Oztix | News | Stella Donnelly Cleans Up At 2017 WAMAwards

The West Australian music industry converged on the Gate One Theatre at Claremont Showgrounds on Thursday night to celebrate the state's rich creative tapestry at the annual WAMAwards ceremony, as part of this week's broader WAMFest event.

Already-decorated up-and-comer Stella Donnelly was the biggest winner of the night, earning five wins from across six nominations, picking up the awards for Best EP, Best Folk Act, Best Single, Best Female Vocalist and Most Popular New Act.

Also earning multiple prizes were well-regarded indie outfit Methyl Ethel (Best Album, Best Pop Act and Best Male Vocalist), in-demand performer Ziggy Ramo (Best Hip Hop Act and Best Indigenous Act) and the ever-eclectic POW! Negro (Best Urban Act and Most Popular Live Act).

The WAMAwards also let the public have their say through their crowd-voted categories, which this year saw Falls Festival take out Music Event Of The Year, with revered local haunt Mojos Bar earning another Most Popular Venue gong — its fourth consecutive win in the category — in 2017.

On the industry side of things, Phil Stevens (Jarrah Records) picked up the Management Award in recognition of his stellar year, while Caitlin Nienaber of RTRFM got the nod for the Industry Representative Of The Year.

Other awards handed out on the night included the Golden WAMi, which this year went to Nannup Music Festival director and Indigenous-performance advocate Phaedra Watts, as well as Hall of Fame inductions for Eurogliders and Graham Wood.

The affair was capped off with a raft of excellent live outings from Donnelly as well as San Cisco, Harry Mitchell & Daniel Susnjar, John Bennett & David Hyams, RAG N' BONE, Nerve Quakes and The Southern River Band, while The Babuseae Rhythm Section and a DJ set from Timothy Nelson kept the good times rolling into the night.

WAMFest continues through the weekend. Head to the WAM website for more information, and see the full winners' list below.