Photo: Robbie Hume
It's been 2 weeks since the Southern Hemisphere's biggest annual music industry gathering came to a close. BIGSOUND 2024 was full of iconic moments (see Amy Taylor's defiantly optimistic keynote - more on that in a future article!), the programme was stacked with an exciting and diverse range of artists, and the overhelming sense of community and cameraderie that permeated the event was undeniably uplifting. Despite being in the midst of an incredibly trying time for the Australian music industry, attendance for the festival was up 40% this year, with more than 1,500 delegates participating. This is a sign of a strong grassroots music community, showing up against the odds, supporting Australia's up-and-coming artists.
Throughout the week the LivewireAU Team were on the ground interviewing BIGSOUND artists and attending showcases - the standard of the performances was high, but each of our journos and photographers have settled on their top 3 for the 2024 event. If you're looking for some fresh Aussie artists to get around, check out LivewireAU's BIGSOUND 2024 Highlights below.
Hazel Mei:
Never have I ever happy-cried at a ‘Bogan Funk’ show. Oh wait. Radiating late 90s to noughties nostalgia, Playlunch dons my first place ribbon for Bigsound 2024. The 8-piece band was joined by QLD’s favourite AUSLAN interpreter Mikey Webb for a show fuelled by witty lyrics, athletics carnival style and props (hello pool noodles and LCMs). The house-party-energy never dampened the group’s undeniable musicianship and the crowd left full of laughter. So much fun!
Truth be told, by 11pm on Wednesday night I was feeling the mid-Bigsound fatigue, but my aches succumbed to amnesia when JUNO hit the spotlight. A band cohesive as they are engaging, their showcase was one of non-stop chops. Powerhouse frontwoman, Kahlia Ferguson brought a sunburst of feminine-angst to their sky of undeniable pop anthems, groovy arrangements and to my delight, the occasional stanky sax solo. The crowd was electric, dancing in sync and raising decorated bottles to celebrate their latest single ‘bleach’. It’s a world class live show and I could watch it over and over again.
In songwriting and performance, Rowena Wise is quietly captivating. Easily my favourite lyricist on the lineup, Rowena held space for the mosaic of human emotion, dancing in the arms of carefully crafted alt-folk-rock timbres. The music semiotics nerd in me couldn’t help but revel in the purposeful use of dynamics and arrangements throughout the show. She and her three-piece band effortlessly captured each story in an impressive display of emotional and musical presence. It was a healing performance and I could have sworn I heard a collective sigh wash over the room.
Ella Belfanti:
This is music that COMPELS you to take to the dance floor and groove, and that is exactly what I did at 11:30pm when I thought I was surely clean out of beans and ready to put myself to bed. This set brought me back to life - Munyard has a captivating stage presence that I’d liken to Bowie, and his tunes will get you foot-tapping with 70s funk vibes, driving percussion, and a touch of Prince sensibility. Peppered with melodies you’ll quickly pick up and sing along to, this would be the perfect band to book for a late-night Pina colada beach party.
These folks stopped me in my tracks when I was wondering through Brunswick St Mall - their sound is warming and cozy, while tugging at the heart-strings with lilting husky vocals and dreamy synths, living in an indie/folk/rock space. Finding bands like this is one of my favourite parts of Bigsound - I was a little frazzled and overwhelmed after a huge morning, and these tunes slowed me down and grounded me in such a beautiful way. Frontwoman Ella Melton’s vocals have a soft power reminiscent of Lana Del Rey, and the rhythm section plays with finesse and tasteful minimalism. I’m a huge fan!
SO. MUCH. ENERGY. This was such a cathartic set, featuring driving drums and guitar riffs, angry political commentary, and all the opportunities to shout along and release some rage. This was everything I want from a punk show - I’m a sucker for filthy bass tones, and the tunes were intermeshed with rap and epic metal breakdowns. Mudrat’s stage presence is magnetic and honest - they connected hard with the crowd, and there wasn’t a single person not head-banging in the room.
