Western Australian musicians pushing boundaries

An impressive cross-section of genres, wide-reaching tours and recording projects will be supported in the first of the Contemporary Music Grants for 2009.

Culture and the Arts Minister John Day said the projects receiving funding in this round demonstrated the diversity and strength of Western Australian music.
 

"The WA music industry has long been recognised for producing national and internationally acclaimed musicians but the scope represented in this round illustrates the depth of talent in this state," Mr Day said.
 

"From rockabilly to metal and pop, WA truly is a melting pot of musical expression."

This Contemporary Music Grants round will fund marketing, recording, mentoring and touring projects to a total of almost $170,000.
 

Two award winning bands, The Preytells and Project Mayhem, will receive a combined total of more than $18,000 to record and release debut albums.
 

"It is difficult for local bands with limited resources to record, release and market full-length albums and this is one of the areas where the Contemporary Music Grants are making a tangible difference," Mr Day said.

Local noise/improvisation group Abe Sada (Predrag Delibasich) has been funded $12,448 to tour Japan and Eastern Europe to capitalise on their reputations in both regions.

As a result of their first tour to Japan, Abe Sada was able to assist other local bands with contacts in the Japanese music industry resulting in two separate tours.

"Western Australian musicians have a unique sense of determination and community and it is inspiring to see other bands providing assistance and supporting the growth of WA music overseas as Abe Sada has," the Minister said.

All applications to the Arts Grants Program are peer assessed by members of the contemporary music sector including practising artists, arts managers and individuals with relevant knowledge and experience appointed by the Culture and the Arts Minister.

The funding allocated in this round is for projects starting after May 1, 2009.
 
For more information on the Department of Culture and the Arts grants programs visit the website http://www.dca.wa.gov.au/

Contemporary Music Panel - March 2009
15 applications were approved to a total of $169,361

Commercial Development
Three applications supported to a total of $32,652

The Preytell $9,016
Kingsley
To promote and market the release of The Preytells debt album to a national audience. This will be done through hiring a publicist, radio plugger and online marketing campaigns. This activity is timely for The Preytells following the release of three well-received EPs, attracting national music industry interest and receiving significant radio play.

Hidden Shoal Publishing $11,636       
Eden Hill
Hidden Shoal Publishing will commence a marketing campaign featuring a showcase of five WA artists through a radio airplay compilation CD of their recent releases. The campaign seeks to build on the international sales, distribution and marketing network that Hidden Shoal Publishing has developed. Hidden Shoal will also be running a targeted online promotional campaign centred on high-profile independent music websites.

Sarah Newman  $12,000
Mount Claremont
Sarah Newman will undertake the promotion and marketing the launch of her second full-length CD to a national audience. Sarah will be looking to build her existing national profile by employing a publicist for the launch and eastern states tour.

Mentoring & Skills Development
Two applications supported to a total of $17,833
 
City of Albany  $10,073
Albany
The City of Albany's The Recipe for Jam initiative will provide an intense musical professional development program for local musicians aged between 15 and 35. The week of workshops culminate in a concert supporting Rob Hirst (Midnight Oil) and the recording of a demo CD. This project has been supported by the Department of Culture and the Arts for three years and in that time has provided skills for regional musicians including song writing, recording and production and performance.

Warwick Tullock  $7,760
Laverton
Laverton musician, Warwick Tullock and his band, will undertake a mentorship with local producer Leon Ewing.  Warwick will have intensive song writing development to the lead up of his debut recording. He has also received support through Michael Hutchings at Indigenous Recording Studios, Gadigal in NSW, who is interested in recording Warwick in the future.

Production
Four applications supported to a total of $37,250
 
Project Mayhem  $9,250
Subiaco
The recording and launch of a debut full-length album by rock band Project Mayhem. The album will be recorded by Al Smith at Bergerk! Studio. As the winners of two WAMi awards and the Next Big Thing competition in 2008, this is a timely opportunity for the band. Project Mayhem is well placed to capitalise on its success by producing its first full-length album.

Alex MacRae  $10,000
West Leederville
Sons of Rico will record their debut album with multi-WAMi award winner Dave Parkin from Blackbird Studios and mastered by Eden Sounds, Melbourne. The band has consistently increased their sales with each EP release and is looking to capitalise on this with the production of their first full-length recording.

Voyager  $8,000
Nedlands
To record and release the third album I am the ReVolution for melodic-metal band, Voyager. The band will record with Adam Round at Kingdom Studios and mastering will be organised through their German label, Dockyard 1. The band has established an international following after two successful European tours and is looking to capitalise on their earlier successes.

Alex Arpino  $10,000
Beckenham
Pop outfit The Autumn Isles is to record their debut full-length CD with Shaun O'Callaghan at Couch Studio. The band has received local and national airplay from two previous releases Wish Lists and Sunken Lands and A Beautiful Pantomime. The Autumn Isles recently performed at the Southbound Festival 2009 and supported outfits including Machine Translations, Architecture in Helsinki, Clare Bowditch and Josh Pyke.

Touring
Six applications supported to a total of $81,626

Toby Beard  $19,761
Carine
Roots band, Toby, will undertake a 17 show tour across USA and Canada, including performances at Summerfest and Pridefest, and build on the success of the band's first tour of North America in 2008.  Toby's albums LoveUnderGround and Live at the Fly DVD will both be promoted throughout the tour and online.

John Dutton $14,021
Dianella
Johnny Law and the Pistol Packing Daddies will tour the band's full length CD throughout Europe and America. The band will be building on its previous tours and focusing on achieving greater exposure within the rockabilly genre. The band has been approached by Paragon Promotions (Los Angeles) and Go Cat Go Booking Agency (Austin, Texas) to book and promote the tour.

Chaos Divine $10,128
Mosman Park
Metal band Chaos Divine will perform at the ProgPower festival in the Netherlands to gain exposure in the European metal scene. Prior to the festival dates, the band has secured the support spot for Spanish metal band Nahemah to tour Germany.

Abe Sada (Predrag Delibasich)  $12,448
Leederville
Local noise / improvisation group Abe Sada is to tour Japan and Eastern Europe. The band has secured distribution in both regions and will be following up interest with a European label. Ade Sada toured Japan in 2007 passing on contacts to other local bands resulting in two separate tours and will be hoping to establish new links into this new market.

Boys Boys Boys  $10,329
Perth
Pop band Boys Boys Boys will undertake a tour of Australia to promote their new album, Yes! The tour in October 2009 will incorporate Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane and will include support spots with Young and the Restless and Institute Polaire. The band has generated significant interest through national radio play and will be hoping to capitalise on this exposure.

Claire Clarke  $14,939
Jandakot
Claire will perform 19 shows over 15 weeks as part of the Boost Mobile Rock the Schools tour.  The East Coast tour will take in Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and regional Victoria and NSW. The tour will coincide with the national release of her Shut Your Mouth CD and will be a great opportunity for Claire to increase her profile to her target audience.

Minister's office  - 9213 6600