Indigenous hip-hop outfit Dem Mob will lead a raft of South Australian talent performing at this year’s BIGSOUND, one of the largest music industry gatherings in the southern hemisphere.
Supported by the Music Development Office (MDO), in partnership with MusicSA, Beer & BBQ Festival and Hindley Street Music Hall, Dem Mob will be joined by Oscar the Wild and The Tullamarines (pictured below right) as part of an exclusive Made in SA Showcase.
These artists were granted the opportunity to be among the more than 120 acts performing at BIGSOUND from September 3-6 through their participation in the MDO’s Robert Stigwood Fellowship Program.
The prestigious annual program – named in honour of late South Australian pop music impresario Robert Stigwood, who managed acts like Cream and The Bee Gees – provides mentorship and professional development to local musicians and industry entrepreneurs.
Supporting successful artists since 2014, the fellowships are part of the MDO’s programs that provide investment into a range of music industry supports amounting to more than $1.7 million in the past year.
Held in Queensland’s Fortitude Valley, BIGSOUND is the country’s largest music industry gathering supporting the future of Australian music.
New up-and-coming artists have the chance to share their talent in a nightly showcase and network with the industry’s leading figures during the daily conference.
The four-day event is expected to attract more than 1700 conference delegates including major labels, businesses, established artists and music legends, and more than 16,000 showcase attendees.
Dem Mob has performed around the globe in recent years, playing at Primavera (Barcelona), Summer for the City (NYC), and Toronto’s National Indigenous Summit, while closer to home they’re currently touring the country in support of Seth Sentry.
Oscar the Wild (pictured left), who were one of BIGSOUND 2023’s One to Watch artists and a favourite of Rolling Stone’s showcase acts, are back in 2024 with their unique brand of sweet and bubbly Aussie grunge and indie pop.
The Tullamarines have already opened Laneway festival this year following some stellar 2023 shows at SXSW Sydney, and NYE on the Hill, showing why they’re the 2023 winners of the SA Music Awards People’s Choice Pop Award.
South Australian acts Divebar Youth, Rob Edwards, Swapmeet and TOWNS will also perform at BIGSOUND.
Dem Mob said they were "stoked" to be chosen to perform at BIGSOUND.
"This year has been massive for us starting with being awarded the Robert Stigwood Fellowship and being connected with such great people at the Music Development Office, Music SA, Carclew and the UNESCO Adelaide City of Music Office," they said.
“Through guidance, funding support and industry insight from these organisations we have signed with a prominent booking agent as well as completed our first national tour of 17 shows around the country before showcasing at Toronto’s International Indigenous Music Summit and then on to performing at the prestigious Lincoln Centre for Performing Arts in New York with further international opportunities following this exposure.”
Applications for the 2025 Robert Stigwood Fellowship Program open soon.
