BIGSOUND returns for its 12th year in 2013 and tonight, they have revealed the first lot of artists and industry professionals set to perform and speak at the music conference in Brisbane later in the year. The September 11-13 event will be represented by some of the best in the international and local market, with the following artists set to perform, with more still to be announced:

Xavier Rudd
Washington
The John Steel Singers
Bleeding Knees Club
Stonefield

In 2012, Adelaide's 5/4 Entertainment teamed up with Splendour in the Grass' Paul Piticco to put on a "bite sized" Splendour in Adelaide, dubbed the "Spin Off Festival". The first year featured, Lana Del Rey, Kimbra, Band of Skulls and more. 2013 will see the festival returning to give Adelaide fans a reason to celebrate. It will take place at the Thebarton Theatre on Friday, August 2nd.

Last Friday night I peeped behind Electric Playground to find 3 dynamite bands play at The Rev Alley including The Jungle Giants (pictured), Dune Rats and Alpine. The intricacy was very exciting, have a look at the photos from night!

Brisbane’s third Track and Field festival features a collection of artists who are on the rise nationally and beyond, and (for the uninitiated) has absolutely nothing to do with athletics. Headlined by Melbourne’s Alpine, the event also featured local talents The Jungle Giants and Dune Rats plus Tasmania’s Triple J Unearthed High 2012 winner Asta. Held somewhat unusually at Electric Playground, the night turned out to be a great success and genuinely entertaining time for everyone.

Both playing Track and Field in Brisbane this Friday, we asked Dune Rats and The Jungle Giants to shoot each other some questions and here's what came back... the results are... interesting...

Last Saturday saw some of the worlds' tastiest bands play for the under-18 festival "Live it Up" at Brisbane's RNA Showgrounds - such as The Amity Affliction and The Getaway Plan and many more!. Happy vibes all 'round despite the in-climate weather. Jacob Schneider shot these photos with a grin ear to ear the whole day.

When you’re a student who lives at Uni and whose few ventures into the outside world tend to be going out after dark it’s very easy to forget that there are underagers in the world. But in reality it was only a couple of years ago that I was eagerly counting down the days till I turned 18 so I could finally get out to gigs. And so with that in mind I really do appreciate concerts with an underage focus such as Live It Up Music Festival.

Returning from the USA triumphant is going to be scenario when Dune Rats come home this month. The Brisbane duo will be embarking on their first headline tour of Australia in nine months following on from an attention-grabbing appearance at SXSW and an even more attention-grabbing video for their song "Red Light, Green Light". Touring material to feature on their forthcoming Smile EP, Dune Rats will be tearing up a venue near you through the end of March into April.

Adelaide band Horror My Friend have an exciting month or so ahead, with some exciting tour news to come out of their camp! The boys are about to head out on an east coast tour, playing their own headline dates, as well as supporting the rock force that is British India on their Comptroller album tour. Check them out at the following venues!

HORROR MY FRIEND - EAST COAST TOUR DATES

March 31 - Rhino Room, ADELAIDE
w/ Dune Rats

Two fantastic Australian bands appearing on the same bill in Los Angeles for $10? This was one show we couldn't say no to, as we head en route to SXSW in Austin, Texas. These two bands in question, playing the intimate Bootleg Theater near Silverlake, were the always entertaining group from Melbourne, Alpine and the bong loving duo of Brisbane, Dune Rats. Though both bands received a fantastic reception, it was Alpine who stole the show for the crowd, with massive attendance and a clear group of fans right up front, singing along and getting excited to songs like "Gasoline". With both bands now regulars on the US circuit we're expecting some great things for them over here in the US... but for now, please enjoy these photos from Andrew Wade (Words by Larry Heath).

In just over a month, the city of Austin, Texas will be throwing open its doors to tens of thousands of music fans, industry officials and musicians for the annual SXSW music festival and conference. Amongst that number are thirty-eight Australian artists. Over the course of the next couple of weeks we'll be profiling these artists, offering a brief introduction to what they’re about and what they have to offer.

While we were in New York for CMJ, we headed down to Coney Island just before it was ravaged by Hurricane Sandy and happened to bump into Brisbane boys Dune Rats wreaking their own havoc on the Island, which happened to be celebrating the Halloween season at the time. They managed to get a music video out of their good times for their new single "Red Light, Green Light", which ends with a short video that sums up the rest of their New York good times. Perhaps that's putting it mildly. Enjoy the premiere of this highly entertaining music video below!

In this issue:The Rolling Stones Kooyong Anniversary Show, Christian Vance Live and L-Vis 1990 and Bok Bok, St Kilda Festival at the Espy, Norma Jean at the Corner Hotel, Phronesis Sydney show, Garry David venue and lineup update, Allen Stone debut Australian tour, extra show added for Peanut Butter Wolf, Jordan Millar sophomore album launch, 'Bowled Over' triple j hottest 100, The Livingstone Daisies, The Music Maker Blues Revue and Foals vs Baio.