10 and 1 - BIGSOUND Live 2013

Woah, BIGSOUND Live kicks off in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley tonight. Tonight, I say! If you haven't got your tickets as yet... double-ewe tee eff are you waiting for? It's the biggest and best showcase of live Australian music for several reasons. 1) The bands/singers are awesome. 2) You don't have to stand out in the stinking sun all day and/or have some sweaty, overweight man without a shirt on shimmying all over you in a dance tent. There was nowhere to move and you ruined The Presets for me, you sweaty bastard. 3) Drinks are affordable and if you're at a venue like the Black Bear Lodge, they are amazing. 4) It costs about $70 for two nights of bands/singers and if you return to point 1, you'll see that they are awesome.


It's been a long, long time since we've busted out a '10 and 1', but the concept returns for a special BIGSOUND Live feature that will help those in need of some program guidance. Having trouble figuring out to see because there's just too many awesome acts taking over the Valley? Well, here's ten you really need to do yourselves a favour and see. As is required, we'll discuss the one act you can give a miss. But if you've been around these parts for awhile, you'll have figured out already that it will be a cop out answer because every act is worth seeing at BIGSOUND this year! So... who should you see?

THE 10:

Wednesday, September 11

Mama Kin

8:00 - 8:30pm, Bakery Lane

Mama Kin brings her care of Freemantle indie-soul sound to Brisbane and I can't think of a better way to start your BIGSOUND Live experience. You can prepare yourself for Danielle Caruana's gorgeous vocals by checking out Mama Kin's new album, The Magician's Daughter. 

Cub Sport

8:50 - 9:20pm, Channel [V] Stage @ Coniston Lane

Cub Scouts Sport will always be a 'must see' act, regardless of what name they're going by this week. You'll always be Scouts to me! Stupid Scouts Australia. Who does scouts these days, I mean, honestly? Anyway, you'll be able to see these Brisbane music makers playing songs from the awesome Paradise EP at Coniston Lane, which is apparently where Woodland used to be.

Tkay Maidza

9:10 - 9:40pm, triple J Unearthed Stage @ Oh Hello

Look, I hate Oh Hello as much as the next person that isn't a wanker, but if there's one act that's going to make me venture into that pit of despair, it's Adelaide rapper, Tkay Maidza. Have you heard 'Handle My Ego'? It is nice. It is very nice. This set should be the BIGSOUND rap/hip-hop highlight of the entire event. 

Adalita

10:30 - 11:00pm, The Zoo

Australia doesn't have too many bonafide rock icons still standing, but Adalita Srsen is one of them. With a new album, Venus (out September 20) to preview at The Zoo, Adalita will do what she always does; deliver a standout rock performance. Not only should you and I go to this, every rock act that's free should make their way to see this showcase. They might learn a thing or two.

Gay Paris

11:40 - 12:10, Alhambra Lounge

Because if I don't say Gay Paris... Katie will go all Liam Neeson and hunt me down. 

Thursday, September 12

Gossling

8:20 - 8:50pm, Black Bear Lodge

Gossling is on top of the world right now, with the phenomenal response to new track 'Never Expire'. You can hear that brilliant track live with some other new songs from the anticipated album Harvest of Gold which is out November 1. And she's performing at the Black Bear Lodge which is just the best.  

Grizzly Jim Lawrie

8:20 - 8:50pm, Press Club

Jim Lawrie will take the stage at the Press Club with his band and promises a night of "good songs played by good people." I think that's a pretty big understatement. If the songs are like 'Midnight Run' they'll likely be fantastic and Jim Lawrie seems pretty rad, so maybe it should be 'fantastic songs played by rad people'.

Thelma Plum

10:00 - 10:30, Black Bear Lodge 

Oh, Thelma Plum. Her 2013 EP, Rosie, is easily one of the greatest pieces of work you'll hear this year. Listening to the songs performed live will be even better. Singalong to 'Around Here' and 'Dollar' and be blown away by 'Breathe In, Breathe Out'. Maybe we'll even get to hear some tracks off her reported upcoming EP too!  

Ginger and The Ghost

10:50 - 11:20pm, Electric Playground

There is something about Ginger and The Ghost I find incredibly intriguing. Their focus is on visual elements as much as it is on creating catchy, quirky tunes that you can't help falling in love with. Ginger and Ghost (that's their names, right?) must have something big planned for their showcase. You won't want to miss it. 

Jeremy Neale

11:40pm - 12:10am, Black Bear Lodge

Is there a better way to close out night two? Nay. Hang out with Brisbane's most popular male artist and dance around to some banging pop tunes like 'In Stranger Times'. Maybe Go Violets will join him on stage. But probably not, because they're on their own tour and not in Brisbane. So that's not going to happen. 

THE 1:

Major Leagues

8:20 - 8:50pm, triple J Unearthed Stage @ Oh Hello

I would actually love to see Major Leagues. But if I'm already running between Gossling and Grizzly Jim Lawrie between 8:20 and 8:50pm... There's just too many great bands at BIGSOUND Live! Major Leagues will deliver an excellent set, so if you're digging 'Endless Drain', go and see them!

Don't forget, you can still get tickets through Oztix and QMusic, or rock up on the day and buy tickets from the Oztix shopfront on Ann Street.