West Australian Music (WAM) have just announced the return of WAMFest in 2017. The festival will run over four days from Thursday November 2 to Sunday November 5 with the popular WAMCon, WAMAwards and WAMShowcases offering plenty of entertainment and opportunities for fans, artists and music industry members alike.
WAMFest 2016 proved to be the biggest and best yet, breaking records for attendances with over 14,500 music lovers filling 26 venues across Perth. The event featured over 160 artists that showcased the talent and diversity in Western Australia’s vibrant musical landscape. It even took out the prestigious award for metro Australian Live Music Event of the Year at the annual Au Awards.
WAMFest 2017 is set to take the festival to even greater heights. A new team of WAM coordinators have been announced filling the big shoes of departing coordinator Greg Sanders after three stellar years in the role. This year WAM welcomes Mark Neal and Simon “Skinny” O’Leary, and they are promising a festival that will “knock your socks off”.
Simon “Skinny” O’Leary is the festival director of the all-ages music festival HyperFest for the City of Swan. Skinny has previously worked at Country Arts WA, Black Swan State Theatre Company and various other festivals, and has toured and tour managed acts throughout regional WA and Australia. Skinny’s band, Sail On! Sail On! have just self released their debut album and completed their third jaunt around the Australia. “I’m incredibly excited to be joining the WAMily working on WAMFest with Mark over the next few years,” Skinny said. “We’re lucky to be taking the reigns from Greg Sanders, who achieved some awesome things as WAMFest Coordinator and has given us a running start to build from.”
Perth music stalwart Mark Neal is the brains behind bookings, management, production, media and publicity house Blue Grey Pink, supporting up and coming WA talent. Mark manages and plays guitar for alt-poppers The Disappointed and fronts indie rockers Odlaw. The RTRFM presenter has worked for a number of WA organisations and events such as X-Press, The Music, HyperFest and UpBeat events. Mark has also worked with WAM as both site manager and festival assistant under the previous WAMFest coordinator, and has been the go-to tour manager for the WAM Wheatbelt Touring Circuit. “WAM have been monumental in my career so far. If it wasn’t for Nigel and his regional programs, I probably wouldn’t have been able to find a place in this business. Working under Greg for the last three years has been enjoyable, as he brought new life to an old dog, and I look forward to now moving on to new tricks.”
There are a number of big ideas brewing for WAMFest 2017 that are yet to be announced, but make sure you put these dates in your diary:
WAMFest Showcases – Thursday November 2– Sunday November 5
WAMAwards – Thursday November 2
WAMCon – Friday November 3 – Saturday November 4
WAM are also calling for talented folk who want to help set WA alight with the sound of super fine music! They are after performing artists, Kiss My WAMi CD song submissions, promoters and venues that want to take advantage of the incredible opportunities offered by the festival.
For more information and to stay up to date with the exciting new announcements head to wam.org.au.
