More than $300,000 in funding has been provided to Western Australia’s contemporary music artists this year as part of the Contemporary Music Fund Grant Program.
Twenty-nine projects have received funding so far, including singer-songwriter Katy Steele – from Perth band Little Birdy – to record a new solo album of original, self-composed music.
Funk and soul band Randa and the Soul Kingdom also received funding, enabling them to film two music videos with award-winning producer David LeMay. The band will also be able to release their new album, which will include a marketing campaign and national tour.
Rock band Psychedelic Porn Crumpets received support for a tour across the United States. This included 13 Headline shows, taking part in the SXSW music festival and undertaking international promotional activities.
The Contemporary Music Fund Grant Program’s next major round is open now until June 27, 2019, offering funding between $15,000 and $60,000. For smaller grants under $15,000, music artists can apply any time throughout the year.
All contemporary Western Australian music artists and professionals are invited to apply for projects that enable them to produce and promote their music.
This $1 million grant program is part of the Contemporary Music Fund. Along with other targeted initiatives, the Fund will deliver a total of $3 million into the State’s contemporary music sector over the next four years.
The Contemporary Music Fund Grant Program is administered by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. For more information, visit
As stated by Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman:
“The contemporary music industry contributes to the vibrancy of our State and creates jobs and tourism opportunities.
“The Contemporary Music Fund is returning the favour, by giving homegrown music artists a helping hand in a very competitive industry.
“We have some incredibly talented music artists in Western Australia, and I encourage them to apply in this next major grant round.”
Contemporary Music Fund Grant Program successful applicants from January 1, 2019 to May 27, 2019:
The trustee for Love and a Shotgun Trust, Mount Lawley, $37,536
The grant will support singer-songwriter Katy Steele to record and distribute a new solo album of original, self-composed music.
Randa Khamis, Balcatta, $24,496
With this funding Randa and the Soul Kingdom will release and market their new album through a national media and marketing campaign, distribute their album and go on a national tour. They will also create music videos to accompany two singles.
Hayley Jane Ayres, Maylands, $3,937
The grant enabled music manager Hayley Ayres to attend The Great Escape music festival and conference as a delegate. The Great Escape took place in Brighton, United Kingdom in May 2019.
Jamie Oehlers, Carine, $14,920
The grant enabled Jamie Oehlers to take his new and original album ‘Night Music’ on a national tour, performing at major jazz festivals and venues in Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle, Adelaide, Canberra, Brisbane and Perth.
Decibel New Music Ensemble Inc, Mount Lawley, $12,854
Thanks to this funding, Decibel will present seven concert programs in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane as part of their 10th anniversary year.
The Southern River Band Pty Ltd, Thornlie, $10,496
In February and March 2019, The Southern River Band were able to undertake a debut national tour in Geelong, Melbourne, Byron Bay, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Sydney, Perth and Margaret River.
Natasha Shanks, Morley, $10,745
The Little Lord Street Band were supported to release the first single from their debut album. This included artwork design, filming a video clip with cinematographer David LeMay, publicity activities and a launch event.
GT Gunson & N Iliadis & H Macarthur & PA Mazzulla, Mount Lawley, $4,508
Indie-rock band Death By Denim went on a national headline tour in March 2019 to promote their new single. They played at venues in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Dunsborough.
Tara Tiba, Bateman, $14,962
The grant supported Tara Tiba and her Iranian-Cuban band to debut their second album ‘OMÍD’ at WOMAdelaide Festival in March 2019.
A Axe & VG Thornton, Fremantle, $14,345
The grant will support Fremantle band The Tommyhawks to play at festivals and venues across Australia, allowing them to promote the release of their debut album on a much larger stage.
Elise Reitze-Swensen, Cockburn, $9,721
Electronic percussion duo Feels, made up of Elise Reitze-Swensen and Rosie Taylor, travelled to Austin, Texas to showcase at music festival SXSW in March 2019 and meet with international booking agencies, publishers and managers.
The Trustee for The PPC Trust, Churchlands, $7,165
The grant supported rock band Psychedelic Porn Crumpets on a tour across the United States. This included 13 Headline shows, taking part in the SXSW music festival and undertaking promotional activities.
Lincoln MacKinnon, Fremantle, $8,996
Alt-rock band Lincoln MacKinnon and The Wrecking Train received funding for the 2019 national tour of their new album ‘Sparks Will Fly’.
Aminah Hughes, Balcatta, $7,487
Blues singer Aminah Hughes will be supported to attend the 17th Annual Independent Music Awards in New York later this month where she has a song up for nomination.
Carla Geneve, Fremantle, $9,759
This grant will support singer songwriter Carla Geneve on her tour of North America this month as the support act to indie pop band San Cisco.
Matthew Cammarano, Kwinana, $1,564
Indie-pop singer songwriter Mat Cammarano received funding for his first ever headliner tour, promoting the release of his new album ‘Shadow Calling’ in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
The Trustee for LCR Trust, Nedlands, $14,882
Thanks to this grant, singer songwriter Abbe May will record and produce 15 songs into a full-length album that will be released in 2020.
Dylan Ollivierre, Willagee, $5,457
After the success of their 2019 debut album, Perth band The Money War will receive funding to self-produce new songs with music videos, promote three singles for playing on radio, TV and online streaming services such as Spotify, and take part in a launch event.
Thomas Langridge, Mount Lawley, $5,586
Perth metal band Advent Sorrow received funding to promote their second album, ‘Kali Yuga Crown’. The band performed at Steelfest in Helsinki, Finland, the Incineration Festival in London and headlined four other shows in the United Kingdom.
Juliana Vasconcellos Mendes, Mount Lawley, $2,743
This grant supported Perth-based Brazilian singer Juliana Areias from Bossa Nova Baby to travel to Florida, USA to receive an award and perform at the Focus Brasil Awards.
Daniel Susnjar, Mount Lawley, $3,378
The Daniel Susnjar Afro-Peruvian Jazz Group participated in the 2019 jazzahead! conference in Bremen, Germany last April. The group were able to take their work to an international stage and network with top-level industry professionals.
Alison Flintoff, Dawesville, $5,674
In March 2019, singer songwriter Alison Flintoff was able to showcase her Denise le Menice Project at the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas.
AP Pollard & LE Pollard, Perth, $14,286
The grant supported Perth experimental band Tangled Thoughts of Leaving on a European tour, showcasing at Pelagic Fest in Germany and dunk!festival in Belgium.
Demon Days Band, Midland, $14,762
This grant enabled neo soul band Demon Days to perform at Canadian Music Week in May 2019. The event provided an excellent opportunity to introduce the band to the North American market.
Kate Pass, Balcatta, $10,560
This funding supported Kate Pass and her eight-piece band Kohesia Ensemble to travel to Canberra and Sydney for performances at the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Folk Festival and live music venue Lazybones bar.
Tinashe Soko, Fremantle, $10,495
Zimbabwean-born Perth rapper T$oko received funding to produce and release three singles and create video clips for each song.
Phoebe Gunson, Scarborough, $14,291
This grant enabled singer songwriter Phoebe Gunson – aka Your Girl Pho – to travel to Canadian Music Week where she had been invited to showcase her music.
Moana Lutton, Willagee, $8,725
Rock band Moana was supported to mix and master their debut album with producer Andy Lawson and engineer William Bowden, followed by promotional activities and a launch event in Perth.
The Faim Touring Pty Ltd, Forrestfield, $8,374
This grant gave The Faim band significant international exposure, assisting them as the main support act on renowned international musician Andy Black’s 28-show tour of North America in April and May 2019.
