Celebrating its 20th anniversary this September, BIGSOUND 2021 will not only retain its position as the biggest industry event and celebration of new music on this side of the equator but will once again dive headfirst into the most pressing issues affecting music today.

Never one to shy away from the important, taboo, and at times difficult subjects that impact the music industry at large, BIGSOUND is inviting powerful voices to have compelling keynote conversations, including inspirational #MeToo founder, Tarana Burke, and punk rock icon, spoken word poet, actor, author and DJ, Henry Rollins, with more to be announced soon.

Tarana, whose latest work is etched in You Are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience, a book written collaboratively with Brené Brown, offers a game-changing insight into the global #MeToo movement and a unique perspective into the intersection of sexual violence and racial justice.

“I’m looking forward to sharing my story at BIGSOUND in what has been a 25-year journey laying the groundwork for a movement that amplifies the voices of millions of survivors and addresses issues of respect, dignity, and power dynamics in schools, workplaces, communities, and politics,” said Tarana, named TIME’s 2017 Person of the Year and 100 Most Influential People of 2018.

This year, the BIGSOUND Conference will pick up where countless important keynote speakers and panelists left off; from the then Pitchfork Editor Jessica Hopper’s powerful 2015 speech, which asked “Why do women feel like they don’t belong here?”, to Tina Arena’s compelling discussion about gender bias in 2017 and Moju’s 2019 address on racism and bullying.

Delivering the unique keynotes live from the USA, BIGSOUND guests will have the exclusive opportunity to delve into the minds of these deeply respected figures, asking their burning questions and collaboratively weighing in on the matters at hand. 2021 also welcomes an exciting First Nations-led edition of BIGSOUND’s biennial youth conference, this year named Little BLAKSOUND, presented by Digi Youth Arts (DYA), Queensland’s only Indigenous youth arts organisation, and QMusic.

To be held on Monday 6 September, Little BLAKSOUND co-curators Sycco, Jem Cassar-Daley, DOBBY, and Loki Liddle will be mentored by BIGSOUND First Nations Programmer and Producer, Alethea Beetson, to elevate, celebrate and represent the voices and perspectives of current and up-and-coming First Nations artists and industry workers.

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Words & Image via BigSound