney laden folk, sometimes fuzz-driven grunge, sometimes catchy indie/rock, but always completely enthralling.

The Naked And Famous made their debut in 2008 with 2 attention-grabbing EPs. Last year, they made a play for alternative track of the year with the brilliant single 'All Of This'. July 2010 will see them release what is already quietly being talked about as the most anticipated local album release of the year.

By mid-2009, The Naked And Famous had evolved into a solid quintet and were hard at work writing the thirty odd songs that were to be whittled down into their debut album. This year is lining up to be a busy year for this most committed and exciting young band, appearing with the Temper Trap in Auckland in August and plans to be touring Australia & New Zealand in September.

Hailing from Melbourne, Eagle And The Worm's eight piece live show, is a big-dynamic, loose ended fanfare that follows their adoration of 70s and 80s rock orchestration. Expect classic rock balladry, country heartbreak and psychedelic meltdowns.

Their debut album, due for release early next year, was first sketched on a four-track in Jarrad Brown's bedroom with an adoration for the era of post-stardust eerie avant-pop. It was later recorded with Steven Schram at Bakehouse studios with the first single 'Futureman' released in mid 2010. The vegas inspired follow-up 'All I Know' was greeted with glowing reviews and added to national radio.

Coming off the blocks late last year with their debut EP, Picture Frames, Georgia Fair (Jordan Wilson and Ben Riley) impressed many all around the East Coast with their laidback attitude and affecting songs as they toured with such emerging favourites as Lisa Mitchell, Boy & Bear and Darren Hanlon. 

Now’s the time for the rest of the country (and beyond) to get to know the friends and collaborators who make up Georgia Fair, as they release their second EP, Times Fly, itself the first taste of things to come, which saw them meet up with producer, Bill Reynolds, of the highly respected Band Of Horses.

Guineafowl was brought into conception only this year in Sydney. Starting out as a soloist, Guineafowl quickly grew into a sextet to help bring to life the quirky indie-tronic songs. The band manage to balance deep earthy harmonies with soft, electronic bubbles that are seemingly weightless.

Guineafowl have only recently made the jump from backyard performances to bars, yet are already selling out Sydney indie venues. They've also picked up a few international supports along the way in their short existence notably playing with The Magic Numbers and Fanfarlow.

A mother, singer, producer, songwriter, pianist and business woman, this multi award winning and 5 x platinum selling songstress first received widespread praise as the angel-voiced songstress of indie-pop band george and she has since taken audiences on sublime excursions through jazz, pop and classical music. Her various releases include her folk trio’s self titled album ‘elixir’, the No. 1 selling classical album ‘Two of a Kind’ with her mother Maggie and her gold-selling top ten solo album ‘Skin’. Katie’s new and very exciting project is ‘Emperor’s Box’ - her new album with her fantastic new band The Captains.

Touring Japan with The Hives, hitting the road with Muse, pressured by Oasis to be their opening act, and being introduced on stage every night of an REM tour by uber-fan Michael Stipe: all this stuff is hard to beat when your group is one you formed with your 15-year-old pals from school less than 5 years ago!

2009 seen the self-released & self-recorded album, 'Alice By The Moon'. In 2010 they were nominated for the inaugural Dylan Tait Award for their 'Alice By The Moon' album, and were invited to open for ACDC during their most recent NZ tour this year.

Holed up in a cabin in Blackheath in the Blue Mountains for almost two months, Ernest Ellis wrote most of what is his debut album. The album is called ‘Hunting’, a title reflective of the process, themes and environment faced whilst making this record.

“It was a tough period in my life for a bunch of reasons and I wanted to go up there and write some songs. That was all I really felt like doing at the time. As it turned out it was the right time for writing a record anyway.” says Ernest.

The final result is a wide open, cohesive, and infectious album. Ernest Ellis’s debut album ‘Hunting’ is out now through Dew Process/UMA.

Halfway was formed by John Busby, Chris Dale and Elwin Hawtin who all originally hail from Rockhampton, Central Queensland. Based on a mutual love of Dylan, Springsteen, Big Star and The Replacements, they left Rockhampton and headed south to put together a band with the finishing touches being added in Brisbane – rounding out the eight-piece Halfway line up.

In 2008 the Halfway songwriting duo, John Busby and Chris Dale won Queensland’s most prestigious songwriting award - The Grant McLennan Fellowship. Their 2010 album “An Outpost of Promise” received critical acclaim along with 4 and 5 star reviews.

