Words by Rachel Tinney, James Pearson, Ellen Nielsen and Ava Greenwood. Photos by Rachel Tinney.

WEDNESDAY

Melbourne songstress Sophia Brous wastes no time in demonstrating her amazing vocal talent as the first act to kick off Woodland’s BIGSOUND offerings. The clarity and range of her vocals is impressive and with an appropriate amount of indie pseudo voguing thrown in for good measure, Brous is a commanding presence on stage. The relaxed grooviness of penultimate track (and radio favourite) Streamers is also spot on.

Beginning the party over at the Zoo, Inland Sea make everyone shut up and take note on opener Lord I Am Waiting, an a capella song featuring all ten members of the band. From there, they steadily move through their set filled with folky songs, both sombre and upbeat, never once losing the attention of the crowd. Their superb harmonies and musicianship are clear on No Time and Traitor, as are their hoedown dancing skills.

Next up at the Zoo is Laneous & The Family Yah. The entire spectrum of this band's discography gets a run, with emotions soaring before coming back to earth as the entire room jumps and grooves from one musical influence to the next. They’re a joy to watch, with musicians oozing cool that clearly know how to win over a crowd. However, one golden rule is broken; never finish with a slow song, even if it is Oh She from your latest EP.

Appearing alone onstage, bar from her keyboard, Melbourne songstress Gossling delights at over the Black Bear Lodge. Her doll-like voice (think Julia Stone) makes her seem utterly fragile but there is a fire to her music that makes you think she can take on the world, one sweet, heartfelt song at a time. If not, she could always fall back on her jokes about Snoop Dogg and umbrellas.

Looking ethereal in a floaty turquoise dress and flowing orange hair, Ruby Frost is determined not to be outshone tonight. Holding her own on the Woodland stage, backed only by drums, she switches effortlessly between keys and guitar, with closing song Moonlight a standout.

Darwin electro soul duo Sietta are up next at the Tempo Stage. Behind the decks, James Mangohig churns out some impressive beats for Caiti Baker who not only owns it with her jealousy-inducing vocal range, but with her sweet, sweet robotic dance moves. For something that already sounds good recorded, they make it sound even better live – plus there’s the added bonus of Caiti’s dancing.

Emma louise takes on a packed out Zoo armed with a full backing band that includes Hannah Shepherd from Charlie Mayfair. Together their haunting harmonies are beautiful but the many conference delegates up the back intent on networking easily drown them out. Jungle, with its emotive strength and restraint, plays its part in capturing the crowd but sadly it’s the only song able to do so.

Playing to a large and rowdy crowd that continues to pour into Bakery Lane throughout the set, band of sisters Stonefield play with a ferocity beyond their years. Drummer and lead vocalist Amy Findlay howls like an old soul and guitarist Hannah Findlay’s impressive solos garner more than a few nods of approval from the crowd.

Ric’s Bar is comfortably full in anticipation of wistful experimentalists WIM. WIM have found the happy balance between dreamy melodies and danceable beats that go down a treat among the gathered crowd, despite the noticeable technical difficulties. Their final song is a particular standout, featuring layered harmonies and an epic drum solo.

As The Cairos take the stage, it becomes apparent BIGSOUND may be the first and last time good, live music is ever played at Electric Playground. It isn't a set filled with fireworks or heart-stopping moments, but it’s everything you expect from a live gig, with The Cairos combining an odd but thoroughly enjoyable mix of rawness and polished clarity. The highlight of the set goes to Listening Party; just ask the baby boomer at the front of the crowd spinning around as he photographs himself.

It’s standing room only at the Black Bear Lodge as Ben Salter introduces himself and his band as Ben Salter and the Awesome-os. A seasoned performer and Brisbane icon, he needs no introduction. Fresh off the back of releasing his debut album, Salter puts in a powerful performance with an impromptu Guided By Voices cover a welcome addition to the set.

Over at Bakery Lane, The Medics perform to a packed out venue eager to see what the Cairns band has to offer. Light and beautiful but still big and intense, if a thing is at all possible, their songs surely do not disappoint. Kahl Wallace’s voice is ethereal and has this calming quality to it but coupled with the pounding drums on Beggars you’re left trying to figure out whether you want to close your eyes and absorb the beauty or dance around like an idiot.

Meanwhile at the The Zoo, World’s End Press’s particular brand of indie synth-pop gets the crowd dancing like no other tonight. Very ‘80s-revival, with a touch of Yeasayer, they get into the spirit too, jumping around the stage with unabashed delight.

As is the order of the evening at the Zoo, Jinja Safari serve up some more fine harmonies and the very best jungle rock BIGSOUND has to offer. Although Jinja Safari may be best known as duo Marcus Azon and Pepa Knight, their live show sees the line-up expanded to a quintet, helping the band create a huge sound that fills the space well. With an arsenal of interesting instruments and jungle gym antics at their disposal, Jinja Safari have the crowd up and dancing their hearts out.

As Woe & Flutter take to the stage wearing clothes stolen from their dads’ wardrobes, everyone knows what to expect. That is, all 14 members of the crowd do, because they’re performing to a disappointingly small crowd. When it comes to Brisbane's underground, Woe & Flutter are buried deep, but after tonight it’s really not easy to see why. This band proved they are a must-see live act, something to get a hold of before the record labels do.

Never in the history of music has a drum kit been destroyed and reset so many times in one performance. A record-breaking set from The Vasco Era introduces a packed house to a band who knows a thing or two about rock and roll. It’s a gig made all the more special by an appearance from a member of The John Steel Singers who proves it’s possible to drink four beers in one hand while hammering out the one keyboard note in Child-Bearing Hips with the other. Impressive.

