Highlights from Bigsound 25 - Keep an eye on these artists!

Photo by @robihume

It’s always such a crazy time of year for music. The start of September each year means only one thing. BIGSOUND. From talks on how important phyiscal releases still are, to stories from past releases to learn from and we cant forget all the amazing showcases each night.

This year saw Fortitude Valley yet again light up with over 1500 Delegates, Artists, Media and of course all the nightly festival punters and due to how easy to miss stuff through the week, the LivewireAU team were on the ground checking out showcases, interviewing artists and catching some talks. Here’s some of the fresh new acts that we caught at night across the week!

Pipin:

Ullah

As a long time fan of Ullah’s work, particularly her unique blend of storytelling through song, I was incredibly excited to see her set at Bigsound and was able to catch her on my favourite stage for the week – the Brightside Outdoors. This set was pure magic, Ullah’s vocal tone soared above the washy electric guitar sounds with both power and fragility as she tenderly told her tales of coming of age and personal change to a captivated audience. Her stage presence was authentic and playful, connecting us to the music even more. My favourite part of the set was collectively singing ‘I Want It All To Happen’ as we swayed in the crowd under the starry night sky, it was an incredibly hopeful moment.

REDD.

Being unfamiliar with REDD. ‘s work prior to Bigsound, I can now say I am a huge fan! The energy that was brought onto stage was unparalleled, with raw and demanding vocals and genre crossing songs that extended from pop-punk to more boppy pop and soulful RnB. 

REDD. ‘s showmanship was exceptional, with an element of theatre interwoven into their stage presence, creating a space where the audience was encouraged to keep being authentically themselves, whatever comes. My favourite tracks on the night included ‘Britney in ‘03’ and ‘Bad Days’.

Charlie Needs Braces

This was one of those moments where I stumbled upon something that made me go WHAT IS THIS?! Hailing from Naarm, this sister duo of storytellers have understandably been drawing audiences from across Australia for some time. Creating a musical landscape through looping pedals, percussive sounds and brass instruments, their set was both informative about native flora and fauna, while also incredibly fun, playful and energetic. I loved the amount of sequined wear on stage (always a good sign in my opinion) and the interactive elements of their performance – especially in the “Mussels” song.

Hazel Mei:

EMEREE

It’s no secret that I love a good pop show and my goodness did EMEREE give us a damn good pop show! Somehow, in 30 minutes we got it all - live backing vocalists, choreography, audience singalongs, a giveaway, a costume change and even a flute solo! Gracing the stage with undoubtable musicianship and sprinkle of sass, I’ve never seen a Bigsound showcase so thoughtfully planned. I had to catch both shows to avoid fomo! 

Velvet Bloom

I’ve had their debut album on high rotation this year and was so excited to see Velvet Bloom live again. The Brunswick Street Mall stage was crowded as Maddy’s silky melodies intertwined with delightfully syncopated arrangements. There’s a strong sense of community and love that comes from this project which makes the experience particularly magic. 

Annie:

Serendipiti 

 Serendipiti’s set on the Triple J Unearthed stage felt like one of the week’s truly unforgettable moments. A last-minute addition to the line-up thanks to her Unearthed win, Serendipiti opened with her infectious upcoming single Ajar and instantly captivated the Brightside Outdoors crowd; made up of friends, strangers, and a sky full of bubbles, courtesy of her fans.  

 What followed was a freshly reimagined set that showcased just how much she’s grown as an artist; her folk-pop magic laced with sophistication, confidence, and a stage presence that was nothing short of magnetic.  

 Watching her hold that space so effortlessly, it was hard to imagine the festival without her and easy to imagine bigger stages waiting just around the corner for Serendipiti. 

Ella Ion 

I had been eagerly counting down to Ella Ion’s set all week, and safe to say, she did not disappoint.

Her grungy, post-rock-infused folk came alive in a way that felt raw and transcendent. Delicate vocals and warm cello lines cut through walls of dirty guitar as she moved effortlessly between quiet, introspective moments and gritty, soaring catharsis. 

Just when we thought the experience had peaked, the band would lock in with soaring three- and four-part harmonies, lifting the room somewhere higher still. Even the silences felt alive, punctuated by scattered “woahs” from an audience left with absolutely no doubt that Ella Ion is a master of this space.