Here's everything happening in Perth for WA Music Week 2021, kicking off NOW!

Header image by Harry Bowman Photography.

The last 12 months have been difficult for West Australian music, but one thing that has always prevailed is the close-knit community that keeps it all held together. Faced with the uncertainty of their future with coronavirus, WA musicians - almost all of them - gathered together to raise money and awareness for those affected by the bushfires on the east coast in early 2020, and then when it happened over here in Perth later in the year, they auctioned off merch as a way to further raise funds, this time without putting artists further out of pocket.

Through every hiccup, it's become apparent that West Australia's music community will bind together to get through it, and the forthcoming WA Music Week is another example of that. It's a week-long celebration (well, 10 days actually) of the state's music world showcased at its best; Perth and its surrounds coming to life with events that spotlight live music and everything that works behind it to make it what it is. 

Beginning this Friday March 19th, WA Music Week is a 10-day-long series that emphasises the brilliance of music and culture in WA. From WAMFest and WAMCon to the two-day-spanning Hear & Now event series right through to the week-long programming for the grant-supported Music Everywhere series, there are tonnes of action going down for this year's WA Music Week, which even in its inaugural year, seems to be an unmissable event.

The program for WA Music Week just dropped - you can find it here - but there is so much going on that it's a little hard to digest, which is where we step in. Here, you can find our ultimate guide for WA Music Week, diving into which events are unmissable amongst the 10-day program. Find it all below, and stay tuned to Pilerats over the next few weeks as Perth comes to life with live music, and WA Music Week kicks off in a big way.

Friday, March 19th

6PM: Hear & Now @ HBF Stadium - March 19th is the opening day of WA Music Week, and it kicks off with the first day of Hear & Now, a two-day event series coming to WA Music Week over its first weekend. The Friday line-up is stacked with some of the best talent WA has, with POND and San Cisco stepping up to headline the night, alongside Stella Donnelly, Adrian Dzvuke and interval sets from ones-to-watch. Tickets are only $44 each, and you can grab them here.

8PM: Lakesider Single Launch @ Lucy's Love Shack - March 19th also marks the start of Music Everywhere, a week-long series of events featuring West Australian musicians that have been supported by WA Government grants, with the aim of breathing more life into the WA music space post-COVID. Pop-punk rising stars Lakesider are launching their latest single at Lucy's is one of the first up, and for $5 and a great list of supports - Leah Grant, Mixed Netball and Asparagus Soop - you know it's going to be good.

8PM: An Afrotropik Showcase @ Milk Bar - Afrotropik is one of the most exciting platforms and labels in West Australia, with its leader - the irreplaceable Grace Barbé - going so far as to be ARIA nominated. This event at new Inglewood local Milk Bar emphasises the heights of the label, including its leader Barbé, alongside Soukouss Internationale, Crucial Rockers, Noble Kings and DJ Lady C.

8PM: Turnt Tables ~ Variance @ The Rechabite - The Turnt Tables crew are some of Perth's best party throwers, combining the hard-hitting prowess of some of the world's dance music elite with a loving and supportive atmosphere that keeps you safe and respected. They're turning The Rechabite into a rave den on the Friday, with some amazing acts:Rok Riley, Guy Contact, French Terry, Raaa, Nori, Pip Ah, Spi-C, Sn33ze and At Capacity.

8PM: Great Gable, Supathick @ Esperance Civic Centre - Stepping outside of Perth for a moment, Esperance is a lucky town that will also be reaping the rewards of WA Music Week, largely thanks to Great Gable. The Perth-based favourites will be bringing their live show to the Civic Centre on March 19th, supported by one of the most exciting and smoothest acts within the WA music space: Supathick. 

Saturday, March 20th

5PM: ALT//FEST @ Badlands Bar - On of the first things to kick off on the Saturday of WA Music Week is ALT//FEST, and what an event it appears to be. It's a DIY hotspot for West Australia's left-of-centre talent, including sound-defining heavyweights with genre-experimenting up-and-comers that continue to keep us on our toes. Here's the lineup: Nerve Quakes, Pestis Cultus, MSOL, Dead Jerk, HEXX, Suneater, Paranoias, No Future, Hi OK Sorry, Krimi, Nervous, Christopher J Brown, DIN and Phantasis Satanica.

