Claire Ritchie
Published on
WA Music Week by WAM is back, running 7th – 16th August in Walyalup (Fremantle), and yes, you know it’s a good week when it runs for 10 days! With regional acts taking the stage and our very own RAWA Investment Coordinator, Carla Steele, joining the program, here’s a look at some of the highlights worth marking in your calendar.
Maboo Nooloo Booroo:
Wednesday 12 August, Hybrid Warehouse
Kimberley music makes its way south for an intimate acoustic showcase. AJ Moore and Bart Marr play solo sets, with Stellar Moon performing, backed by wood-fired pizzas and a bar. Coming from Broome, they’ll need a big crowd there to help warm them up!
WAM Regional Showcase:
Friday 14 August, Mojo’s
Discover some of the best original music coming out of regional WA with a lineup that brings together artists who’ve travelled a long way, geographically and musically, to be on this stage.
Amberley Maryellen (pictured above, photo by Charlotte Goff) brings honest, vulnerable songwriting from Gingin, and comes into the night on the back of being named Emerging Artist of the Year at the 2026 WA Country Music Awards. We’ve watched her journey with particular pride, having supported her through our Quick Response (funded by the Australian Government and delivered and managed by Regional Arts WA) and Next-Level Fellowship Grants (proudly supported by the WA Government).
Zai Pereira, a Brazilian-born musician now calling Esperance home, will be bringing high energy, and Margaret River’s Brightsider will keep the room moving.
Paige Valentine, an Esperance songwriter who recently assisted with our Outback Prac program at The Cannery Arts Centre, will draw you in with her ethereal, indie-pop-folk storytelling.
Inside the Assessment Panel:
Saturday 15 August, Freo Social
Our very own headline act, RAWA Investment Coordinator, Carla Steele, is jumping on the stage at Freo Social. From 1–2pm, Inside the Assessment Panel, moderated by Maisie Glen (WAM), pulls back the curtain on what happens after you hit submit on a grant application. Alongside Chris Wheeldon (RTRFM), Luke Rinaldi (Sweetmate) and Kelsie Miller (Across The Road Music), Carla will walk through example applications, unpacking what makes them strong, where they fall short, and what assessors are actually looking for.
Regional Arts WA Drop-In Session:
Saturday 15 August, Old Courthouse Bar
From 2–3.30pm, the conversation moves to the Old Courthouse Bar for our Regional Arts WA Drop-In Session. Whatever stage you’re at (developing an idea, mid-application, or just curious what funding is out there), come along, ask questions and get practical, tailored guidance from RAWA’s Carla Steele.
Larrkardi Sound:
Saturday 15 August, Derby
Heading north from Walyalup, WA Music Week will be in Derby, too! DMAC-6DBY Larrkardi Radio and First Block Sounds present Larrkardi Sound at the 6DBY Radio Station on Wodehouse Street, Derby, featuring Dreamers, DULNGA, Ishmael Barunga, Kallum Mungulu and S.J. Nulgit. Doors open at 5pm, entry is free, and there’s free food while it lasts.
See you there!
From Gingin to Broome, Esperance to Derby, this year’s WA Music Week is a terrific snapshot of what’s happening in regional music right across the state, and a reminder of just how much talent is out there. Whether you make it to one show or all of them, get along, say hello to the artists. And if you’re an artist yourself wondering what support might be available to you, don’t skip our Drop-In Session. See you in Walyalup!
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