Aussie Icon Peter Garrett Leads First BIGSOUND 2015 Speaker Announce

5 May 2015 | 3:00 pm | Staff Writer

The annual industry conference will also welcome veteran rapper Brother Ali to its keynote speaker ranks this year

Brisbane's renowned BIGSOUND event is only a matter of months away, and the annual industry conference and showcase series is beginning to lift the veil on its mammoth program for 2015, led by the revelation that Midnight Oil frontman, former politician, revered activist and all-round Aussie legend Peter Garrett tops the bill as one of this year's keynote speakers.

Joining Garrett in the keynote tier of guests for this year's event, which takes over Fortitude Valley this September, is veteran rapper and fellow activist Brother Ali, with the two men flanked by an impressive wider first speakers' complement of more than 20 of the world's premier artist & repertoire representatives.

"International interest in BIGSOUND this year has confirmed something that we already knew; that it's one of the world's most exciting A&R markets," BIGSOUND programmer Nick O'Byrne said in a statement. "The incredible success of Australian artists overseas combined with the strength, depth and quality of our local music communities mean that some of the world's most influential labels, publishers, bookers and agents are now making it part of their annual calendar." 

Garrett's address at BIGSOUND marks the first major industy appearance for the singer since his exit from federal parliament, for which he will treat delegates and attendees to an enlightening reflection on industry, public policy and his own storied career with Midnight Oil, which spanned nearly three decades and yielded more than 10 top-10 albums (including the landmark Red Sails In The Sunset, which turned 30 last year), as well as a slew of ARIA and other awards. There's a reason that Oils fans are uniformly fierce in their allegiance for the outfit, and Garrett's appearance should prove an eye-opening experience for anyone with an interest in Oz-rock history.

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A little more left-field (at least at first glance), and certainly as potentially enlightening, is Brother Ali, known to the taxman as Ali Douglas Newman. The Wisconsin-bred hip hop luminary is as well known for his activism as he is his rhymes, and his BIGSOUND appearance will be his first such showing in Australia following his role as keynote speaker for the Nobel Peace Prize Forum and Princeton University. The albino child of white Muslim parents living in midwestern America, Brother Ali promises to provide a fascinating look at contemporary hip hop and beyond, informed by his unique experience of the world.

In addition to this year's esteemed keynote speakers, BIGSOUND organisers have recruited more than 20 A-list A&R executives to begin beefing out the speakers' ranks, with some big international draws headed to Brisbane in the form of RCA Records senior A&R director Tunji Balogun (Kendrick Lamar, Diddy, OneRepublic), Harvest/Universal general manager Jaqueline Sutton (TV On The Radio, Morrissey, Kasabian, Death Grips), Goldenvoice/Coachella senior VP of talent buying Lesley Olenik Olindo, Beggars Music Publishing A&R rep Amy Morgan (Glass Animals, Cat Power, Yo La Tengo) and Nettwerk Music Group A&R rep Rachel Cragg (Father John Misty, Stereophonics, Boy & Bear). That's far from being all, though - hard-working local folks aboard the bill for 2015 so far include Ben O'Connor and Guy Blackman of Chapter Music; Rice Is Nice's Julia Wilson; and Lorrae McKenna of Remote Control Records.

This year's BIGSOUND event is already shaping up to be a more than competent rival and follow-up to last year's massive proceedings, which included keynote speeches from Neil Finn and The Church, as well as panels with Bluesfest founder Peter Noble, a 20-questions industry panel, and the beguiling adventures of Danny Rogers and "Saint" Jerome Borazio, the co-founders of Laneway Festival. More than 140 artists performed as part of last year's BIGSOUND Live showcase series, including Airling, Client Liaison, DMA's, Alison Wonderland, Banoffee, D.D. Dumbo, Eves The Behavior (then just Eves), Blank Realm, Holy Holy, HITS, Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders, Crooked Colours, Jeremy Neale, L-FRESH The LION and many more, so keep eyes peeled and breath bated for the unveiling of this year's full line-ups — they're bound to be corkers.

If you're interested in playing at this year's BIGSOUND event, applications close on 15 May with first announcements to follow in June, so hit up the BIGSOUND website for more information on that front.

This year's BIGSOUND will be held across Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, from 9-11 September. Early-bird tickets were capped at 100 this year, but given how quickly they flew out the door, organisers have released another 50, priced from $350 for a full three-day pass to access panels, discussions, seminars and the two-night BIGSOUND Live program, once again promising well north of 100 acts to keep you entertained throughout. Once those tickets go (or on 15 May, whichever happens first… but who are we kidding, they'll sell), the price will jump to $450 for members ($550 for non-members) before hitting the full rate of $550 ($650) from 1 August.

For more information about the conference, BIGSOUND Live, tickets, accommodation and all the other finer details, head to BIGSOUND's website

bigsound 2015 industry speakers/buyers - full announcement

Peter Garrett (AUS) – Keynote
Brother Ali (USA) - Keynote
Ashanti Abdullah – Rhymesayers Entertainment (USA)
Alex Maxwell – Troubadour (USA)
Amy Morgan – Beggars Publishing / Glass Animals (UK)
Avery McTaggart – The Windish Agency (USA)
Ben Munro – Hostess (JPN)
Ben O’Connor – Chapter Music (AUS)
Eric Barleen – Another Planet Entertainment (USA)
Guy Blackman – Chapter Music (AUS)
Jacob Daneman – Pitch Perfect PR (USA)
Jacqueline Saturn – Harvest Records (USA)
Josh Moore – Bowery Presents (USA)
Julia Wilson – Rice is Nice (AUS)
Justin Sweeting – WME / Clockenflap (HK)
Laura Snapes - Freelance Writer (UK)
Lesley Olenik Golindo – Goldenvoice (USA)
Lio Kanine – Kanine Records (USA)
Lorrae McKenna – Remote Control Records (AUS)
Marshall Betts – The Windish Agency (USA)
Meg Helsel – Grandstand Media (USA)
Melissa Yong – Other Sounds / Village Sounds (SGP)
Meredith Fraser – Panache Booking (USA)
Paul Buck – Coda Agency (UK)
Phil Waldorf – Secretly Group (USA)
Rachel Cragg – Nettwerk Music Group (USA)
Robin McNicol – Superfly (USA)
Sat Bisla – A&R Worldwide (USA)
Talya Elitzer – Capitol Music Group (USA)
Tunji Balogun – RCA Records (USA)