BIGSOUND Celebrates 21st Birthday With Positive Economic Impacts

BIGSOUND, Australia's leading live music showcase and industry conference event, celebrated its return after two years away this year and is now celebrating its 21st birthday with over $8 million spent on the festivities. 

The return to the in-person showcase and festival event delivered positive economic impacts for artists, music industry workers, local businesses and Queensland tourism.

This year's edition generated more than $7.7 million in expenditure attributable to the Queensland economy, including $4.1 million spent across the Brisbane area from 10,800 people who participated in or attended BIGSOUND from 6-9 September.

Arthur Apostolos, who owns trendy laneways across the Fortitude Valley, noted that BIGSOUND was "bigger than Christmas" for many of the precinct’s vendors. Some of the businesses, such as Bakery Lane's Uh-Oh Spaghettio and Jeon’s Kitchen, experienced their best financial days since opening. "Customers were very happy; they came in two, three days in a row for lunch and dinner. I think we made a good impression!" said a delighted owner, Isobel Yao.

Following gigs opening for UK post-punks Dry Cleaning, Girl & Girl member Kai James said their BIGSOUND experience was life-changing. "We've signed on with an incredible management team [Simone Ubaldi and Andrew Parisi of Sundowner], who immediately introduced us to their international network, including booking agents at ATC Live and Arrival, who now represent us in the US and UK," James noted.

"We've connected with our dream international label, who are keen to release our debut album. We've had so much support, encouragement and opportunity since BIGSOUND; it feels like our band has taken a giant step forward."

BIGSOUND was "the perfect place" to reconnect with artists and industry, singer Asha Jefferies believes. She added, "It allowed me to showcase my new music to an international, global industry audience, which has led to me building my team internationally at a perfect time."

BIGSOUND has marked its return for Tuesday, 5 to Friday, 8 September 2023.  

The festival rolls back to Brisbane's Fortitude Valley Entertainment Precinct. In its 21st year, the 2022 event included 210 speakers and buyers, 44 conference sessions, 24 industry events, 186 artists, 21 venues and 23 stages. 

While we have to wait for more details about the artists performing and music industry professionals holding conferences at BIGSOUND 2023, we're looking forward to what next year's event will hold.