Nestled within the bustling epicentre of Magandjin’s Fortitude Valley, BIGSOUND's 2024 Goolwal Goolwal program beckons you to immerse yourself in its powerful currents, spanning three days of panels, events and celebrations.
The Goolwal Goolwal team as well as the Minister for the Arts, have highlighted Qmusic and BIGSOUND’s importance in spotlighting Australia’s flourishing First Nations musical talent with panels, events and celebrations dedicated to empowering Indigenous voices, from September 3 to 6.
Uncle Kev Starkey, Elder-in-Residence for this year’s event shares, “Being the inaugural Elder in Residence for QMusic and BIGSOUND back in 2022, it has been firstly an honour to be able to stand in representation of all First Peoples of this country.”
Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch has also expressed the importance of the program, “The Queensland Government supports QMusic’s extensive Goolwal Goolwal program within BIGSOUND, investing $1.2 million over four years into the initiative, to position Queensland as a global centre for First Nations contemporary music in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
BIGSOUND 2024
- Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, QLD
- Music Festival & Conference, 3-6 September
- https://www.bigsound.org.au/
Explore Melbourne’s latest arts and stage news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
This deadly program is overflowing with sessions embedded across all of BIGSOUND, from September 3 to 6. With a program dedicated to empowering Indigenous voices, the team have also announced the Goolwal Garden, this year’s First Nations House located at The Sound Garden.
The garden will act as the heart of the Goolwal Goolwal program, hosting thought-provoking panels, electrifying showcases, performances, exclusive events, art exhibitions and most importantly – a community. Make sure you drop by!
Free Goolwal Goolwal events, accessible to all, will also be held at Goolwal Garden and the open-air JBL Live at BIGSOUND Stage, located in Fortitude Valley’s Brunswick Street Mall, to bring together the community.
Welcome to Country & Smoking Ceremony
- When: Tuesday, 3 September
- Where: JBL Live at BIGSOUND Stage (Brunswick Street Mall)
Highlights across the three-day schedule will begin with the Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony hosted by Shannon Ruska from Tribal Experiences on BIGSOUND opening day, Tuesday 3 September.
The ceremony is an important and ancient First Nations custom, involving the burning of native plants to create smoke, that not only has cleansing properties but is used to ward off bad spirits from the land and people, as well as welcome in positive energy and pathways to a brighter future.
Biki Karumba Chari Chari (Welcome Big Feast)
- When: Tuesday, 3 September
- Where: The Fortitude Music Hall
- Delegate-only event, sign in here if you’re one!
Following the smoking ceremony will be Biki Karumba Chari Chari (Welcome Big Feast), where conference delegates are invited to a culinary experience showcasing the rich flavours of Indigenous Australian cuisine, led by Chef Tanika Orr, at the Fortitude Music Hall.
Beddy Rays
- When: Tuesday, 3 September
- Where: The Prince Consort Hotel
- Tickets and more info here
Beddy Rays have been on the up and up in recent years, their 2020 release Sobercoaster rocketed them into the Aussie music world, where they’ve been a part of many festival line-ups and supporting slots, joining acts like Tones And I, Hockey Dad and good mates Dune Rats on tour. The cracker of a tune has now certified Gold sales, amassed over 15 million streams and helped catapult their debut record to #1 Vinyl and #2 Aussie album on the ARIA charts. This momentum hasn’t stopped for a minute landing an ARIA nomination, selling out national tours and cementing them as one of Australia’s most loveable bands.
Miles Nautu
- When: Tuesday, 3 September and Wednesday, 4 September
- Where: Wonderland Upstairs and The Wickham
- More information here
If Mac Miller, Kendrick Lamar, and Joey Bada$$ was one person, it would be Miles Nautu. The Blak prodigy is paving his own way with his distinctly laid-back style, performing with a live jazz band to fully capture the genre-defying nature of latest EP ALLUDE. Miles’ effortless confidence and smooth self-production raises the bar for contemporary hip-hop, incorporating deep-cut samples ranging from old-school blues and throwback movies to stumbled-upon Japanese jazz and Italian instrumentals.
