BIGSOUND // Share Stacked Keynote Speaker Lineup

BIGSOUND has shared the first speaker lineup for this year’s virtual edition of the conference.

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Leading the pack is Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave, Prophets Of Rage, the Nightwatchman), who will share a presentation on his life as a musician and activist.  

“Very few artists radiate and live their purpose the way that Tom Morello does, his power, conviction and guitar shredding sound is like no other”, says Creative Director Janne Scott. “This keynote is a personal dream of mine and an absolute privilege for BIGSOUND to present, delivered at a time when we could all use a little Morello magic.”

Amy Shark and Kev Carmody will host in-conversation sessions at the conference. Rhoda Roberts and Ziggy Ramo will also feature, discussing the Indigenous future of the music industry. American Grammy-nominee Mumu Fresh will appear to discuss career, community and survival in 2020. There’ll also be keynotes from Tones and I and I OH YOU’s Johann Ponniah (via Zoom). 

Elsewhere, the conference will feature the absolute legend Nat’s What I Reckon, who will present an exclusive cooking show. Howard Freeman (tour and production manager and founder of CrewCare Australia) will also host a session on the realities of tour life, the impacts it has on mental and physical health, and the importance of a culture of help-seeking.

“BIGSOUND has been the meeting place of the music community for nearly two decades and the determination for this event to not only go ahead but to thrive in a virtual environment is essential for our industry,” said QMusic CEO Angela Samut. “BIGSOUND has been a leader for years in looking to future business models, mental health and a place of fairness and justice for First Nations peoples working in the music industry as well as giving tomorrow’s Australian icons a platform to learn and be discovered. Never have these things been more important. Never has BIGSOUND been more important.”

The conferences’ second announcement and full program schedule will drop at the end of September, along with The BIGSOUND 50, giving some much-needed exposure to some of the nations most exciting artists.

BIGSOUND will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, October 21-22. Free registrations are open now. 

BIGSOUND 2020 FIRST KEYNOTE SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT

Tom Morello
Kev Carmody
Tones And I
Amy Shark
Rhoda Roberts
Ziggy Ramo
Nat’s What I Reckon
Mumu Fresh
Howard Freeman
Johann Ponniah