Stella Donnelly wins WA touring grant, announces national tour with Alex The Astronaut

Perth singer-songwriter Stella Donnelly, who has just announced a national tour with Alex The Astronaut, has also taken out a WA international development grant.

The co-headline tour covers seven states and 12 shows, with supports to be announced shortly.

Donnelly has also take out the second Otherside International Development Grant, offered by the Otherside Brewing Company, provides $5000 towards international touring.

The grant is one of three grants given out each year by Otherside, a total of $15,000.

Last year’s International Development went to Fremantle act Koi Child (who also used it to play SXSW) while one for an Australian tour was won by Perth band Verge Collection and Mandurah-based surf-rock band Good Doogs will use their Regional Tour Grant for shows next month through the goldfields and midwest.

Otherside grants are paid for from their sales.

Otherside director David Chitty, also a tour promoter and venue operator, acknowledges that touring for WA acts is very expensive.

“We have made no secret or apologies for our commitment to WA’s creative sector, having emerged from it ourselves,” he says.

“We promised to donate a portion of each and every beer sale to creating grants and supporting music, visual art and film – so as the company has grown we’ve now been able to increase the grant pool.”

Prior to her Aussie dates, Donnelly heads off to showcase at South By Southwest (SXSW) in March, before a 10-date headliner UK tour through May.

Stella Donnelly and Alex The Astronaut’s Aussie tour dates are as follows:

Thursday 12 April – The Northern | Byron Bay NSW
Friday 13 April – Soundlounge | Gold Coast QLD
Saturday 14 April – Commonwealth Games Arts Forecourt | Southbank QLD
Sunday 15 April – Sol Bar | Sunshine Coast QLD
Thursday 19 April – Oxford Art Factory | Sydney NSW
Friday 20 April – Fremantle Arts Centre | Perth WA
Saturday April 21 – The River | Margaret River WA
Sunday April 22 – Rocket Bar | Adelaide SA
Tuesday April 24 – Republic Bar | Hobart TAS
Thursday 26 April – Corner Hotel | Melbourne VIC
Friday 27 April – Karova Lounge | Ballarat VIC
Saturday 28 April – Tap House | Bendigo VIC