Pipin:
A lyrical mastermind and angel on the keys, Holly Hebe took my breath away from the first chord. She effortlessly rolls through her discography of music, focusing on her upcoming EP ‘Ruby’, a title lovingly taken from the name of one of her childhood pets. The blend of ethereal vocals, bedroom pop production and 90’s/early 2000’s aesthetic all lend themselves creating an atmosphere of nostalgia and vulnerability where Holly holds space for her artistry, letting the audience in. You could see her band, especially her guitarist Linus (who sings along to every song, even when he’s not doing backup vocals!), adoring each track with a wholehearted conviction that makes the entire set feel like such a special window into an act who hold a lasting friendship as well as sonic chemistry. I’d love to make honourable mention of Hebe’s choice of cover, ‘1000 Miles by Vanessa Carlton’, beginning as an ambient track, you heard the collective gasp of excitement from the crowd as Holly showed her prowess on piano with the opening riff.
My favourite tracks from this set are: Bottled Blonde, Out of the Blue, 1000 Miles (Cover)
Ecstatic joy are the words I’d use to describe this Dizzy Days set. As Triple J Unearthed winners for Bigsound, Dizzy Days turned it up to show what they’re made of. Packing out the massive space of Brightside Outdoors, Ashling O’Byrne was the captain of this disco spaceship, captivating the audience with dance moves emanating from both body and hair. The flavour of Dizzy Day’s dance-pop is so vibrant and sonically tight with the guitar stylings of EJ Carey, electric bass from Bridgette Dabinett and percussive grooves from Mikaela Swan. I felt like we were present at a very special moment in time before Dizzy Days totally pops off and goes international. Playing their own disco-dance pop anthems, as well as an iconic cover of Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Heads Will Roll, Dizzy Days sure knows how to get a crowd riled up and my goodness were we ready for it.
My favourite tracks from this set were: Can’t Stop! And Something About It
I know that this band will be the favourite of at least one other Livewire writer, but Playlunch were so good they deserve their own school-style essay (get it done or it’s your lunch time guys). Taking the cake as my favourite act at Bigsound, I had the pleasure of watching Playlunch rock their matching tracksuits at the mall stage on the final evening and, after hearing from multiple sources that they were a must-see, I had my socks blown off. Probably the most successful crowd participation I’ve seen to date, frontman Liam Bell split the audience into four teams athletics-carnival style, naming them after early 2000’s TV personalities and having the audience war cry mid set (Grant Denyer - my team - the obvious winner). As a millennial child, this was such a nod to the experience of growing up in Australian schools in the early 2000’s (watching Soup Opera included) and you could see the crowd relate and respond to that in real time. I tell you what, I needed an LCM bar after because I literally danced till my feet hurt and my blood sugar was low.
My favourite tracks from this set were: No Hat, No Play and Hornbag
Alissa Lott:
When Swapmeet, FKA Soursob, released their debut single ‘New Wood, Old Ashes’ in 2022, I was instantly hooked, and spent the better part of a day listening to it on repeat. After watching countless YouTube videos of their live performances over the past two years, and following along with each release, I was ecstatic to finally get to see them live here in Meanjin, and they did not disappoint. Swapmeet delivered an utterly ethereal set of whispered intimacy and big feelings, of gentleness with a punk foundation. My highlight of the set was ‘Ceiling Fan’, which combined emotive guitar with confessional secret-telling vocals to create an experience nothing short of otherworldly.
If you know me, then you’ll know I absolutely love this band! After a relatively quiet 2023 for the Meanjin four-piece, they are back and better than ever, having released two incredible EP’s so far this year, with more on the way. Melaleuca’s songs blend tongue-in-cheek elements with moments of earnest honesty, and feature ridiculously catchy guitar overflowing with 90’s nostalgia. The band is a total powerhouse live, and BIGSOUND this year saw them at their best. If there is one band you need to check out before summer rolls around, its Melaleuca.
Eggy hail from Naarm, and are an utterly incredible presence- eclectic and ever-evolving, with a surreal and experimental sound. The stage was barely big enough to hold the band, but they made it work, seamlessly swapping instruments between songs, flawlessly blending elements and letting each other shine on stage. Their quirky energy and genuine love for music was palpable throughout the set. My highlights were ‘The Luckiest Girl in the World’ and ‘Open Field’!
Robbie Hume:
It was 8:15pm on Thursday night and I was around Brunswick St Mall and didn't have a solid plan where go next and thought I'd check out La La Land since I hadn't been there much during the week and I was also planning on going there later in the night for another artist I'll mention below. Wvchwy (pronounced whichway) is a Kalkadungu and Bidjara producer and DJ who creates stunning music referencing his culture. However the standout part of his showcase was he got Geoff from Tjaka to join him on the didg. The synergy between the electronic performance and the live didgeridoo were indescribable and if you've seen Tjaka live before you know how well the didg works in electronic music to get you moving.
