The annual Big Sound music junket is about to launch in Brisbane, Queensland tomorrow and (like every year) 150 bands will descend upon Fortitude Valley to showcase their musical talents for potential labels, management, suit types and us, the music media. Fans are also invited to join in on the festivities too which take place from Tuesday to Friday all over the joint.
But to help with the decision making of who you should see, we've narrowed down the list and present to you The Top 7 Big Sound Bands We're Frothing Over... maybe you should check them out too...
#7 - Wildheart
The Brisbane based post-hardcore band just released their new EP We Are and are keen to keep the momentum going with shows locked in on Tuesday 4th Sept 8:50pm and Wednesday 5th Sept 8:00pm both at Crowbar. We had a chat to bassist KerryRowe not too long ago, who music fans may recognise from fellow Brisbane band Sensaii. These guys have a great sound behind them and if all goes well, could be playing with the big boys not long after the event.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGh9yfDq6io&w=640&h=360]
#6 - Bad Juju
Last year we came across Dear Seattle, the band who signed to Domestic La La, the new label founded by ViolentSoho guitarist JamesTidswell. If that kind of punk/grunge genre-crossing sound is what you love especially with the likes of Introvert (who also played last year), you better make your way to one of their showcases at 8:00pm Tuesday 4th Sept and 8:50pm Thursday 6th Sept at Crowbar. The band is made up of former members of Confession and House vs Hurricane too so even more reason to check them out.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oi8M8XJaBng&w=640&h=360]
#5 - Eat Your Heart Out
They're signed to Fearless Records in the States and are gaining attraction for their pop punk sounds, but Australia needs to get behind these Newcastle natives before it's too late. They've supported some big bands this year including Simple Plan, FourYearStrong and KnockedLoose but it won't be long before they're the ones touring the country headlining. Their first show is at 9:50pm Tuesday Sept 4th at TheBrightside and 11:20pm Wednesday Sept 5th at Crowbar.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6WrDakMeuc&w=640&h=360]
#4 - Gravemind
They first popped up on our radar thanks to Pricey over at Collision Course PR and since then all we've heard about is nothing but great things from the Melbourne death/metalcore act. If you find deathcore too much for you, but you dig metalcore, this band can serve as your transition into the heavier genre, especially following the release of their single 'Lifelike' earlier this year which we spoke to frontman Dylan Gillies-Parsons all about back in April. They'll be performing at 11:20pm Wednesday Sept 5th at The Zoo then 9:40pm Thursday 6th Sept at 256Wickham.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_WfHdzQnsg&w=640&h=360]
#3 - Between You and Me
Another great pop-punk band on the rise down under who have toured extensively since forming back in 2016, including a HUGE tour of the States alongside ROAM thanks to their signing with HopelessRecords. Their debut album Everything Is Temporary came out back in July and since then, they haven't made too much noise in Australia. Maybe they were saving all their time and energy for Big Sound? Either way, catch them at 8:50pm Wednesday 5th Sept and 9:40pm Thursday 6th Sept at Crowbar.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERSSzbyomWc&w=640&h=360]
#2 - STATESIDE
A pop punk band on the rise akin to that of Paramore and PVRIS and the best thing is they're in our own backyard. We've been keeping an eye on their development over the years and their latest EP Naïve which was released back in May 2017 offered a small taste of what we think this band is capable of. If you want to see what all the fuss is about, you'll have an extra chance to see them as they're playing three shows, 11:30pm Tuesday 4th Sept at TheBrightside, 10:30pm Wednesday 5th Sept at Crowbar and 5:00pm Thursday 6th Sept at The OzTix Party at The Brightside.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w7d98670D0&w=640&h=360]
#1 - Cast Down
These guys are a big reason why you should always check out every band playing an event like Big Sound, because you never know just who you'll come across. Reigning from Melbourne, this heavy AF five-piece have been doing the rounds for the past couple of years, mainly in support slots but after this week, they may just gain the attention and attraction of heavy music fans across the country. In previous years I discovered HighTension and Pagan at Big Sound and immediately fell in love with their sheer brutality and look how good they're going now. Mark my words, CastDown will be huge after their showcases so lock them in at 10:30pm Wednesday Sept 5th at The Zoo and/or 8:00pm Thursday Sept 6th at 256Wickham (formerly The Met nightclub).
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iBa1HUg48I&w=853&h=480]
Big Sound 2018
feat. Bare Bones, Eat Your Heart Out, Stateside, Arteries, Gravemind, Between You & Me, Butterfingers, Cast Down, Walken, Wildheart, The Comfort, The Beautiful Monument, Slowly Slowly and heaps more
Sept 4-7 @ Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
Revisit our Best of Big Sound 2017 podcast featuring The Beautiful Monument, Pagan, Polaris, Introvert, Deadlights and more here
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XT7ZWdlShlc&w=853&h=480]