The Melodics are a 5 piece live revivalist hip-hop act, with synth heavy rock grooves and new-wave rap flavours. Think of them as David Bowie meets Kanye West or Joy Division meets Santogold... minus the eye-patch, ego, depression and gold leggings.

Off the back of their debut album release '4d', The Melodics spent the later part of last year touring the country with Jackson Jackson and Phrase following a sold out album launch at the Hi-Fi Bar in Melbourne.

Now back in the studio warming up for their September 2010 release, catch The Melodics, showcasing at BIGSOUND this year.

Amos The Transparent's lush arrangements and subtles textures can easily be stripped down acoustically or turned up to ten.This Ottawa-based band has quickly become darlings on the Canadian scene racking up accolades from media outlets like XM Radio's The Verge and Billboard Magazine. ATT have played key slots in major festivals like Canadian Music Week, SXSW, Ottawa Bluesfest, Halifax Pop Explosion and NXNE and supported bands such as Tokyo Police Club, The Besnard Lakes, Hawksley Workman, The Dears and Jeff Beck along the way. Always full of surprises,  once you have witnessed Amos The Transparent live, it will be easy to understand why their shows are now becoming legendary. 

Amos The Transparent: winning over the world one audience at a time.

As the freshest faces on the indie-rock block, Ball Park Music have been dazzling locals and making their mark on the Australian music scene with their keen ear for a killer hook and impressive stage shows. Now in 2010, the six-piece wunderkinds are set to be more than just the local best kept secret with the release of their new EP, Conquer the Town, Easy as Cake. The release shows the sextet’s impressive diversity and clever musicality but what really sets them apart from their peers is a songwriting prowess which effortlessly blends the ethos of both humour and heart.

Children Collide are the sound of here and now, and it is a sound that crackles with the smarts of a band that has an undeniable sense of where they are going. Released into the material world on Halloween in the spring of 2004, Children Collide have grasped the term meteoric rise and disfigured it into a thrilling, unpredictable premise.

The ensuing years have seen Children Collide overtake sweatbox club stages, television broadcasts and festival arenas with equal ferocity. Their critically acclaimed debut album The Long Now will now be followed up with the much anticipated Theory of Everything.

Last Dinosaurs blasted into the music ether, in 2009, wowing many with their youthful, frenetic and damn catchy tunes. Triple J Unearthed them in late 2009, and February 2010 saw the release of their debut EP 'Back From The Dead' on Brisbane independent label Dew Process/Universal.

2010 has been a fruitful year so far, with a 'cream of the crop' of Australian festival appearances including Laneway, Splendour in the Grass & Parklife. Add to this a steady stream of East Coast touring and sold out shows, and you can see why the band are on many peoples 'artist to watch' lists.

After touching back down in Australia after their first European tour Dubmarine are gearing up for the national launch of their debut LP, Depth of Sound. So far 2010 has been a mammoth year for the 9 member crew of the Dub Sub, performing in front of massive European festival crowds, being nominated for a Q Song award, launching single Chip, performing at Ausralia's biggest indigenous culture festival, the Dreaming. However these are all precursors to further Australian Tour and international tours in 2010, 2011.

The Wilson Pickers formed after a crazy idea of uniting some Queenslanders with some Victorians in the vague hope of forming a bluegrass-style band. They play banjo, fiddle, harmonica and acoustic guitar-based songs that draw on bluegrass, folk, country and lots of other things. Think bluegrass music meets The Beach Boys styled harmonies.

But what started out as some fun, found The Wilson Pickers' debut Land Of The Powerful Owl snagging the lads an ARIA Award nomination for Best Blues & Roots Album in 2009, and a mass of critical acclaim. 

By the time BIGSOUND arrives, The Wilson Pickers sophomore release 'Shake It Down', will be firmly in the hands of many a music lover, and will set the scene for another great year for The Wilson Pickers.

Oh Mercy flirt with your emotions; one minute their songs are jovial, full of rhythm and layers of pop friendly lyrics and the next they are edged with salty salutations and moody stoicism. Adept and sincere the band harmonizes into one and is both bold and memorable. Before you know it you will find yourself hearing their sound before you have opened your eyes in the morning until you lay down at night. There is a reason people are still talking about Oh Mercy almost a year after their debut album, Privileged Woes, was released.

Formed in 2006, Oh Mercy began writing songs, playing club shows & support spots for two years before releasing the EP titled In The Nude For Love. Touring nationally for a whole year before releasing their debut album Privileged Woes allowed the band to hone their live show & sound.

