The annual BIGSOUND industry conference is about to take over the streets of Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, once more but if you're still not prepared for the forthcoming smorgasbord of stimuli, we're here to help guide you a little further in the form of where you can satiate your intellectual curiosities.

Here's our guide to the five panels and presentations you definitely don't want to miss. Unfortunately, some are on at the same time as each other, which creates an immediate problem with your ability not to miss any of these, but, look, in a perfect world, you'd be able to do everything you want. Massage that grey matter, folks, because you're going to need it…

Wednesday, 9 September

Peter Garrett's Opening Keynote (10am)

This should be a fairly obvious one — Garrett is one of the most iconic figures in contemporary Australian music, having spent time as the frontman for venerated local rockers Midnight Oil for nearly three decades as well as making the leap into federal politics, serving as the Minister for Environment and the Arts, and Minister for Education, under the Rudd/Gillard governments.

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He's been out of the suits-and-knives game for a couple of years now, but the man is an experienced musician, activist, thinker, writer, environmentalist — and downright living legend. As if you'd be anywhere else.

Festivals: It Ain't The Size That Matters (11.20am)

The global festival scene is changing at a considerable pace, as former juggernaut names such as Big Day Out fall off the calendar — a prospect that once would have seemed unthinkable — and a new class of smaller, boutique, 'destination' festivals rear their heads among the shifting sands of live-music events.

At the forefront of the movement are a number of Aussie and New Zealand-based festivals, with identities such as Hannah Fox (Dark Mofo), Ian Jorgensen (A Low Hum, NZ), Adam Lewis (Secret Garden Festival), Rhett McLaren (The Hills Are Alive/UNIFY), Paul Sloan (Billions Australia) and Rebecca Young of WME all lining up to have their say. The panel is facilitated by Triple R's Lauren Taylor and canvasses the why, how and what-next for the next generation of niche events.

Thursday, 10 September

Indie Labels & Community (11.20am)

Facilitated by ABC's Jacinta Parsons, this panel pulls together some of the nation's hardest-working, most vital independent record labels to discuss the integral nature of such companies in breaking bands and launching their careers, all while battling against economic and market forces unique to their size and scope.

Joe Alexander (Bedroom Suck Records), Guy Blackman (Chapter Music), Jen Cloher (Milk! Records), Lio Kanine (Kanine Records, USA), Robb Nansel (Saddle Creek, USA) and Julia Wilson (Rice Is Nice) step up to the plate for what is sure to be an eye-opening discussion on the challenges and hefty rewards of doing it yourself.

Why We Write (3.45pm)

In an age where anybody with a computer and a social media account can make their opinions known broadly, the question of the continued importance of music criticism and journalism as a professional pursuit remains a contentiously debated issue — yet the symbiosis that exists between media outlets and the rest of the music world remains an inextricable element of a functioning and successful music industry… or, at least, it had better, because otherwise, boy, that's bad news for us.

The Music Brisbane editor Steve Bell hosts a panel with a remarkable roster of music scribes, featuring freelancers Kate Hennessy and Laura Snapes, Pitchfork senior editor Jessica Hopper, and THUMP's Lachlan Kanoniuk.

Safe Spaces (3.45pm)

The issue of sexual harassment, violence and other threatening behaviour in Australian venues — particularly directed towards straight and LGBTQI women — has been one gaining increased attention of late, which is both a relief, for those who have spent far too long suffering in silence, and somewhat regrettable, as it's a damning indictment of the state of Aussie nightlife culture.

Still, it's an issue we have the power to change, and it's an important one at that, so if you're at all interested in doing what you can to help ensure that any live-music event is a safe space no matter who you are or what you look like, this is one to mark on your schedule for sure. It's facilitated by Katie Pearson (of Whiskey Houston/LISTEN), and features speakers Kirsty Brown (MusicNSW), musician Simona Castricum, Helen Marcou (Bakehouse Studios/SLAM), Evelyn Morris (LISTEN), Kirsty Rivers (Creative Victoria) and Deb Suckling (#NotOn/SugarRush Music).