2011 WAM Song of the YearAwards

Mon 17th Oct, 2011 in Gig Reviews

If there’s one thing that was immediately apparent on walking into the 2011 WAM Song of the Year Awards, it’s that Perth really does have a diverse and thriving music industry. Including the who’s who of the local industry, sponsors, nominees and fans, the Fly By Night Club was full to capacity, albeit formally seated; a somewhat incongruous set up given the rock n roll nature of most of the attendees.

The WAM Song of the Year awards are designed to recognise and formally acknowledge outstanding song writing throughout Western Australia, giving artists a chance to nominate and be nominated in 16 different categories. This event was hosted expertly by ABC personality Russell Wolfe who entertained the crowd with well-timed and genuinely funny banter – making what might otherwise have been a fairly dry occasion much more bearable.

Performers on the night included the Barrett Brothers (Perth’s answer to the Pigrims) who opened the show with their own brand of acoustic roots music and brought a lovely warmth to the evening, as well as 2010 WAM SotY nominees Georgi Kay, Big Old Bears and The Panda Band.

Winners included Tangled Thoughts of Leaving (Experimental/Heavy), The Panda Band (Pop), Sam Carmody (Rock) and The Stoops (Urban/Hip Hop).

The big daddy of prizes, the WAM song of the Year, was awarded to folk pop prodigy Timothy Nelson for his song Speak the Truth in Love. Winning $2,000 cash, attendance at the 2012 Song Summit in Sydney, opportunities for a publishing deal, three days recording, mastering, cd pressing, as well as a bunch of other things makes this award a prestigious and coveted one.

It has to be said, however, that the highlight of the night was probably Nelson’s speech for winning the ‘Love Song’ category, which included a dramatic re-enactment of his relationship with the girl about whom (one supposes) the winning song was written, ending with the words, “F*ck you for breaking my heart”.

You might be able to put them in seats but you can’t take the rock n roll.