WAMFest returns in November, with key dates being announced today alongside the unveiling of new festival coordinators Mark Neal and Simon 'Skinny' O'Leary.
Following three years under the direction of Greg Sanders, the festival is ushering in a batch of new blood with their fresh conscripts, neither of whom should be strangers to anyone familiar with the West Australian music scene.
For the unfamiliar, though, Neal is the man behind multi-faceted bookings, management, production, media and publicity house Blue Grey Pink as well as being a part of outfits The Disappointed and Odlaw.
He has extensive history in local industry media (including The Music and RTRFM), and comes to the coordinator role with existing experience with WAMFest, having previously served as a site manager and festival assistant.
"WAM have been monumental in my career so far," Neal said in a statement. "If it wasn’t for [regional officer] Nigel [Bird] and his regional programs, I probably wouldn’t have been able to find a place in this business.
"Working under Greg for the last three years has been enjoyable, as he brought new life to an old dog, and I look forward to now moving on to new tricks."
O'Leary, meanwhile, is the brains behind all-ages event HyperFest, in addition to playing in Sail On! Sail On!. He's worked with Country Arts WA, Black Swan State Theatre Company and an array of festivals, as well as having toured — and worked as a tour manager — all around the state and across the country.
"I’m incredibly excited to be joining the WAMily working on WAMFest with Mark over the next few years," O'Leary said in a statement. "We’re lucky to be taking the reigns from Greg Sanders, who achieved some awesome things as WAMFest Coordinator and has given us a running start to build from."
Their inaugural event will be here before they know it, with dates being announced today including the WAMAwards on Thursday 2 November, WAMFest Showcases from 2-5 November, and WAMCon from 3-4 November.
Applications to perform at the event, as well as Kiss My WAMi CD submissions and entries for promoters and venues to be a part of WAMFest proceedings, are open now through Thursday 20 July.
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