You guys (the ones not in Oz especially) missed a great ARIA (Australian Record Industry Awards - like the Oscars of Oz music) night last Sunday night.
The tv coverage was very good, and I thought the standard of nominees was even better than other years. It was great to catch a good summary of a lot of stuff I missed during the year, and definitely some new acts to watch out for (especially amongst some of the ones who didn't quite manage to win.
Here's the winners list, anyway. As predicted,
Jet scooped the pool with 6 - Album of the year, single of the year, best rock album, best group and best breakthrough artist for both album and single.
Last year Delta Goodrem won a record of 7 Arias and by the end of the night they were joking they should be calling them the 'Deltas' instead of the Arias, but she still managed to win 1 this year - highest selling album - with the same album 'Innocent Eyes' that won her all the awards last year.
Best male artist: John Butler (Sunrise over Sea album)
Best female artist: Kasey Chambers (Wayward Angel album)
Highest selling single: Guy Sebastian: Angels Brought Me Here (almost sorry...but not quite...that I missed all the Australian idol hype by not watching any of it)
Best pop release: Missy Higgins - Scar
Best urban release: Koolism, Part 3 Random Thoughts
Best blues & roots album - John Butler Trio
Best Dance Release: Infusion, Girls can be Cruel
Best Country Album: Kasey Chambers
Best Adult Contemporary Album: Paul Kelly, Ways and Means
Best Childrens Album: Hi-5
Best comedy release: Scared Weird Little Guys (score one for Laurent!
)
Best independent release: John Butler Trio
Best music DVD: Midnight Oil, Best of Both Worlds
There were also performances by Spiderbait, Pete Murray, Delta Goodrem and Guy Sebastian.
Kasey Chambers is a country crossover artist, and won ARIAS last year as well.
Newcomer Missy Higgins won best pop release for 'Scar', while last year's Australian Idol winner Guy Sebastian won highest selling single for 'Angels Brought me here' and Channel V's popularity voted Oz Artist of the Year award.
famous 70's/'80's band: "The Little River Band" were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
After I've watched the best bits I recorded of the ARIAs all over again, I'll try to find time to come back and give you my best tips out of the ones which didn't win on the night.
For a start, Pete Murray's music sounded great (think he may have been around for a while).
Kate