Western Australia’s music community gathered at His Majesty’s Theatre on Tuesday night for the annual presentation of the WAMAwards. With the 2020 awards delayed last year due to the COVID pandemic, it was a long-awaited opportunity for both artists and the music industry alike to come together and acknowledge the contribution of those both on and off the stage.
Leading the way with a massive four award wins was Fremantle four-piece Spacey Jane who took out awards for Best Pop Act, Most Popular Act, Best Single for Booster Seat, and a tied win with WA music royalty Tame Impala for Best Album, with their release Sunlight. Not far behind was the evergreen Grace Barbé, taking home three awards including Best Global Music Act, Best Vocalist and Best Bassist. Mojo’s Bar continued its reign as WA’s most-loved live music spot, taking out the award for Most Popular Venue for the seventh year in a row.
The coveted 2020 Golden WAMi was awarded to the highly deserving Will Backler of RTRFM. Working tirelessly both on and off the mic, Backler’s contributions as RTRFM’s Music & Program Director, Interviews Coordinator and Head of Training provide countless opportunities for WA artists and industry, whilst championing the broad diversity of talent WA has to offer.
The night also paid tribute in honouring this year’s two Hall of Fame inductees, Paul McCarthy (RIP) and Fitzroy XPress. Members of McCarthy’s last band Circus performed in tribute to the legendary singer/songwriter and Fitzroy Xpress also took to the stage in celebration of their achievement.
Keeping up the energy up throughout the night were stellar live performances from winners Adrian Dzvuke, Bexx, MissGenius, Noah Dillon, Tanya Ransom and nominees Nika Mo and Alter Boy. Topping the evening off with a bang was a special full-band performance – their first in 12 months – from multi-WAMAward winning Tame Impala, giving the audience a rare opportunity to witness WA’s own international music phenomenon in a theatre setting.
Check out the full list of the winners below:
Best Bassist presented by Media Arts Lawyers – Grace Barbé
Best Brass/String/Woodwind Instrumentalist presented by Lotterywest – Gemma Farrell (Gemma Farrell Quintet, Artemis Orchestra, Namora Nonet)
Best Drummer/Percussionist presented by Mega Music – Talya Valenti (Bolt Gun, Stella Donnelly)
Best Electronic Producer presented by Pilerats – SLUMBERJACK
Best Guitarist presented by Yamaha – Guy Ghouse (Gina Williams & Guy Ghouse)
Best Keys/Synth Artist presented by Perth Audio Visual – Josiah Padmanabham (Grievous Bodily Calm)
Best Live Sound Engineer presented by Mustang Bar – Jeremy Beste
Best Studio Sound Engineer/Producer Presented by SAE Qantm Creative Media Institute – Andy Lawson (Debaser Studios)
Best Vocalist presented by Lyric’s Underground – Grace Barbé
Best Album presented by Indian Ocean Hotel – Tame Impala Slow Rush, Spacey Jane Sunlight
Best Blues/Roots Act presented by Blues at Bridgetown – Matty T Wall
Best Country Act presented by Country Music Club Boyup Brook – Siobhan Cotchin
Best EP presented by Milk Bar – Noah Dillon Everything Melts
Best Experimental Act presented by RTRFM – Rachael Dease
Best Folk Act presented by Clancy’s Fremantle – Jack Davies & The Bush Chooks
Best Hip-Hop Act presented by Sorrento Strategic Music – Adrian Dzvuke
Best Indigenous Act presented by Nannup Music Festival – MissGenius
Best Jazz Act presented by Alex Hotel – Daniel Susnjar Afro-Peruvian Jazz Group
Best Live Electronic Act presented by The Sewing Room – Your Girl Pho, BEXX
Best Metal/Heavy Act presented by Kosmic – Bolt Gun
Best Music Video presented by A0 Let’s Go – Psychedelic Porn Crumpets Mr Prism
Best Pop Act presented by Lolly Box Music – Spacey Jane
Best Punk/Hardcore Act presented by Hammer Ink – Dennis Cometti
Best Regional Act presented by Hertz – Tanya Ransom
Best Rock Act presented by Badlands Bar – The Southern River Band
Best Single presented by The Bird – Spacey Jane Booster Seat
Best R&B/Funk/Soul Act presented by Freo.Social – Grievous Bodily Calm
Best Global Music Act presented by APRA AMCOS – Grace Barbé
Label of the Year presented by Shiny Rabbit – Blue Grey Pink
Golden WAMi presented by City of Perth – Will Backler (RTRFM)
Most Popular Act presented by Rosemount Hotel – Spacey Jane
Most Popular Live Act presented by RAC Arena – Electric State
Most Popular Live or Streaming Music Event presented by Moshtix – Nannup Music Festival
Most Popular New Act presented by The Aardvark – Electric State
Most Popular Venue presented by The Poster Girls – Mojo’s Bar
The WAMAward winners were announced at His Majesty’s Theatre on Tuesday, March 23 as part of WAM’s WA Music Week. For more info on upcoming WAM events, including WAMFest this weekend head to wam.com.au.
Photos by Keith Mitchell
