Tag: ARIA Awards

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Have the ARIA Awards Sold Out? You Bet Barnesy

Jimmy Barnes made some telling comments in the media today, slamming the ARIAs and the way they’ve become more about television ratings than the music. I’ve got to admit, I tend to agree.

Years ago I remember attending several ARIA Awards. I cheered on the world music artists I’d chatted to earlier in the night as well as bands who were already my favourites, and celebrated the beautiful landscape of Australian music.

But that sense of community seems to have been taken away this year as awards were presented at ARIA Genre Awards concerts rather than the main event. These genre awards saw gongs go to some big names: jazz man James Morrison, children’s entertainers The Wiggles, country sister act The McClymonts, and the soulful Dan Sultan amongst them.

These artists might not be flogged to death on commercial radio as the acts that will take home Sunday night’s awards are, but isn’t that kind of the point? Why do international guests with no connection to music like Carmen Electra and Eric Stonestreet find a place at Sunday’s awards when the performers that make the Australian music landscape so rich don’t? I love Modern Family as much as the next person, but it makes no sense to me. I’d much rather celebrate the melting pot that is the Aussie music industry than only the performers that already bask in the limelight.

I was happy to see the ARIAs move back to Ten after the awkwardness of last year’s ceremony, but now I’m just not sure.

Image used with permission from Javelin Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ten Gets ARIA Awards Back Again

2009 ARIA Awards - Awards Room

After much speculation, Ten has announced it will screen the ARIA Awards this year. The network will take the reins back from Channel Nine, who broadcast the ceremony in 2009.

“The ARIA Awards is the flagship event of the Australian music calendar – a celebration of all that is great and popular in local music,” said ARIA head and Warner CEO Ed St. John. “The Ten Network has been our loyal partner for many of our last 24 years and it’s an absolute thrill to be renewing our relationship once again.”

Ten has screened most of the recent ARIA Awards ceremonies, and I’m glad to see them doing it again. Honestly, watching last year’s stiff hosts Kate Richie and Gyton Grantley made me cringe. Hopefully we’ll see some more music-savvy personalities taking on the role this year. I’d love to see Wil Anderson get the job, although after his Logies Twittering he might prove a little too risky. At any rate, I’m sure the organizers are happy to hear their awards won’t compete with Masterchef!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

ARIA Awards in Doubt

They say the show will go on, but no one is quite sure where this year’s ARIA music awards will be held, and who will broadcast the big event.

ACER Arena has hosted the show since 2001, but this year’s venue hasn’t been booked either. That has some joking that this year’s ceremony may be a very scaled back affair.

“It’s so up in the air at this stage that we’re jokingly thinking about putting a reserve booking on the Cowra Community Hall,” a senior source associated with the ARIAs told The Daily Telegraph.

Financial constraints have reportedly led to Network Ten’s contract lapsing. They have broadcast 15 of the past16 awards shows at a cost of $1 million each, on top of rights.

But an ARIA spokeswoman said she is confident they’ll find another broadcast partner.

“We’re excited about different ideas and plans for it. But we imagine they will be broadcast – but it’s still up in the air,” she said.

Industry gossip has it that the event will go to pay TV, and I for one am hoping that’s not the case. Free to air has lost the Grammys, the American Music Awards, and recent big shows like Sound Relief to pay TV. As a music fan without cable I’d be upset to miss yet another big music event.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Gabriella Cilmi Sweeps the ARIA Awards

Teen sensation Gabriella Cilmi capped off a meteoric rise to the top at last night’s ARIA Awards, taking home all six of the awards she was nominated for.

The 17-year-old Melbournian was named best female artist, and breakthrough artist for her single “Sweet About Me” and breakthrough artist – album for Lessons to be Learned. Gabriella’s debut single was also judged the year’s highest selling single, and single of the year. The album Lessons to be Learned was named best pop release.

Gabriella looked stunning in metallic gold and bronze dresses, and she performed brilliantly, but I don’t think she’ll win any awards for public speaking.

“It’s actually really cool to be here in a room full of people who kind of inspire me and make music too, so you know, yeah,” Gabriella jabbered in one of her excruciating acceptance speeches.

