Perth Cultural Centre opens up to top music festival

The Perth Cultural Centre will be abuzz with a vast array of musical talent on Friday when the boutique music event St Jerome's Laneway Festival comes to Western Australia for the first time.

Planning and Culture and the Arts Minister John Day said the St Jerome's Laneway Festival was a coup for the independent music scene, which had a vibrant support base in WA.

The festival is sponsored by the State Government - through EPRA and the Department of Culture and the Arts - and the City of Perth.

"St Jerome's Laneway Festival has been bringing international music and showcasing local talent to other capital city centres in Australia since 2005," Mr Day said.

"It is about time that this city plays host to an event of this scale and its location at the Perth Cultural Centre provides the perfect synergy with its surrounding cultural aspects.

"The essence of the St Jerome's Laneway Festival is to provide access to indie bands  in the heart of Australia's capital cities. Perth will become part of this inspired concept."

The St Jerome's Laneway Festival started in Melbourne in 2005 and has grown to include Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

More than 30 local, national and international bands will perform on four stages, including Augie March, The Panics, Girl Talk and Architecture in Helsinki. The festival is expected to attract up to 2,500 people.

As well as bringing the best indie music to Perth, the festival also offered one emerging, unsigned Western Australian act the chance to win a place on its schedule.

Dozens of local bands entered the competition, with 12 finalists competing in three heats for the top prize.  The winning band was The Preytells, the highly acclaimed four-piece indie pop band who have been developing their sound and fan base over a number of years.

The St Jerome's Laneway Festival is one of a number of events and exhibitions being brought to the Perth Cultural Centre as part of the State Government's vision to turn it into one of Perth's most lively places.

"The Perth Cultural Centre is one of the biggest publicly-owned landholdings in any Australian city and has the potential to become one of this state's best outdoor venues," the Minister said.

On January 24, a new weekly market was launched at the Perth Cultural Centre. This followed the recent sustainability exhibition, 'the Earth from Above', which was held from November 2008 to January 2009.

The St Jerome's Laneway Festival will be held Friday, February 6, from 2.30pm until midnight.

More information about the festival can be found at http://www.lanewayfestival.com.au