PUNCHY, INSISTENT KEYS AND BREATHY FEMALE VOCALS SPILL OUT

from the parking lot where a makeshift stage has been erected just for the night. The VIP-heavy crowd hums, dances and cheers together to the sounds of indie- pop siren Megan Washington, a successful graduate of Brisbane’s music incubator, whose debut album will later peak at number three on the Australian charts. Once Washington wraps up her short set, the Bigsound crowd pours back out. Feet patter on the sidewalk in every direction through Fortitude Valley’s brightly lit, busy streets, seeking the night’s next sonic thrill.

It’s a warm night in Australia’s third- largest city, and The Valley – as the country’s first dedicated entertainment precinct is affectionately known – is playing host to Bigsound, a national music conference and festival that attracts the biggest local and global industry players and up-and-coming acts.