WAMi Festival calendar takes shape

The West Australian Music Industry Organisation have confirmed details of this year’s WAMi Festival – and it’s set to be the biggest yet.

The centrepiece of this year’s festival will take place at the Claremont Showgrounds on February 25, when The Angels, Rose Tattoo and The Screaming Jets will pay tribute to iconic ACDC frontman Bon Scott.

The festival kicks off on February 16 at 6.30pm with a free show from Sugar Army in Forrest Place in the city. Later that night, Birds of Tokyo will launch their debut album at Club Capitol with Rollerskates and Celladore.

Snowman head the bill at the Rosemount on the second day of the festival with support from The Wednesday Society, The Autumn Isles and Felicity Groom. Down the road, there’s a triple CD launch from Moonlight Wranglers, Boygirl and The Body of John at the Hyde Park Hotel.

The all-ages action gets going in Fremantle, also on the 27th, as pint-sized rockers The Flairz headline the Garage Kids Ball at the Fremantle Arts Centre. Joining them on the lineup are The Watts, Real Life Animators and more.

Triple J get involved on Sunday the 18th with their annual Live at the Wireless WA edition. Bob Evans is this year’s headliner, and the Jebediah frontman’s alter-ego will share the bill with Bobby Blackbird and the Bluejays and WAM Song of the Year winners Institut Polaire.

And if that wasn’t enough Bob lovin’ for you, he’ll be performing a free show as part of Curtin Uni’s O-Day celebrations the very next day with Snowman also set to appear.

All the movers and shakers will come together on Wednesday the 21st at the WAMi Awards night at Beck’s Verandah. Triple J’s Robbie Buck and Rosie Beaton will be running the night, and punters will be treated to performances from some of WA music’s biggest names.

Gyroscope headline a two-room show at Club Capitol and Amplifier Bar on Friday the 23rd, sharing the night with Red Jezebel, The Silents, The Volcanics and more. Also appearing are Faith in Plastics, whose Hate to Say it will feature on a series of TV advertisements for WAM.

Amplifier and Capitol host another two-room event on the Saturday night, with some of our best heavy bands as well as some friendly neighbours. Heavy Weight Champ, Pathogen, Subtruck and Antistatic will all play, as well as Singaporean band Firebrands.

Across the railway that night, the WA music industry will engulf Northbridge for 12 hours in a six-stage spectacular. End of Fashion and The Panda Band lead the invasion, with Streetlight, The Fault, The Colors, The Kill Devil Hills, Eleventh He Reaches London and about 23489723 other bands joining them.

While the Bon Scott Celebration takes place at the showgrounds, Birds of Tokyo will headline the City of Victoria Park’s annual YAC-A-TOA concert. Hail Mary and Battlecat have also been confirmed for the gig, with more bands to be confirmed.

Tickets for all events will be available through the usual outlets, while sales for the awards night, Gyroscope’s show and the Saturday Spectacular will be available through Heatseeker from January 29. For full details of all gigs, keep checking the FasterLouder gig guide.