First Announcement: BIGSOUND Live Artists 2012

The BIGSOUND Southern Hemisphere global music gathering has unveiled its first round of bands to be showcased at the Brisbane-hosted 2012 event in September.

As far as pop singers go, Kate Miller-Heidke has got to be one of the coolest on the planet. She's made a name for herself around the world with her tasteful mix of kooky and pop and emotionally stirring balladry. She's basically the pop singer for people who actually like music and with the release of her third album Nightflight just last week, she proved that her songwriting and performing is maturing at a rate of knots, making the future appear very exciting indeed. Her hometown appearance at BIGSOUND 2012 is going to be absolutely enormous.

Brisbane's Violent Soho do things their own way. Straight out of the mean streets and Christian Colleges of their home neighbourhood of Mansfield – the emblazoning of its 4122 postcode across the city in recent years is thanks largely to them – the band shot to notoriety after years of slogging it out on the road in their home country. A record produced by Gil Norton, a year of nonstop Stateside touring and props from every heavy rock band worth their salt have made these guys one of Brisbane's most adored bands and you'll witness this first hand at BIGSOUND 2012.

They were one of the hits of the 2011 event and we're incredibly excited to hear that Melbourne collective Eagle & The Worm are back for another dose of BIGSOUND goodness in 2012. Their Good Times album of last year was one of Australian music's most criminally underrated in a long time and their live show is one of the most engaging energetic things you'll ever witness. If you feel like a party at this year's event, you know where to be.

Kiwi-bred but now Melbourne-based rockers King Cannons have started 2012 so strongly that we are almost scared of how in form they will be come September. They have just dropped another new single from their soon to be released debut record, it's called Too Young and it shows the decidedly barroom rock'n'roll direction the band are taking on these days. Their live shows are punishing affairs and you'll certainly know you've been at a rock show when these guys are done showcasing their wares at this year's event.

After signing with Island Records last year it felt as if Brisbane indie dudes The Cairos were finally starting to get some of the love they had worked so hard for and deserved. Their finely tuned slices of indie goodness are so very easy to like and by the time BIGSOUND rolls around this year they ought to have many more people around the country soaking up their vibes.

Folkie Melbourne quintet The Paper Kites announced themselves with the release of the Woodland EP and, since the split of Queensland's The Middle East, are becoming tipped by many to take over their mantle as Australia's next most loved indie-folk ensemble, alongside the likes of Boy & Bear and Husky. They'll stun you with their take on the genre at BIGSOUND 2012.

The past few years has seen a dearth of indie-electro on the BIGSOUND showcase line up, but this year's first announcement sees Oliver Tank stake his place on the bill, adding some synthy goodness to proceedings. The 22-year-old Sydney based artist has recently captured the attention of indie lovers the country over with his stunning Dreams EP and is ready to mix it with the big guns as a showcasing artist at BIGSOUND 2012.

Kira Puru & The Bruise are an amazing, gritty rock'n'roll band with a seriously powerful front woman who put on one hell of a show. They have been chipping away at the Australian scene in recent times, touring hard and dominating just about every venue whose door they darken and they will be blowing a few minds come September for BIGSOUND 2012.

Brisbane lad Thomas Calder goes by the name The Trouble With Templeton, a young man with a arresting voice and some serious songwriting chops. He has only burst onto the scene quite recently but has already got tongues wagging with his Bleeders record and the amazing performances that he has put in all around town on the back of it.

These artists - and there's plenty more to be announced - will showcase for BIGSOUND Live, which takes place across Brisbane's live music venues from Wednesday 12 to Friday 14 September. Tickets are on sale now through BIGSOUND.