Your Guide To BIGSOUND

BIGSOUND TOURIST TIPS

So you're thinking about heading north to BIGSOUND 2013 and experiencing Brisbane's vibrant Fortitude Valley Entertainment Precinct in all its squalid glory? Here are just a few tips to help you survive and some experiences to look out for:

Fancy a bit of Underbelly-esque action? Basically walk anywhere in the Valley and you're amidst the epicentre of the former 'Crime Precinct' – just assume that any shop you go into used to be a brothel or an illegal casino and you can't go wrong!

The Brunswick Street Mall has its very own music Walk Of Fame, where bands such as The Go-Betweens, The Saints, Powderfinger, Custard and many more fine Queensland acts are honoured. It's not quite Hollywood, but what is, right?

Sure the folk of Fortitude Valley might like to “borrow” the occasional coin or ciggie, but be open to their myriad conversational charms and you might just make a new friend for life!

These days there are bars and shops aplenty in the least likely of places – keep your eyes and ears open; some of the coolest Valley hangouts are really hidden away. Perhaps quiz one of your new “local friends” for their fave hangout.

The food at this central Valley location – mainly dumplings and the like – is lovely, but order yourself a sake and wait for the staff to sing your praises for the true Harajuku Gyoza experience!

Feeling lonely? Put out a cigarette on the ground anywhere near the Mall and prepare to meet both a member of the council and one of his friends from the constabulary! They charge like a wounded bull for the experience, but YOLO (whatever that means)...

No one who likes bands knows what it's like inside, but the exterior of this Valley nightclub sure is cool! Take a photo of the hanging things and waterfall sorta action on the exterior - everyone else does!

Everyone who's anyone has eaten at Valley Chinese restaurant Superbowl – it's a veritable rock'n'roll institution. Take your camera and autograph book; you never know who might be there eating salt and pepper calamari!

The Valley might seem daunting at first for newbs, but its bark is far worse than its bite. Relax and stay out of mischief and we guarantee* that you'll have the time of your life!

(*not an actionable guarantee)

FIVE MUST-SEE ACTS AT BIGSOUND

The annual BIGSOUND conference has become the place for upcoming artists and established acts showcasing new material. Here's whoy we reckon you need to check out in 2013.

Already critics love and hate them in equal measure. We are on the side of love. This Adelaide foursome have re-fired-up a long lost pub and garage rock amalgam that glasses your soul – in a good way.

These Melbourne post-angular punks are able to switch from shambolic time signatures to synchronised stop-start playing with brattish expertise. We are watching closely.     

Golden Fang has the golden touch – Sydney garage punk that's noisy and fun.

Potential to become a leading light in Oz hip hop, done White Stripes style. When did Canberra get this uplifting?

D For Danger and R for riotous punk rock from S for Sydney.

The Orbweavers – their gentle melodies make for atmospheric shows; King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – a live Gizzard show is different kind of atmosphere; The Delta Riggs – bringing dirty denim rock back; The Love Junkies – next in line for Violent Soho-type adulation?; Tigertown – big harmonies underpinned by family connections – these bonds work; Patrick James – things are about to change for the young troubadour – in an upward direction; Adalita – of course.

This year the annual BIGSOUND conference expands its art element with their Music+Design program. On board are Nick Cave (via satellite), Tomato's John Warwicker and V Squared Labs' Vello Virkhaus (they're the US company who took Amon Tobin's live show next level). Latest speakers added are music video directors Stephen Lance and Mairi Cameron (Washington's Holy Moses); 3D sound engineer Joe Hayes and Audiofly's Dave Thompson. There's also news of two showcase spaces for this side of BIGSOUND: The CMD Live Design Lab (where speakers and delegates work on developing actual solutions to issues that arise during the conference) and The Artisan Beer+Design pop-up “lounge experience” (that's alcohol and art, together at last).

FIVE BIGSOUND PANELS YOU MUST SEE

He's always been a man who does things his own way, and he's been very successful while being relatively uncompromising. Billy Bragg's view of the music industry will be fascinating for young and old.

Hypothetical situations are posed to a team of festival experts and they will tell us how these issues must be solved. You won't get a better insight into the running of a music festival than this.

Members of Jet, You Am I, The Middle East and more discuss how they came to be on the business side of the music industry. Where does art meet commerce?

It can be hard to know where the ever-changing pop music landscape is going to go next, so this discussion between the likes of Michael Chugg and representatives from Nova and Mercury Records could be very illuminating indeed.

Here is a rare chance to hear the story of one of our most unique and celebrated musical talents and the men who have supported his career for so long. Gurrumul's story is one that will no doubt inspire many.