“I’d like to say thank you again to my mum and my dad who kind of let me travel across the other side of the world to make a record, and um, yeah, cool, thank you!”

International pop star Pink was billed as the night’s showstopper, but honestly I thought her performance of “So What” was pretty average. She might have run around a lot and projected a lot of energy, but it was at the sacrifice of the vocals.

For me Pink was outshone by Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, who delivered an exquisite song from his award-winning album Gurrumul. The album took home the titles of best world music album and best independent album, and quite rightly so. His music transcends language, forcing you to focus on the melody and passion of his words. This simplicity and sheer beauty was a welcome antidote to Pink’s posturing.

Sydney electro duo The Presets bagged a hat-trick. They were named best group, while their album Apocalypso was named best dance release and album of the year.

Nick Cave was a surprise winner, named as best male artist. Less surprising was the fact that he didn’t show up to collect the gong.

Delta Goodrem was another no-show, although she did record a message thanking us for making her self-titled third record the highest-selling album of the year.

Two folks were thrilled to be there were Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson. The husband and wife team couldn’t be happier for their collaboration Rattlin’ Bones to be named best country release.

The Living End, The Panics, The Audreys, Silverchair and Powderfinger, and comedian Shaun Micallef also took home awards on the Australian music industry’s night of nights.

Image source: Newscom

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Silverchair Scoop the ARIAs Pool

Silverchair became the most celebrated artist in ARIA history last night taking home five trophies, including their first album of the year title for Young Modern.

The album was also named best rock album. The record’s first single, “Straight Lines” was awarded trophies for single of the year and highest-selling single of the year, while the lads from Newcastle were fittingly named best band. This takes their total ARIA haul to a whopping 19 gongs.

While Silverchair stole the show with their clean sweep, the rest of the awards were fairly evenly distributed. Missy Higgins was the obvious choice for best female artist, while Gotye upset more fancied competition to take home the best male artist award.

Sneaky Sound System were nominated for more awards than anyone else, but as it turned out they only left with two gongs. They were named best breakthrough artist, while their self-titled debut was named best dance album.

John Butler Trio’s fantastic Grand National was named best blues and roots album and best independent release. John took the opportunity to say how proud he is to be part of the socially and environmentally conscious Australian music community.

Operator Please are tipped to be the next big thing all over the world, so it was little surprise to see them take home the breakthrough single award for “A Song About Ping Pong.” They had just about everyone in the audience on their feet when they gave an energetic performance of the song later in the night.

Keith Urban took home the best country album for Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Thing, but he was almost upstaged by wife Nicole Kidman. While all eyes were on the Hollywood actress for much of the night, Keith took the spotlight with a killer duet with John Butler. The pair played a fantastic rendition of “Funky Tonight,” which I couldn’t resist including here in case you missed it!

Nick Cave may have been the only person formally inducted into the Hall of Fame last night, but he used his acceptance speech to unofficially induct his former Bad Seeds and Birthday Party bandmates. As his presentation was close to the end of the night, it’s unknown whether Nick managed to get that kebab after all.

Here’s the complete list of winners:

Hall of Fame Inductee: Nick Cave
Album of the Year: Silverchair – Young Modern
Single of the Year: Silverchair – “Straight Lines”
Best Group: Silverchair – Young Modern
Best Rock Album: Silverchair – Young Modern
Motorola Highest Selling Single: Silverchair – “Straight Lines”
Best Blues and Roots Album: The John Butler Trio – Grand National
Best Independent Release: The John Butler Trio – Grand National
Best Dance Release Sneaky Sound System – Sneaky Sound System
Breakthrough Artist Album: Sneaky Sound System – Sneaky Sound System
Best Male Artist: Gotye – Mixed Blood
Best Female Artist: Missy Higgins – On A Clear Night
Best Music DVD: You Am I – Who Are They, These Rock Stars? Live At The Mint
Best Adult Contemporary Album: Josh Pyke – Memories & Dust
Best Pop Release: Sarah Blasko – What The Sea Wants, The Sea Will Have
Best Urban Release: Hilltop Hoods – The Hard Road Restrung
Best Comedy Release: Dave Hughes – Live
Best Children’s Album: The Wiggles – Pop Go The Wiggles
Best Country Album: Keith Urban – Love, Pain & The Whole Crazy Thing
Breakthrough Artist Single: Operator Please – “Just A Song About Ping Pong”
Motorola Highest Selling Album: Damien Leith – The Winner’s Journey
Best Classical Album: Richard Tognetti, Australian Chamber Orchestra – Bach Violin Concertos
Best Jazz Album: Mike Nock & Dave Liebman – Duologue
Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album: Choir of Hard Knocks – Choir of Hard Knocks
Best World Music Album: Zulya – 3 Nights
Best Cover Art: Aaron Hayward & David Homer (Debaser) – Powderfinger – Dream Days At The Hotel Existence
Best Video: Paul Goldman & Alice Bell – Silverchair – “Straight Lines”
Engineer of the Year: Wayne Connolly – Josh Pyke – Memories & Dust
Producer of the Year: Wayne Connolly & Josh Pyke – Josh Pyke – Memories & Dust

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The ARIAS Are Here!

It’s ARIAs day, a time to reflect on the awesome music Australia has produced over the past year. If you love our own version of the Grammys as much as me, you’ll want to stay glued to Channel Ten tonight.

At 7 pm they’ve got the red carpet special. This is mostly an opportunity to gawk at the sexy dresses and see who came with who. The Veronicas and Ricki-Lee Coulter will also perform, reminding us that while the fashions are nice this is about the music!

Then at 7:30 pm Australian Idol will serve up some homegrown hits. This week the Idols will each tackle a song made famous by an Australian artist. I’m particularly looking forward to Natalie Gauci tearing up The Divinyls’ “Boys in Town.”

Then at 8:30pm there’s the big one, the 21st Annual ARIA Music Awards. Can Sneaky Sound System sweep the pool as predicted, or will we see a few upsets? This dynamic dance outfit will perform during the awards, as will Silverchair, Powderfinger, Gotye, Operator Please, Kate Miller-Heidke, and Missy Higgins. But the stand-out should be a duet between Keith Urban and John Butler – look out for it!

Image source: ARIA website 

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Everyone’s Excited About the ARIAS, Except the Guest of Honour

Nick Cave will be the toast of the ARIAs when he’s inducted into the Hall of Fame this Sunday, but it’s an honour he’d rather do without.

“I’m actually dreading it to be completely honest because I have to go to the ARIA Awards,” Cave said.

“That’s something I’ve been avoiding for 25 years because I think it’s so fucking tedious.”

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Australia’s Prince of Darkness is actually planning to escape after his induction and get a kebab!

So we won’t expect him at the after-party then? I seriously doubt it. When The Herald asked the Aussie ex-pat whether he was keen to catch up with his local contemporaries he sarcastically replied “Yes, I’m desperately excited, I’m extremely excited to hang out with Powderfinger.”

Ouch! If it’s going to be that much of a drudge Nick, it’s not too late to back out!

Image source: Marco Annunziata @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Nick Cave’s The Latest Hall of Famer

Moody singer-songwriter Nick Cave will be inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame at the ARIA Awards ceremony at the end of the month.

It’s a fitting tribute to Nick’s diverse body of work, from his prolific careers with The Birthday Party and The Bad Seeds to recent film scores.

“Nick Cave has enjoyed – and continues to enjoy – one of the most extraordinary careers in the annals of popular music,” said ARIA Awards committee chairman, Ed St John.

“His contribution over the past 30 years was never limited by geography or nationality and nor could it ever be described in terms of hit records, chart positions or radio airplay.

“He is an Australian artist like Sidney Nolan is an Australian artist – beyond comparison, beyond genre, beyond dispute.”

Nick Cave will join the other Hall of Fame artists for 2007 – Jo Jo Zep and The Falcons, Radio Birdman, Brian Cadd, Hoodoo Gurus, Marcia Hines and Frank Ifield – who were inducted in July.

Image source: Marco Annunziata @ Flickr