Streetlight at the end of the tunnel: Block party to mark music return
QMusic and BIGSOUND have partnered to celebrate a slow return to normal for the live music industry. Big Summer Blow Out is a free block party hosted across seven iconic venues in Fortitude Valley, featuring BIGSOUND alumni and new artists including First Beige, Jesswar, and Golden Vessel.
Brisbane rapper Jesswar and BIGSOUND alumni Jesswar will feature in the event (Image: Supplied)
The event arrives off the back of a turbulent year for the live music industry under siege from the threat of cancellations and postponements, including the cancellation of BIGSOUND’s 21st anniversary event.
The Big Summer Blow Out is free celebration of BIGSOUND’s 21st birthday, and the return to a bit of normalcy, which will feature 21 artists across seven venues, as well as food trucks, outdoor bars, and a host of DJs.
The lineup includes BIGSOUND alumni pop singer-songwriter Eves Karydas, six-piece jazz-funk fusion band First Beige, acclaimed Fijian hip-hop artist Jesswar, producer and DJ Sampology.
There will also be performances by electro producer Golden Vessel, Brisbane singer-songwriter Clea, indie rock outfit Eliza & The Delusionals and experimental pop artist LÂLKA.
Big Summer Blow Out is also putting up and coming artists centre stage as they missed out on this year’s BIGSOUND, with artists such as LISI, THE RIOT, and dameeeela programmed for the event.
“Cancelling BIGSOUND this year was devastating for us all,” said BIGSOUND Festival co-programmer, Ruby-Jean McCabe.
“Being able to curate a lineup of Queensland’s past BIGSOUND showcasing artists and those we believe are the future of BIGSOUND was a real treat for Dom [Miller] and I,” said McCabe.
“It’s a celebration of the incredible talent we have in this state, and a sneak peek of what BIGSOUND 2022 could hold.”
The block party will cordon off Warner Street in Fortitude Valley and take over seven venues Black Bear Lodge, Kickons, O’Skulligans, The Brightside, The Brightside – Outdoors, The Outpost, and The Zoo.
The event is a collaboration between BIGSOUND and QMusic, who have been outspoken about the serious effects of the pandemic on the music industry with Chief Executive Kris Stewart criticising the burden of risk the music industry was expected to shoulder.
Now, the vaccination roadmap has allowed a light at the end of the tunnel.
“With the clouds of COVID slowly starting to part, Big Summer Block Party is the perfect opportunity for the music industry and music fans to send out a year that sucked and welcome in a year that won’t,” said Stewart.
The event will run on 28 November on Fortitude Valley’s Warner Street, for more information visit their website.
