PERTH FEST REVIEW: WA talent on full display in WA Mixtape
Western Australia has always punched above its weight with its musical output, and Perth Festival (in collaboration with RTRFM)’s WA Mixtape proved that in an emphatic nature.
Held in the picturesque Government House Gardens (aka Kim Beazley’s backyard) in the heart of the city, the event attracted an array of picnickers of all ages, with deaf interpreters helping to foster an inclusive atmosphere. The varied line-up spanned a plethora of genres and locations all around WA, with each artist taking on one cover from another WA band as well as performing at least one original.
Following a welcome to country, Phil Walley-Stack and the Perth Symphony Orchestra started the event in style with a stirring cover of the iconic ‘Treaty’ by Yothu Yindi, the one non-WA song allowed. The Triffids proved popular, with their hit ‘Wide Open Road’ taken on by both Carla Geneve and Noah Dillon. These two have been making waves in the scene in the past few years, and their sets proved why they are each up for a spread of WAM Awards.
Other highlights included the Gemma Farrell Quintet performing a unique jazzy instrumental version of ‘Old Man’ from Perth’s beloved Stella Donnelly and Your Girl Pho bringing the night to a close with a set of upbeat originals before bringing Katy Steele out, the pair keeping it in the family with a cover of ‘Walking on a Dream’ by one of Steele’s brother’s groups Empire of the Sun. Perhaps my favourite set of the night, however, was reserved for Dennis Commetti (the band, not the commentator), who tore through a cover of The Scientists’ ‘Last Night’ (with the man Kim Salmon himself) before ripping through their raucous original ‘WAXIT’, which was deservedly RTRFM’s most played song of 2020.
Overall, WA Mixtape exemplified the excellence of the Perth music scene. It showed why we are so lucky to live here, not just in a pandemic where such events aren’t possible in most cities but also in so-called ‘ordinary’ times, where world-class talent can be found in just about any venue you may find yourself in.