Privileged Woes features the singles Lay Everything On Me, Seemed Like A Good Idea, Can't Fight It, Get You Back and Broken Ears. Oh Mercy have toured Australia with Lisa Mitchell, The Panics, Little Birdy, Ben Kweller, Ben Folds & Grizzly Bear, played Falls, Meredith & Laneway Festivals running up an astonishing 50,000+ kilometers in their van in just under 12 months.

Oh Mercy have spent the last few months writing for album two in America having toured around the SXSW festival. They return to Australia to join their friends The Temper Trap on a national tour and then play the Splendour In The Grass festival before releasing a limited edition 7" single titled Keith St. Keith St is the first glimpse of the new album from Oh Mercy due for release in 2011.

Deep Sea Arcade sound like The Zombies throwing a beach party for Portishead. Their music is ‘Blue Velvet’ with ‘Clockwork Orange’ flashes.

Led by vocalist Nic McKenzie and bassist Nick Weaver, the band combine 60’s beat and psychedelic rock with 90’s madchester and trip-hop. The pair, friends since high school in Sydney, penned dozens of songs and experimented with every sort of sound in their bedroom before finding their perfect counterparts in drummer Carlos Adura and guitarists Simon Relf and Tim Chamberlain.

On the surface they are many things, but it’s what lurks beneath that makes this band so exciting.

"If you can't remember the last time you listened to a CD from beginning to end without skipping tracks or feeling bored, then you my friend, are in dire need of the new ARTISAN GUNS EP" 27th April 2010 CDM Magazine.

In 12 months the band released 2 EP's in OZ/NZ, their first release 'Bird & Bone' featured the single 'Autumn' featuring a stunning music video which gained interest on Rage/C4 and Juice TV. Triple J supported the track & Music Network handpicked the track to be the #1 ALT radio pick in Dec 09. 'Hearts' their new EP is out now and touring Australia with Hungry Kids of Hungary in August 2010.

PARADES are a young art rock band from Sydney who wisely choose to create their own music with no outside input or interference. Featuring Dan Cunningham, Tim Jenkins, Michael Scarpin and Jonathan Boulet - Parade's debut album 'Foreign Tapes' is out now via Dot Dash Recordings.

The album is expansive and ambitious; a haze of pop harmonies, post rock guitars and electronic meanderings. Drum Media did a great job describing the band when they said:

"Parades create their homely tunes in a garage in Sydney's Northwest, but it might as well be Iceland or the moon. They have an ethereal, expansive sound that is sweet and understated."

Since their arrival in Australia from New Zealand 3 years ago, BONJAH have developed into one of Australia's most unique & exciting musical talents. Exceptional song writing abilities, loyal friendship, tireless touring and a strong work ethic have seen the boys sell in excess of 20,000 CD's independently.

Since the release of their critically acclaimed debut album 'Until Dawn' was released through their own independent record label 'Lemon Tree Records' it has been a whirlwind of success for BONJAH. The band picked up a nomination from Rolling Stone Magazine for Best Blue & Roots Artist in 2009 as well as having 2 songs nominated for APRA's Best Blues & Roots Work in 2010.

A powerful blend of roots and rock has seen BONJAH support some of the world's greatest artists including The Who, Counting Crows, Paul Kelly & The Beautiful Girls.

Look out for their brand new single due to air on radio in September!

The Optimen story has come a long way from the house party in 2001 that led to the bands conception. From the start, it became quickly apparent that the glue holding the crew together was a shared commitment to not only raise both the bar for Australian hip-hop, but also never lose the 'Quality over Quantity' mentality.

The groups first release, Breath Control EP received national attention and airplay across Tripe J and community radio. In 2005 the crew returned with their debut album Boomtown, a pivotal release that saw single Give It Up receive high rotation on Triple J, the Channel V Best Film Clip Award and took out the Roland Best Urban Artist Award at the 2006 MusicOz Awards.   

Now here in Brisbane in 2010 to perform at BIGSOUND Live!

Melodramas are supporting Steve Conte this month in July and have previously joined The New York Dolls on tour in the UK. The band have also recently shared the stage with Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighter fame and have played sold-out shows across the world in Australia, China, Vietnman, and unusually, Kuwait. Having achieved all this from DIY 8 track recordings, the band caught the attention of Sam Williams with whom they are due to record their debut album at the end of the year.