6PM: Hear & Now @ HBF Stadium - March 20th is the second day of Hear & Now, which - similar to the first event - will feature some brilliant WA musicians at HBF Stadium for what's actually an incredibly cheap night. On Saturday, Spacey Jane are your big headliners, with The Southern River Band, Dulcie and The Struggling Kings on support. There are some incredibly exciting acts amongst the interval acts as well, including 2021 one-to-watch Siobhan Cotchin, as well as Queency, The Little Lord Street Band and more.

8PM: A Lovers Rock Showcase @ Mojo's Fremantle - Bigship and the aforementioned Afrotropik are coming together to launch A Lovers Rock Showcase at North Freo favourite Mojo's, with a stacked lineup full of funk, R&B, soul, gospel and reggae icons: Crucial Lovers, Grace Barbé, Odette Mercy, Tony Papa-Adams, Flex, Natalie Doyle, Drea, David Dreaded King.

8PM: Camarano Album Launch @ The Bird - WA electronic one-to-watch Camarano is entering WA Music Week off the back of his debut album Where Am I Now?, written by the producer over the course of lockdown. He's launching the album (and making a return to the live stage in the process) at The Bird, with some super special guests in Fraeya and Sam Carmody.

8PM: Shadow @ Jack Rabbit Slim's - Shadow is one of Perth's biggest and best names in hip-hop, and WA Music Week sees his return to performing with a show at Jack Rabbit Slim's. You can catch the scene-defying legend - along with his DJ, DJ Bace Kadet - at Jack Rabbit Slim's in what's sure to be one of the best hip-hop shows of WA Music Week.

Sunday, March 21st

12PM: Scarbs Beach Party @ Scarborough - What better than celebrating some of WA's best performances amongst the beautiful Scarbs coast-line? The annual Scarbs Beach Party makes a comeback this year, taking over many beach front bars and live music venues with guests including Young Robin, Otiuh, Dear Sunday, BEXX, Grace Sanders, Sunday Sundown and more.

12PM: The State Outdoors @ The Rosemount Hotel - The Rosemount Hotel is a hot bed for live music, so as you'd expect, they are alight with 10/10 events this WA Music Week. The State Outdoors is a nice little Sunday sesh amongst it all, featuring live sets from Ghost Care and Grace Sanders alongside favourites like Charlie Bucket, Girlname B2B Yikes and more. Oh, and it's also completely free!

12PM: Snatch Sunday Sesh Street Party @ Newport Hotel - The Snatch events have carved an incredibly exciting space amongst Perth's LGBTQI+ nightlife, bringing a complete queer experience with DJs sharing the stage with drag performers, artists and more. Their forthcoming WA Music Week Sunday Sesh is included, featuring CHANBINO, MissGenius, BEXX, Miss Estonia, Shambizzle, YNG RACH, Jamilla, Anesu and their ever-incredible roster of performers and artists.

2PM: Brewed In WA @ Badlands - Featuring Abbe May, BOAT SHOW, The Kill Devil Hills and more, Brewed In WA is - quite simply - huge. Featuring some of the best WA names from the last decade, it really captures the whole spectrum of indie/rock/punk talent in WA, and how it's continued to inspire us throughout the past into the future.

Monday, March 22nd 

7PM: Urban Songlines @ The Bird - Curated by Noongar musician Charlie Penny, the Urban Songlines event is bound to be one of the most important and inspiring of WA Music Week, exploring the connection between the land and music while highlighting stories from Noongar history using Indigenous performers and artists. There's a smoking ceremony and more happening too; it's going to be quite the event.

Tuesday, March 23rd 

6PM: WAMAwards @ His Majesty's Theatre - The WAMAwards are an annual celebration of WA music, emphasising and commerorating the best and most brilliant WA musicians from the last year. Details on this year's WAMAwards are still pretty tight, but the nominations are endless, and there's usually a good few performers in there too. Plus, it gives you an excuse to dress up!

Wednesday, March 24th 

8PM: Blue Grey Pink Showcase @ The Bird - In case you're not aware, Blue Grey Pink is the label / management company behind some of West Australia's most exciting acts both past and present, including recent breakthrough one-to-watch Noah Dillon. They're throwing a little showcase during WA Music Week, including a secret headliner plus guests like Pat Chow, Dolce Blue, Sugar Wife (Solo) and Odlaw DJ’s.

