2012 WAMi Festival

The 2012 WAMi Festival is fast approaching, with over 35 events happening over the week long festival, including the return of the WAMi Music Business Conference. The jam packed opening weekend, will host a bevy of local musical acts, including the return of Sunday Live Supported by the City of Perth and the popular annual musician soccer match, Foodchain’s Crustacean Cup.

The return of the WAMi Music Business Conference, presented in partnership with the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA), will see a strong program of essential knowledge, networking and pitching opportunities happen Friday 1 June at the Bakery.

25 Local, interstate and international speakers will be speaking as part of the conference, including the Keynote address with Pat Pattison (Berklee College Music, USA) talking with Lucky Oceans about the songwriting tools that have helped Pat's students, including John Mayer and Gillian Welch, win Grammys and write number one hits.

Other key speakers include Adam Lewis (Planetary Group, USA), Philip Mortlock (Alberts),  Mark Dodds (Inertia), John Mullen (Dew Process), Marianna Annas (ABC Music Publishing) and Millie Millgate (Sounds Australia), who will cover topics such as digital marketing, publishing, licensing, touring, management and much more.

With a wealth of industry visitors in Perth during the WAMi Festival, WAM will again host Industry Speed Dating for workshop participants, which involves one-on-one meetings with speakers, lawyers and industry guests.

The Bill Me Festival Pitch Panel will take place on Saturday 2 June at the Bakery, offering 4 West Australian acts the chance to pitch their music live on the stage before festival booking agents from Sounds Australia, Fairbridge Festival, Nannup Festival, and more, plus a live festival audience.

Celebrating the diversity of West Australia’s musical talent with performances in Forrest Place and Perth Cultural Centre, the Sunday Live Supported by the City of Perth program this year features a bumper lineup that includes Grace Barbé, Odette Mercy & Her Soul Atomics, Datura, Minute 36, The Shallows, Blue Lucy, Fifi Mondello, Jake and the Cowboys, Polly Medlen Band and The Lammas Tide.

As part of Sunday Live, a lively outdoor market, the WAMi Artisan Market, will be set up in the Perth Cultural Centre, featuring eclectic handmade goods, quirky finds, international street food and unique children’s wares at this free, family friendly event on the last weekend in Autumn.

Around the corner in Russell Square, the 3^rd annual Crustacean Cup soccer tournament will take place, with local musicians from bands like Split Seconds, Sugar Army, Red Jezebel, Russian Winters, Cal Peck, Will Stoker, Mace Francis, Chainsaw Hookers and the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra all taking part in the fun, free and family-friendly community event presented by Foodchain, the City of Perth’s youth project arm.

Live music will be on the hour, knock-out games kick-off at 1:30pm and 2:30pm, while the final starts at 3.30pm. Tune into RTRFM from 3-5pm to hear sets from smRts and Astral Travel plus quality commentary of the final match.

Tickets for the WAMi Music Business Conference are $45 for WAM Members, and $55 for Non WAM Members and available from nowbaking.com.au. Entry to the Sunday Live events and the Crustacean Cup is free. For more information on the 2012 WAMi Festival, visit wam.asn.au/wamifestival