Kristal West
- When: Tuesday, 3 September, Wednesday, 4 September and Friday, 5 September
- Where: JBL Live at BIGSOUND Stage, The Sound Garden and Honky Tonks
- More information here
Kristal West is a proud Piadram, Manbarra and Palawa woman with a passion for culture and identity. She is granddaughter to the legendary First Nations land rights activist, Dr. Eddie Mabo, who campaigned for ten years to eventually have the legal doctrine of terra nullius overturned. Kristal is heavily influenced by her grandparents and strives to capture the stories of her bloodlines through music.
Songman: Fred Leone In Conversation
- Wednesday, 4 September
- Judith Wright Centre – Performance Space
- Delegate-only event, sign in here if you’re one!
Deadly Goolwal Goolwal events throughout the week will include a keynote session, Songman: Fred Leone In Conversation on Wednesday, where the traditional Butchulla Songman will share wisdom about the importance of honouring his role as Songman and custodian of the traditional songs of his tribe, and how it intersects with his contemporary music career – from Hip Hop on Country to Eurovision.
Leengkeel Karweeyn (Big Dance)
- When: Wednesday, 4 September
- Where: The Sound Garden
Wednesday will also host a night of Aboriginal techno and cultural celebration featuring First Nations DJs and producers Tongberang’i Ngarrga Inc. at Leengkeel Karweeyn (Big Dance), joining the party are artists Brothers, James Henry, ChunKy, Carmel0 and Slidah.
Tongberang’i Ngarrga Inc’s purpose is to provide an outlet for Aboriginal people to connect while celebrating and expressing Aboriginal culture to the wider community through electronic dance music.
JUNO
- When: Wednesday, 4 September and Thursday, 5 September
- Where: Eclipse and the JBL Live at BIGSOUND Stage in Brunswick Street Mall
- More information here
JUNO are an indie pop duo featuring Kahlia Ferguson and Sam Woods. They exploded onto the scene with their pop anthems come thru, moonboy, nobody loves you when you’re down and make it so easy and were added to Triple J Unearthed Rotation and Unearthed Spotlight Artist throughout these releases. JUNO have supported Girli, Drax Project, Anna Of The North, Caity Baser, Peking Duk, Cody Jon, Pacific Avenue, Chloe Dadd, Adrian Dzvuke and more
INCUBATED presented by AUM
- When: Wednesday, 4 September
- Where: JBL Live at BIGSOUND Stage (Brunswick Street Mall)
- Free
Check out performances from emerging artists Kootsie Don, Yung Milla, Sachem [and more] in INCUBATED. This free live show will be MC’d by the OG Mau Power, who will provide a skull-shaking acknowledgement of the country, and head up this event of Blak excellence in a space curated by AUM which has had a longstanding history of success in championing First Nations voices for 20 years.
In Conversation with Zaachariaha Fielding
- When: Thursday, 5 September
- Where: The Sound Garden
- Free
Coming off the back of making the 2024 Eurovision contest semi-finals, Zaachariaha Fielding of Electric Fields, together with Will Pawa-Oui will discuss Zaachariaha’s journey within music, highlighting the power of creative mediums and the importance of expressing yourself and improving your mental health and well-being.
Blak Label Presents: ‘Proppa Deadly’
- When: Thursday, 5 September
- Where: JBL Live at BIGSOUND Stage (Brunswick Street Mall)
- Free
Come and watch a special guest lineup of Blak Excellence with Blak Label Presents: ‘Proppa Deadly’. This event showcases vibrant and diverse emerging Indigenous musicians of the contemporary scene in so-called Australia, curated by Poli-Pearl from ‘Special Feelings’.
Tin Camp Studios Celebration
- When: Thursday, 5 September
- Where: JBL Live at BIGSOUND Stage (Brunswick Street Mall)
- Free
This exciting spotlight performance is the perfect place to bond! It takes on the theme of healing through sharing, bringing together new, emerging and senior song people and storytellers – both traditional and contemporary from across multiple nations.
Tickets to BIGSOUND’s conference and festival are available now via the event’s website – the time is now to grab yours and start planning your BIGSOUND 2024 musical journey.
Single and three-night festival tickets range from $25-$89 and the in-demand Delegate Pass gives you the full BIGSOUND experience including access to exclusive parties, special events, mixers and meet-ups, conference sessions and more selling fast!
This article was made in partnership with BIGSOUND.
