BIGSOUND’s already-stacked lineup of speakers for their 2018 event has just gotten even bigger, with the conference announcing another round of industry professionals who will be joining the ranks this September.

With BIGSOUND’s first announcement revealing that none other than Dave Grohl’s mum – Virginia Grohl – will be delivering a keynote this year, attendees could already tell that things were off to a good start. Then, when the first artist lineup revealed a stunning array of artists heading up to Fortitude Valley later this year, it was all but confirmed that this year is set to be one of the conference’s biggest. Now, BIGSOUND have upped the ante and announced another huge range of speakers.

Kicking things off is none other than Aussie music icon Paul Kelly, who will deliver a keynote interview which will see him reflect on his career and the future of Aussie music, giving those in attendance a reminder of why the Aussie music scene is the greatest in the world.

Also joining the ranks are Lagwagon frontman Joey Cape and Fat Wreck Chords label founder Erin Kelly-Burkett, two of the most influential names in punk music over the last few decades, who will also deliver keynote speeches.

Of course, a number of other high-profile names will also be in attendance, such as triple j, Double J and Unearthed music directors Nick Findlay, Dorothy Markek and Dave Ruby Howe, as well as US visa expert Brian Zabinski (Tamizat), Sky McElroy of A2IM UK, Juliette Younger of Gusher Magazine and ex-industry worker and now life coach Viv Fantin.

This year also sees BIGSOUND partnering with Support Act, Levi’s, and Access EAP to present a workshop which aims to help recognise and manage mental health issues, while helping to break down the stigma that these issues face within the wider community.

“Employees of corporate organisations in other industries have free access to professional development opportunities that independent music entrepreneurs could only dream of being able to afford,” explains QMusic CEO and BIGSOUND producer Joel Edmondson.

“This is a big reason that the music industry is decades behind many other industries in terms of gender equity, mental health, corporate governance and overall people and culture development. The evolution of the BIGSOUND conference experience is designed to give delegates exposure to learning experiences that can radically transform how they think, work and relate to other people.”

Tickets to this year’s event are available now from the BIGSOUND website.

Check out Paul Kelly’s ‘How To Make Gravy’:

BIGSOUND 2018 industry speakers & buyers

Erin Kelly-Burkett – Fat Wreck Chords (USA) – KEYNOTE

Joey Cape – Lagwagon (USA) – KEYNOTE

Paul Kelly – Himself (AUS) – KEYNOTE

Anna Benefield – Panache Booking LLC (USA)

Blake Rayner – The Orchard (AUS)

Brian Zabinski – Tamizdat (USA)

Brianna Liebling – The Billions Corporation (USA)

Clemence Renaut – ATC Live (FRA)

Dan Rozenblum – 33 And West (USA)

Daniel Sheinberg – Nettwerk Music Group Inc (CAN)

Dave Ruby Howe – triple j (AUS)

Dorothy Markek – ABC – Double J (AUS)

Emilie Davaine – LA Factory by Caramba (FRA)

Emily Roehl – Superfly (USA)

Emma Zillmann – From The Fields (UK)

Isabella Trimboli – Gusher Magazine (AUS)

Jen Pearce – Low Profile (USA)

Jerry Soer – Collab Asia (AUS)

Juliette Younger – Gusher Magazine (AUS)

Karen MacMillan – Universal Music Group (USA)

Kevin Pedersen – WhatsYourRupture? (USA)

Liz Rogers – Brett Oaten Solicitors (AUS)

Nick Findlay – triple j (AUS)

Paul Niederer – Raiseworth Pty Ltd (AUS)

Peta Ellis – River City Labs (AUS)

Philip Vafiadis – Innovyz Institute (AUS)

Rachel Kelly – Downtown (AUS)

Rhianna Patrick – ABC Radio (AUS)

Sky McElroy – A2IM (USA)

Terry Gold – Techstars Adelaide (AUS)

Tom Bownes – Live Nation (UK)

Vanessa Burt – Fat Wreck Chords (USA)

Viv Fantin – Next Act Coaching (AUS)

Previously announced…

Mardi Caught – The Annex (AUS) – KEYNOTE

Virginia Hanlon Grohl – From Cradle to Stage (USA) – KEYNOTE

Alex Berenson – Vinyl Me, Please (USA)

Alison Rosenfeld – Aperture Music (USA)

Amber Carew – Saddle Creek Records (USA)

Ben Rafson – We Are Free (USA)

Bernie Cho – DFSB (KOR)

Brontë Jane – Third Side Music (USA)

Carlos Lopez Jr. – Domino (USA)

Eric Fritschi – Mtheory (USA)

Fabrizio Onetto – OCESA Seitrack (MEX)

Jessi Frick – Citrine Management (USA)

Joe Greenwald – C3 Management (USA)

Jon Box – Universal Canada (CAN)

Katie Garcia – Secretly Group / Bayonet (USA)

Lucy Pitkethly – Eat Your Own Ears (UK)

Madison McCabe – Hidden Track Music (USA)

Markell Casey – Pulse Music Group (USA)

Nevin Domer – Maybe Mars Music (CHN)

Owen Mallon – Paradigm Talent Agency (USA)

Paul Bridgewater – Line of Best Fit (UK)

Rachel Cox – Sad Grrrls Club (AUS)

Shaun Faulkner – X-Ray Touring (UK)

Tim Luckow – Stem (USA)

Tom Wironen – Friendly Announcer (USA)

BIGSOUND 2018 first live artist announce

A. Swayze & The Ghosts

Adrian Eagle

Alice Skye

ARSE

Arteries

Asha Jefferies

Bin Juice

Blank Realm

Bugs

Butterfingers

Cable Ties

Cast Down

CLYPSO

Cry Club

CXLOE

DEAN FOREVER

Dreller

Eat Your Heart Out

Eilish Gilligan

Eliott

Elizabeth

Ella Hooper

Emma Anglesey

Estère

Gabriella Cohen

Genesis Owusu

Georgia Mulligan

Good Doogs

GRAACE

Gravemind

Greta Stanley

Hachiku

Hazlett

Hobsons Bay Coast Guard

Imogen Clark

James Wright Trio

JEFFE

KAIIT

Kaitlin Keegan

Kian

Kota Banks

Kult Kyss

Kwame

MANE

Miss June

Moaning Lisa

MOOKHI

Oh Pep!

Olympia

Paces

Pink Matter

Pool Shop

Rachel Maria Cox

RAT!hammock

Riley Pearce

Ruby Gilbert

Samsaruh

Sleep Talk

Slowly Slowly

Stevie Jean

Sumner

Sunscreen

sweater curse

SŸDE

T$oko

Tape/Off

The Chats

The Merindas

TOTTY

Triple One

Two People

Tyne-James Organ

Voiid

Wax Chattels

yú yi

The article was originally published on The Industry Observer