Despite performing in the latest Wednesday timeslot, Velociraptor are all about getting the party started. The Electric Playground must have been near capacity for the local garage rockers, who deal out their characteristic ‘wall of sound’ to an appreciative crowd (well, at least that’s how it looked from the back anyway).

THURSDAY

A sizeable crowd gathers early at The Zoo to see locals The Jungle Giants. These kids certainly know how to write songs that fit seamlessly into the current indie landscape, running through a number of tracks from their debut EP. They finished with popular track Mr Polite, which lead singer Sam Hales affectionately describes as a bit of a cheesy love song. The band has a fun energy on stage, and the antics of bass player Andrew Dooris are certainly amusing.

Kicking things off over at the Woodland stage tonight are Founds, a rag tag bunch of six with a little bit of everything. A violin amongst the line-up is a nice touch and, with powerful drums and strong vocals, they play an incredibly tight show.

Taking to the stage at Bakery Lane in front of a sea of photographers, it’s made clear from the very first fuzz-induced, overdriven power chord that DZ Deathrays can more than meet the hype surrounding them. Jumping through material from their two EPs, tracks such as Gebbie Street and Cops Capacity are utterly face-melting, but it isn't until frontman Shane Parsons ditches his guitar and joins the crowd that they really started jumping.

Adorned with a feathered headpiece and a lot of glitter, Owl Eyes (aka Melbournite Brooke Addamo) lights up the stage at the Zoo with a full backing band, complete with a girl in a cape. Light and upbeat, the indie pop princess offers up a bunch of songs that don’t differ too much in the light and shade departments but she still pleases nonetheless. Coupled with her own interpretive dance moves, she throws in a cover of Foster the People’s Pumped Up Kicks, before finishing up with crowd favourite Raiders.

Woodland fills in anticipation for the next act, with punters eagerly lining the stage for local lads Millions. They are a little bit Yves Klein Blue, a little bit Last Dinosaurs and, though their sound is nothing new, they do it well and put on a good show.

As the line for Jonathan Boulet stretches down three flights of stairs and into the street, those lucky enough to squeeze into The Aviary are privy to a fantastically drum-heavy, guitar-laden set of jivey beats with a side of beard. Four beards in fact. Had there been room, there probably would’ve been dancing.

Big Scary are definitely not scary but their sound is much bigger than what you’d expect from a two-piece. Jo Syme is a force to be reckoned with on the drums while Tom Lansek is quite the master of the distorted guitar. Speeding through tracks that range from simple two-chord chaotic grunge pieces to the slower ballad, they barely have time for a break, except for that awkward moment where Lansek has to stop and tune his guitar.

San Cisco seem like the perfect accompaniment for the onset of Spring. Their synth and guitar laden set is light, fresh and fun, and not so overpowering that you can’t chill out while listening to it. San Cisco hail from Perth, so it’s great to see BIGSOUND drawing bands over from Western Australia to partake in the festivities.

Everyone's got their strengths, something Papa Vs Pretty find out at Bakery Lane – and playing live shows is quite obviously their forte. They’ve been getting a whole lot of airplay lately, particularly their single Honey, but until you've seen them give their set list an absolute thrashing in front of a packed house, you haven't really heard them. Stealing the show is lead singer/guitarist Thomas Rawle, who has more finesse and talent than the dog on YouTube that can dance Meringue.

It’s a host of new material from newly reunited The Getaway Plan, and from the get go it's clear the boys have been practising; their set is very, very tight. Put it this way, if drumming ever became an Olympic event, theirs would place. Yet something doesn't quite feel right and it just so happens every song is accompanied by a pre-recorded backing track. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you like karaoke. Come to think of it, karaoke is very popular in Japan. Maybe they should play there.

There’s a lot to like about Melbourne eight-piece Eagle and the Worm. The horn section adds an interesting dynamic to their music and the harmonies border on ethereal during the down tempo moments. While the slow songs sound best, closing number All I Know is incredibly catchy and danceable. Eagle and the Worm have a down to earth charisma, and refreshingly look like they actually enjoy performing together.

Playing to a disappointingly empty room at Electric Playground, Adelaidians City Riots don’t take this as a free ticket to drop the ball and play a safe show. Instead, they give it everything they’ve got, plus more. Bursting with energy, frontman Ricky Kradolfer bounds around the stage, even climbing on his brother’s bass drum on a few different occasions. Sound-wise, these boys have the crispest, smoothest indie-rock you’ll hear, with In My Head and She Never Wants to Dance being the best examples.

As the opening chords of iFly ring out across Woodland, it’s clear Ball Park Music are playing to a supportive home crowd. Lead vocalist Sam Cromack has wild gesticulations down to a fine art and it’s obvious years of gigging all over the place has helped Ball Park Music to polish their live show. Playing a selection of tracks from their new debut album Happiness and Surrounding Suburbs, the often humorous pop stylings of Ball Park Music are a great way to finish off the night at Woodland.

Closing out the Bakery Lane stage though is Bleeding Knees Club. Dressed like they belong in a ‘90s sitcom, they deliver short and sweet bursts of fun pop punk. While their on-stage antics are more reserved than expected, songs such as Problem Child and I Just Want to Have Fun hit the spot.

So there you have it, just a small taste of BIGSOUND Live 2011. We're sure next year will be just as hectic.