The inaugural BIGSOUND Music+Design today adds a slew of speakers, led by none other than Nick Cave. An icon of modern culture, Cave has been performing for more than thirty years as the singer of The Birthday Party, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Grinderman. He is an acclaimed film score composer, scriptwriter, novelist and occasional actor.
The new program, connecting the worlds of design and music will ignite Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley on September 10 and 11, with two days of conferences, showcasing and networking. Music+Design is accessible via its own ticket, while entry is included with all BIGSOUND delegate passes. Registrations for both are open now at www.bigsound.org.au.
Music+Design is proud to welcome Nick Cave, delivering a keynote interview live via satellite with the inimitable Julia Zemiro (RocKwiz). The event’s amazing first day will be bookended with a keynote address from master VJ and production designer Vello Virkhaus from V Squared Labs, responsible for cutting-edge visual strategies for the likes of Amon Tobin, Coldplay, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Skrillex. The conference will close on the second day with a keynote address from legendary graphic designer and Underworld VJ, John Warwicker, co-founder of multi-disciplinary creative studio ‘Tomato’.
The program will also play host to Aaron Hayward of design studio Debaser; Josh Gardiner, content guru for VICE; Australia’s most revered rock photographer Tony Mott; Nimrod Weis of interactive experience design studio ENESS, and Peter Cooper, VP of Design and New Product Development for Rode Microphones. Also joining the line-up is film composer, Elliott Wheeler, fresh from his work scoring The Great Gatsby, as well as sound artist and producer Lachlan Goold (Magoo) and film and music video director, Natasha Pincus.
Joining Paul Curtis and Regurgitator in an epic DIY discussion are Celeste Potter, animation director, freelance illustrator, and guitarist/singer with band Ouch My Face; the “D.I.Y mastermind”, visual artist and musician, Jhonny Russell; and Ray Ahn, artist, bassplayer and song-writer for Australian underground band The Hard-Ons. Fashion is also well represented, with founder of Australian Fashion Week, Simon Lock and Style Editor for Harpers BAZAAR Arabia / fashion and beauty director for Dubai’s VIVA Magazine Kirsten Doak joining the already impressive list of speakers from May’s first announcement.
Music+Design is also pleased to announce a media partnership with Design Quarterly (DQ) as well as the opening of applications for its new Artisan Beer+Design showcase. Artisan Beer+Design is a unique pop up experience of music and design, showcased alongside some of Australia’s top craft beers. From industrial design to fashion to commercial illustrators, Beer+Design will showcase the work and wares of Australia’s hottest design talent to design and music industry heavyweights, tastemakers, media and over 4000 BIGSOUND festival ticketholders as well as the general public. Applications are now open to all Australian designers, with submission, criteria and briefing details now available at www.bigsound.org.au.
BIGSOUND Music+Design is where music and design connect. The program explores the intersection of music and all modes of design – interactive, graphic design, digital, industrial design, architecture, production, fashion, and film. Music+Design welcomes the international design community to Brisbane, offering an unprecedented opportunity for a range of design disciplines to come together and discuss current developments influencing their industry, seen through the lens of music.
“The spheres of music and design continually intersect, fuelling each other’s creativity, innovation, and consumption. The alchemy of the two has profound influence over cult trends and popular culture.” says Romy Willing, curator of BIGSOUND Music+Design. “It’s a natural progression for BIGSOUND to embrace this relationship and present an opportunity for greater collaboration and business growth between the two industries.
The Music+Design program runs September 10-11 open to both Music+Design and BIGSOUND delegates, with registrations open now at www.bigsound.org.au. The Artisan Beer+Design Showcase opens September 11-12, open both to pass holders and the general public alike, situated at the Artisan Gallery Car Park, opposite the Judith Wright Centre.
Now in its 12th year, BIGSOUND’s music program and festival advances its place as the country’s most respected music gathering. Held this year September 11-13 the music program welcomes luminary names from around the world. Already announced are the UK’s pioneering agitator Billy Bragg, US crowd-funding poster-child Amanda Palmer and Australia’s queen of country Kasey Chambers, heading up the speakers list. Xavier Rudd, Megan Washington, The John Steel Singers, Stonefield, and Bleeding Knees Club are amongst artists announced for BIGSOUND’s live festival program taking over the Fortitude Valley entertainment precinct across the nights of September 11-12.
BIGSOUND and BIGSOUND Music+Design passes are now available from www.bigsound.org.au.