Leading music writers and performers will discuss the early days, present and future for Brisbane’s underground and rock music industry at a free, public symposium at UQ on Friday, July 13.
The symposium, Pig City: Then & Now, will be held at the UQ Centre (building no. 27A) lecture theatre, St Lucia, from 1-4pm.
National music historians, journalists, writers, and performers will discuss the early days of the Brisbane popular music scene before a panel of artists and record label executives examine the present crop of talent and future outlook for Brisbane music.
Ex Go-Between Lindy Morrison, Screamfeeder vocalist/guitarist Tim Steward and Brindle’s Deb Suckling will take part in the discussion.
Pig City author Andrew Stafford will also share his experiences and stories while researching the book which maps the shift in musical, political and cultural influences that have shaped Brisbane’s history and identity.
“Everyone will be talking about Brisbane music and their experience with it,” symposium organiser Ian Rogers, also a UQ PhD student in rock music and ideology, said.
Mr Rogers said the artists would also talk about the digital revolution of music, the music industry futures, Brisbane’s role and relationship in the Australian music industry, live music venue accessibility and finding a Brisbane sound.
He said the symposium was aimed at those considering a career in independent and rock music or anyone interested in the history and development of Brisbane’s music industry.
Pig City symposium guests include: • Clinton Walker – Australia’s premier music historian and author ofStranded: The Australian History of Independent Music 1977-1991 and Highway To Hell: The Life and Times of ACDC Legend Bon Scott • Andrew Stafford – Brisbane author of UQ Press success Pig City: From The Saints to Savage Garden • Lindy Morrison - Former member of The Go-Betweens & current Board Director for The Music Council of Australia and Artistic Director of The Phonographic Performance Company of Australia • John Birmingham – Author of He Died With A Felafel In His Hand and the Axis of Time trilogy • Graham Ashton - Head of Marketing and International Licensing at Dew Process Records (home of Bernard Fanning and The Grates) • Paul Curtis - Manager of Valve Records and Brisbane bands Regurgitator and I Heart Hiroshima • Plus solo artist Kiley Gaffney, Deb Suckling of Brindle / Q-Music, Ian Rogers of Iron On and Tim Steward, Screamfeeder)
Symposium guests should RSVP to cccs@uq.edu.au with Pig City as the subject.
UQ’s Centre for Critical and Cultural Studies organised the discussion in conjunction with the Pig City concert.
The concert brings together some of Brisbane’s best known bands such as The Saints, Regurgitator and Dave McCormack, for one show at UQ on Saturday, July 14.
Brisbane was named one of the world’s music hotspots in January by US magazine Billboard, which said it was one of the five ‘unlikely’ cities spawning exciting new sounds.
MEDIA: Mr Rogers (0431 955 371), Dr Melissa Gregg (0408 599 359) or Miguel Holland at UQ Communications (3365 2619)
