BIGSOUND – Brisbane, Australia – September 2-5, 2025
Brisbane/Magandjin’s Fortitude Valley district becomes a playground for new music discovery from 2-5 September, with musicians from across Australia and neighbouring countries gathering to showcase at the southern hemisphere’s premiere music industry event – BIGSOUND.
Today, BIGSOUND affirms itself as a destination for music celebration and curation of a new generation of impactful artists, with the announcement of the official artist lineup. Powerhouse performers from across a variety of genres and backgrounds reflect the diversity of the music communities that are shaping music innovation and influence.
It is a lineup that BIGSOUND is fiercely proud of, testament to the vision of Festival Programmers Casey O’Shaughnessy and Katie Rynne, as well as the talented Programming Advisory Group, specifically selected to assist in the curation of the 2025 Official Showcase program.
Over 120 acts will perform across the 18 stages at BIGSOUND this year; from rock and pop, to country, R&B, folk, punk, electronic and hip hop, there truly is something for everyone to discover and fall in love with.
Featured on the 2025 BIGSOUND Festival Program are artists including WAFIA, whose brand of soulful electronic/R&B music has been capturing audiences around the world. Releasing her long-awaited debut album Promised Land at the beginning of 2025, WAFIA’s performances at BIGSOUND mark her first shows back in Australia since embarking on a brand-new chapter of artistry.
Also embarking on a new journey with music, is Melbourne/Naarm-based Papua New Guinean neo-soul artist, KAIIT. The recent APRA Music Award winner has returned to radars in a big way in the last year, with the new releases hinting at a stunning new chapter of work – set to be revealed on their highly anticipated debut album, And Off She Goes, in 2025.
Quite possibly one of BIGSOUND’s youngest ever showcasing artists at just twelve years old, Perth/Boorloo hip hop artist Inkabee has been showing the world what he’s made of, as well as representing his community and culture via viral performances at SXSW and even America’s Got Talent. As he navigates adolescence, Inkabee’s observations and perspectives are fueling exciting new music out of Australia’s West Coast, undoubtedly set to flourish in 2025.
Sydney/Eora indie artist Azure Ryder joins the BIGSOUND 2025 lineup after a breakout year in the UK, performing with Teddy Swims and BoyWithUke. Now back in Australia, she supports Alexander Stewart ahead of her BIGSOUND showcases.
BIGSOUND Music Festival Programmers, O’Shaughnessy and Rynne, say of this year’s lineup:
“We’re thrilled to finally share the BIGSOUND 2025 lineup with you. Curating this year’s program has been such a joy — the artists we’ve selected reflect the incredible depth of talent in Australia, and each one is doing truly exciting things with their music. We’re so proud of this group and can’t wait to see them bring the Fortitude Valley to life in September.
We also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to every single artist who applied. We were genuinely blown away by the quality, creativity and diversity of submissions — it made the selection process incredibly tough, in the best possible way. There’s so much talent out there, and while we couldn’t include everyone this year, we recognise the heart you put into your music, and we’re excited for what lies ahead for you.” – Casey O’Shaughnessy & Katie Rynne, BIGSOUND Co-Programmers
#bigsound