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BIGSOUND
Fortitude Valley
2nd – 5th of September
BIGSOUND 2025: Brisbane’s Loudest Week in Music Delivers an Optimistic Future for Australian Music
BIGSOUND has long occupied a unique space in Australia’s live-music ecosystem — part conference, part discovery fest, part creative incubator — and in 2025, it has arguably never felt more vital. Over four nights and across some of Fortitude Valley’s best music venues, this year’s iteration showcased not just growth, but a confidence in what the next generation of Australian & Aotearoa music can be.
Walking into BIGSOUND 2025 was like stepping into a sprawling soundscape where every alley, dive-bar room, rooftop and street corner pulsed with music. The festival’s layout is spread across venues like Crowbar, Black Bear Lodge, The Brightside and Honky Tonks, allowing you to drift and roam, chasing new discoveries and running into old favourites. The sheer scale of programming — over 120 artists, dozens of showcases, a free stage in Brunswick Street Mall, and immersive First Nations-led programming through places like The Goolwal Garden — makes BIGSOUND feel like a journey.
This year’s lineup up spanned from punk to R&B, folk to electronic, country to experimental pop. BIGSOUND spans a sweeping spectrum without feeling unfocused. There’s a generosity in the curation; artists from across geography, gender, age, cultural background get space.
Part of the magic of BIGSOUND is hearing new voices in small rooms, seeing crowd connection being built by the end of a single set. These are moments you don’t get on larger festivals or headline tours. Most artists had multiple sets across the week, meaning you could catch them in a different environment and tailor your week to the feel you want.
The integration of conference, workshops and panels ensures it’s a festival both for lovers of music and makers of music.
Even at smaller fringe venues, sound design and atmosphere were top-notch: crowds were intimate but enthusiastic, and I didn’t have to lineup once to get into a venue.
Artist Highlights
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Inkabee, just 12 years old, commands attention far beyond mere novelty. His hip-hop set — sharp, bold, full of potential — was some of the moments that made BIGSOUND feel alive with possibility.
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WAFIA and Azure Ryder both delivered endearing energy to meet their honest songwriting: you sensed both crowd-pleasing and introspective moments.
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Among the scene discoveries, there are serious names to watch: Coastal Arcade, Serendipiti, Cheeky Leash, Charli Needs Braces, The Southern River Band, Tyla Rodrigues and Dogworld among them. These acts bring distinctiveness of voice and style — whether that’s in vocal tone, stage presence or songwriting.
- More established artists like Polish Club, DASTE and Eliza and the Delusionals didn’t miss, captivating large crowds at their sets.
- Letters to Lions brought jangly indie precision, Mid Drift layered sharp hooks with restless energy, and emerging act Emeree turned heads with incredibly confident sets and choreographed dance moves.
BIGSOUND 2025 didn’t just deliver — it reminded. It reminded us why Brisbane continues to matter, why emerging music in Australia and Aotearoa is in such a rich moment, and why community, risk, diversity and curiosity are the lifeblood of live performance. For fans, for artists, for industry — this year’s BIGSOUND is a high watermark: inspiring, surprising, inclusive, full of moments that linger.
For anyone passionate about where music is headed — BIGSOUND is an unmissable time we can’t wait to get back to in 2026.
Photographer: Tim Ludlow (Astray Photography)
