Major Speakers For Bigsound

Showcases at Brisbane’s Bigsound by Courtney Barnett, Flume, Sheppard and The Temper Trap helped gain notice from international executives in attendance, which later transferred to booking, record or publishing deals.

Photo: facebook.com/BIGSOUNDmusic

As a result, the bulk of the first round of 30 speakers announced for the Sept. 9-11 Brisbane conference – the largest event of its kind in the southern hemisphere – were from global A&R and the live sector.

As many as 140 acts will play more than 14 venues. Last year, 4,000 punters attended the showcases. From the U.S. are Avery McTaggart and Marshall Betts (Windish Agency), Alex Maxwell (L.A.’s Troubadour), Eric Barleen (Another Planet Entertainment), Josh Moore (Bowery Presents), Lesley Olenik (Goldenvoice), Meg Helsel (Grandstand Media), Meredith Fraser (Panache Booking) and Robin McNicol (Superfly).

From other territories are Paul Buck of UK’s Coda Agency, Justin Sweeting of WME in Hong Kong, Melissa Yong of Other Sounds / Village Sounds in Singapore, and Ben Munro of Japanese events company Hostess. Other American executives making the trip are Talya Elitzer (Capitol Music Group), Tunji Balogun (RCA Records), Ashanti Abdullah (Rhymesayers Entertainment), Sat Bisla (A&R Worldwide), Jacob Daneman (Pitch Perfect PR), Jacqueline Saturn (Harvest Records), Lio Kanine (Kanine Records) and Phil Waldorf (Secretly Group).

Peter Garrett, former Midnight Oil singer, will make a keynote speech, his first major appearance since leaving politics as arts minister. U.S. hip-hop artist Brother Ali also gives a keynote, on growing up as an albino to Muslim parents in the Midwest.