Bigsound 2016 / Photo: Rebecca Reid

BIGSOUND Serves Up 2017 Dates & The Biggest Prize Pool In Aussie Music History

BIGSOUND will be back in action this year and — yep — it’s gonna be bigger than ever.

The most mammoth music industry conference in the southern hemisphere has just partnered up with Levi’s to serve up the biggest prize pool in Aussie music history, putting $100,000 smackeroons up for grabs to help up-and-coming local artists to boost their careers.

Much like an orange, the juicy sum has been sliced into four quarters, with the BIGSOUND bigwigs to award $25K to one of the lucky performers at this year’s showcase, which for the first time has been ~embiggened~ to four nights to run across September 5th to September 8th.

The shiny new four-day format will give each artist the opportunity to “play twice across the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night event”, with the lucky prizewinner to be selected by “a panel of visiting international music industry experts”.

According to a press statement, the remaining $75K will then be awarded to past BIGSOUND acts who’ve performed at the conference over the past five years, who’ll be given the chance to “apply for further $25,000 prizes over the following 3 quarters”.

This means that big-name acts like A.B. Original, DZ Deathrays, Ecca Vandal, Harts, Tkay Maidza, Vera Blue, Alex Lahey, Tash Sultana, Sampa The Great, All Our Exes Live In Texas, Gang Of Youths, Hellions, Hockey Dad, Methyl Ethel, Tired Lion, Ash Grunwald, Kingswood, L-Fresh The Lion, KLP and more will all be eligible for the cash bonanza.

“This partnership with the Levi’s brand is a game-changer for Australian music export,” says BIGSOUND mastermind QMusic’s Executive Officer Joel Edmondson. “It is a major commitment by the Levi’s brand to the music sector that has been designed to further enhance the value BIGSOUND can offer our brightest talents to achieve their international goals.

“The Levi’s Music Prize creates an important new link in the support chain, enabling artists to capitalise on the opportunities created by showcasing in front of over a hundred international industry players at BIGSOUND.”

Artist submissions for BIGSOUND 2017 are open NOW and can be made here.

While AAA passes to the 2017 conference are on sale now, with general festival passes to go on sale in June. Catch all the details below.

Gallery: BIGSOUND Live 2016, Day 2 – Brisbane 08.09.16 / Photos: Rebecca Reid

BIGSOUND 2017

Festival Lineup TBA

Tuesday, 5th September – Friday, 8th September

Fortitude Valley

Tickets: Official Website

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