Thursday, March 25th 

8PM: Base MGMT Launch @ The Bird - Another WA-based management venture is showcasing as a part of WA Music Week, with the newly-minted Base MGMT set to officially launch at The Bird on March 25th. Included are a bunch of acts we haven't really shut up about over the last few months - Priscilla, BEXX, Bad Weather, Jamilla (DJ Set) - so you know it's going to be a good time.

Friday, March 26th

ALL DAY: WAMFest @ Various Venues - WAMFest officially kicks off on the Friday with a couple of great looking acts across venues in Perth and Northbridge. Included on the Friday of WAMFest are The Little Lord Street Band, Adrian Dzvuke, Priscilla, The Limbs, Boox Kid, Paige Valentine, Grace Barbé and more.

ALL DAY: WAMCon @ State Theatre Centre - If you're an up-and-coming star of the music industry or just wanting to learn more, WAMCon is a must-attend day of programming talking about some of the biggest things in music. On the Friday, you can hear Sub Pop Records Founder Bruce Pavitt talk, release chats from Dew Process, IOHYOU, Remote Control and UNIFIED (and us!), financial chats from APRA AMCOS, and discussions and panels about industry decolonisation music managing, grants, remote touring and a keynote from Electric Fields.

6PM: Primary Pop All Ages Edition @ YMCA HQ - There aren't many all-ages events as a part of WA Music Week, but Primary Pop are here to fill in the gaps. Featuring Club Sentimental, Muscle Club, Mixed Netball, Nic Rollo and Mitch Santiago, the event will showcase some West Australian up-and-comers in the pop and lo-fi indie world, and you know it's going to be a whole heap of fun.

6PM: Plant Milk Mini Fest @ The Rosemount - Plant Milk Music are a god-send to Perth's live music space, often putting up acts and experiences you wouldn't find elsewhere. Their first ever mini-fest is included in that, bringing market stalls and drag performances alongside sets by a couple of favourites amongst Perth music and performing arts: BEXX, MissGenius, Last Quokka, Jamilla, Anesu and more included.

8PM: Pot Plant House Party @ Lynott’s Lounge - Pot Plant House Party were one of our favourite new acts to emerge in 2019/2020, and they're keeping things going as they return to the live stage for WA Music Week. Supported by Fadeaway, Paranoias & Russets, it's a great opportunity to see some brilliant WA acts - including one of the best.

8PM: SIDEFEST @ Freo.Social - SIDEFEST is the first ever live event from SIDEQUEST, a recently-launched label/management company born from one of Perth's most brilliant musical minds. They're taking over Freo.Social for WA Music Week, with an absolutely s-t-a-c-k-e-d lineup including Sly Withers, Ursula, Old Mervs, King Ibis and Ghost Care DJs (playing only WA music).

Saturday, March 27th

ALL DAY: WAMFest @ Various Venues - The Saturday of WAMFest is really the pinnacle of WA Music Week, where almost every live music venue in Perth and Northbridge open up and celebrate West Australian musicians at their peak. There is a LOT of acts playing this year, but here's a couple we have circled in preperation: Joan & The Giants, Tanaya Harper, Ursula, Tether, Carla Geneve, Peter Bibby's Dog Act, Siobhan Cotchin, Lo, Big Orange, Death By Denim, Great Gable, Dulcie, Ghost Care, Alter Boy, Cruel Noon, Skyuka, Grievous Bodily Calm, BEXX, People Taking Pictures, Yomi Ship, Moana, Racka Chachi, yourboymars and more.

ALL DAY: WAMCon @ State Theatre Centre - The second day of WAMCon is just as stacked as the first, with events integeral to the music industry and its future ahead. On the second day, expect keynotes from producer and academic Susan Rogers and tech master-of-all-trades Cherie Hu, alongside discussions about event safety, TikTok, streaming and more.

12PM: WA Music Week Record Fair @ State Theatre Centre - The annual Record Fair is a cornerstone of WAMFest programming, and as a part of WA Music Week, it's been bolstered out into a hotspot of record collecting. Expect big local labels and record label collectors to be present, and try nab some rare gold.

Sunday, March 28th

4PM: Block 2 Block @ The Bird - Crab Claw and Foolish are two incredibly exciting programmers amongst the dance music community here, and they're coming together to close WA Music Week with Block 2 Block, a day-long venture of forward-thinking programming featuring some incredible acts and performers. It's only $15, and includes guests like Nina BC, Mr. Sinclair, Nora Zion, Tookie, Cooper Cooper and Ningaloo Records.

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