Che Burns will represent the Sunshine Coast at the QLD Regional Showcase during BIGSOUND 2026. Photo: Supplied.
Sunshine Coast Music Industry Collective (SCMIC) is taking regional Queensland to BIGSOUND next week, with a dedicated QLD Regional Showcase bringing artists and music industry people from across the state into one room.
The showcase will run on Wednesday, September 2, from 4pm–6.30pm at Black Bear Lodge in Fortitude Valley, with live regional Queensland artists, an open bar and industry networking.
Che Burns will represent the Sunshine Coast at the showcase, joining other hand-picked performers representing regional music communities from across Queensland.
The idea is to put artists from different parts of the state in front of BIGSOUND delegates in the same room, from the Sunshine Coast through to the Gold Coast, Far North Queensland and beyond.
Fortitude Valley during BIGSOUND 2025. Photo: Supplied.
Presented by SCMIC and Kingston Butter Factory, with support from Invest Gold Coast, Cairns Regional Council and Noosa Council, the event is designed to put a spotlight on the music scenes growing outside Brisbane.
Artists, managers, promoters, venues, presenters, councils and other industry people from across Queensland are expected to come together, giving BIGSOUND delegates a chance to discover new regional artists and make connections across the state.
SCMIC says the idea is to get people in the same room who might otherwise be scattered across Queensland — opening up conversations around touring, collaboration, new talent and opportunities between regional music communities.
“Regional Queensland is home to a growing network of artists, venues, producers, promoters and creative communities making their mark. The QLD Regional Showcase is an opportunity to experience that energy firsthand.”
QLD Regional Showcase
- When: Wednesday, September 2, 4pm–6.30pm
- Where: Black Bear Lodge, Fortitude Valley
- What: Live regional Queensland artists, open bar and industry networking
- Presented by: SCMIC and Kingston Butter Factory
- Supported by: Invest Gold Coast, Cairns Regional Council and Noosa Council
BIGSOUND turns 25
The regional showcase lands during a big year for BIGSOUND, which returns to Fortitude Valley from September 1–4 for its 25th anniversary.
The 2026 event brings together the Australian and international music industry for four days of conferences, networking and three nights of live music, with the BIGSOUND 100 performing across venues throughout the Valley.
This year’s conference is built around the theme Creatives in Conversation, with artists and industry figures including Paul Kelly, Julia Jacklin, trials and members of King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard appearing across the program.
For Sunshine Coast artists and industry people heading to Brisbane, the QLD Regional Showcase offers a particularly useful stop: a chance to meet people working beyond the Brisbane bubble before the evening showcase program gets underway.
BIGSOUND 2026 runs from September 1–4 in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane.
What do you think?
Show comments / Leave a comment