Harnessing the pop eccentricities of The Coral, exuberance of early Blur and a chaotic rock 'n' roll live show, they are undoubtedly destined for big things in 2011.

"Whilst the Melodramas are one of the best supporting bands I've had, the lead singer alone could give Jeff Buckley a run for his money" Taylor Hawkins - Foo Fighters.

Sydney quartet The Holidays have emerged from their Sydney studio with their brilliant debut album Post Paradise. The first two singles, Moonlight Hours and Golden Sky, hinted at the exciting musical re-birth this band has taken over the past 18 months, yet do not exclusively define the depths of this blissful musical journey..

Formed in 2007, the band quickly made their mark on the Australian musical landscape. The release of two EP’s at opposite ends of 2008 saw them scoring Triple J rotation, share stages with The View, Jamie T, The Temper Trap & Little Red, and regularly name-checked as one of the nation’s most promising new acts before bunkering down to prepare their long-player.

Now comes the long awaited debut album Post Paradise. The aforementioned Moonlight Hours hit # 1 on Triple J’s playlist earlier this year, while remixes by Jonathon Boulet and The Swiss have also attracted generous lashings of hyperbole in the blogosphere. The latter appeared on a recent NME download Mixtape compiled by UK disco/electro wunder-kid Grum, and made much-loved Belgian re-mixers’ Aeroplane’s chart podcast. NME have taken notice with the band recently appearing in the magazine’s Buzz chart.

Post Paradise is an intoxicating blend of breezy melodies, electropical dancefloor anthems and summer vibes, and consolidates the band’s foray into an exciting direction that re-affirms their claim as one of the most exciting young acts in the country.

The Foreign Objects combine their love of Iggy Pop, The White Stripes, Queens of the Stone Age, The Hives and their ilk to produce a punk ferociousness matched only by their rock swagger.

Performing alongside Spiderbait, Little Birdy and Children Collide at 2009's Festival of The Sun, and supporting the likes of Grinspoon, Philadelphia Grand Jury, The Boxer Rebellion (UK), The Last Dinosaurs, Fangs, and The Scare! September will see their second EP release for 2010, recorded at 301 Byron Bay and produced by Phil Jamieson. Coming up is BIGSOUND, Coaster Festival and tours with The Novacaines and Fangs.

In these changing times in the music industry, a direct relationship between artist and fan is not only possible but increasingly necessary. It can and should be an exciting proposition for all. For those aspiring to work within the music industry, a genuine love of music - a fandom - is equally a crucial ingredient. FANtastic is talking about the fan being at the centre of everything in the music orbit.

Now is not the time for sending the authorities to the homes of fans that are downloading music for free. We, as an industry, are working together to find ways to educate a new generation of music fans that recorded music is worth money. This panel will touch on some mistakes of the past to give clarity to future approaches to makes sense of this minefield.

You have probably heard it hundreds of times - the relationship between an artist and a manager is as intense as a marriage. The reason for this is simple: it is true! This panel will discuss the pros and cons of self-management and the best timing to pop the question with a professional manager as well as telling some classic stories.

Anyone who has ever watched the Classic Albums series will be enthralled in the real role of a great producer. Our panel will dissect the possibilities and share stories of success and failures that they have witnessed in their collective careers.

Another attempt to answer one of the eternal questions of the music industry. How do I stand out from the crowd with the A&R community? Posting demos in isolation to record labels is an incredible longshot. Our panel will discuss examples of artists that they have signed and why they stood out from the crowd.

This panel is purely about decadence and fun. After 3 days of conference, you surely deserve to sit back and laugh loudly at some road stories. Our panel will do their best to share as many of their greatest touring stories with you while not incriminating anyone too badly.

As one of the founding members of the much loved Australian group The Go-Betweens; Robert Forster has an enviable cannon of songwriting credits to his name.

In 1978 Robert and Grant McLennan formed the infamous and iconic Go-Betweens, he was the bassist and McLennan the guitarist. He released 9 albums with The Go-Betweens and 4 solo albums of original material. His last solo album 'The Evangelist', released in 2008, received 4 and 5 star reviews the world over and was nominated as one of the albums of the year by the influential Uncut magazine in the UK. The album contains some of McLennan’s final compositions.

In 2005 Forster began writing music criticism for The Monthly magazine. By 2006 he was awarded the prestigious Pascal Prize for Critical Writing. His work has also been anthologized in the New York edited Best Music Writing 2007, and The Best Australian Essays 2009.