I took a break from La La Land however as mentioned above I was back only half an hour later. Earlier in the week, a friend of mine recommended I see Hylander, a proud Gadigal man, who creates this incredible new electronic sound that I have never come across before.Using a launchpad and a couple other midi controllers he spun together several remixes as well as original sounds that both sample sound from his culture with emotive and stylistic sonics. The lighting design he put together with the music was also mesmerizing and tied itself to the music and storytelling that he wove between songs. Really looking forward to seeing more from Hylander and keen to catch another of his shows in the future. What stood out to me was his storytelling and how personal the show was - as well as the Round The Twist remix he played of course!
From Sydney - Hannah popped onto my radar when I was looking at Instagram on Wednesday and saw Lola Scott was one of her bandmates. I love Lola's music so I took it to myself to plan on seeing one of the shows. As usual during BIGSOUND, The Prince Consort hosts dreamy lighting and sounds out the back and Hannah Brewer's showcase was no exception. It was really fun and poppy and hard not to dance along to. If you like Phoebe Bridges and Gracie Abrams then she's one to check out
Jess Chate:
You know how you always have that Bigsound set you walk away from saying - that was it, that has to be THE highlight of the entire week? I’d buy tickets to watch that show live again and again? Well - the Thursday Playlunch set on the JBL stage was that without a doubt to me. The energy, the charisma, the hyper-specific Australian primary school memories they re-ignited, the pool noodles thrown into the crowd - what’s not to love! Something about singing ‘No Hat, No Play’ call and response with an entire audience before dropping into rap and a full brass section breakdown hits as hard as an icy block after a long primary school day. I also happened to be lucky enough to score a tiny teddy, thrown out to us from fluro-zinc clad front-man Liam Bell’s bumbag. And the NOSTALGIA - I didn’t know how badly I needed to see Soup Opera live until I could barely breathe from laughing while dancing to it. Playlunch hit a chord I never knew I needed, I’ve never seen anything quite like it, and I can’t wait to see them again on a festival lineup ASAP!
As a folk girlie at heart, This New Light’s set at Honky Tonks simply has to be a standout favourite to me. Singer-songwriter behind the project Samuel Ayling writes the type of songs that quietly become essential in your life. Songs you don’t even realise you’ve learnt every word to until you’re seeing them live for the first time and singing every single lyric right back with a hand on your heart (speaking from experience). The hooks are soft and beautiful, Sam and the band take the stage with such a humble, welcoming warmth that you immediately feel part of something special. We twirled our hands in the air, we clapped along, we hugged and swayed with strangers who, over the course of the set became friends. That’s what This New Light is: folk music so magical that it can make a friend out of any stranger, leaving every listener feeling at home, understood. I’m proud to say I immediately went home and listened to the entire TNL discography, and have added every single song without fail to my comfort playlist. Can’t wait to see what’s next from This New Light, and I advise if the opportunity to witness this magic set live ever arises - take it!
If there was one set I was already certain I was going to love, it's this one. And even then, my expectations were exceeded. Noah Dillon’s magnificent live set is explosive, it’s cathartic, it’s a rollercoaster that drops and peaks in all the right places. I had the loveliest interview with Noah earlier in the week unveiling his intuitive songwriting process, meditative performance preparation and deep belief in the courage of softness. Understanding his craft in greater depth and now knowing him to be such a humble, kind-hearted human being made his live set feel all the more impactful. Having been one of my all time favourite artists through the angst of high-school, I realised during this set that understanding of the depth of his songs grows with you. For instance, not only is ‘That’s just how I feel’ an absolute banger that got the entire Outpost jumping around in ecstasy, but it’s an honest, raw confession of real feeling. A tribute to Noah’s masterful handle on cathartic duality. He also brought it down and held the whole room in entranced stillness with the solo performance of an unreleased track - painting the most poignant and effortlessly relatable portrayal of picturing your entire life with someone before even the first date. I stood spellbound, tears quietly rolling down my cheeks throughout the whole song - Noah really captures those intangible universal feelings and breathes life into them. And the vocals !! You’ve heard people described as singing their heart out? Well Noah Dillon sings his every cell and soul out too. Eternally excited for what’s next from Noah!
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