Capping off an incredible two years, Melbourne musician Gotye took home four gongs last night at the 26th ARIA Awards with a star-studded ceremony at the Sydney Entertainment Centre that saw the industry and music fans celebrate the success of our Aussie talent in true ARIA style.
Gotye’s haul included the coveted Album Of The Year for his internationally acclaimed album Making Mirrors, as well as the ARIA’s for the publicly voted Best Australian Live Act, as well as Best Male Artist, & Best Pop Release – both Awards he won last year.
The haul adds to the three awards he won last year at the ceremony along with three awards associated with his hit single ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’, taking his total ARIA haul to 10.
In what is sure to go down in the ARIA annals as a truly magical ARIA moment, Australian musical icons Yothu Yindi were inducted into the ARIA Hall Of Fame by Paul Kelly & former Midnight Oil frontman and current Minister for Education Peter Garrett, and were joined on stage by Andrew Farriss, Dan Sultan, Paul Kelly, and Jessica Mauboy for a moving tribute to their international hit ‘Treaty’.
But if anyone was really the winner at last night’s awards it was Melbourne, which often fancies itself as the rock n roll capital of Australia.
Alongside Gotye, leading the charge were Melbourne group The Temper Trap who have also continued their ARIA success with the band taking home the ARIA for Best Group – an Award they also won in 2010. Their self titled #1 ARIA Album ‘The Temper Trap’ also picked up an ARIA for Best Rock Album.
Another Melbourne based artist, Kimbra returned to the awards off the back of her 2011 ARIA win with ‘Somebody I Used To Know’, securing her spot on the Australian musical landscape by collecting an ARIA for Best Female Artist for her debut album Vows.
“This year, the ARIAs have again shown that they are a world-class awards ceremony. The artists, both winners and nominees, as well as this evening’s performances, highlight the amazing homegrown talent that we have here in Australia,” Dan Rosen, CEO ARIA said this morning.
“It has been another fantastic celebration of our local music industry, and the perfect opportunity for artists, music fans and the industry to join together and acknowledge the massive achievements of the past year.”
The Breakthrough Artist Release Award went to exciting Hip-Hop newcomer 360, while the winner of the ARIA Award for Best Urban Album went to stalwarts of the Australian Urban scene the Hilltop Hoods – an Award they have won twice previously .
Previous 7 x ARIA Award winner, Missy Higgins added another statue to her mantle for Best Adult Contemporary Album for her #1 ARIA Album The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle. As previously announced, Higgins also picked up the publicly voted Best Video Award for her single ‘Everyone’s Waiting’ by Director Natasha Pincus.
Best Independent Release went to indie favourites, The Jezabels for their debut album Prisoner, while in a massive coup DZ Deathrays picked up the ARIA for Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album for their debut LP Bloodstreams.
“On behalf of the ARIA Board, I would like to congratulate all the winning artists and nominees at the 26th ARIA Awards,” said Denis Handlin AM, ARIA Chairman and Sony Music Entertainment Chairman & CEO Australia & New Zealand and President, Asia. “It has also been our honour to welcome Yothu Yindi into the ARIA Hall of Fame, where they now take their place with other iconic Australian artists.”
“This year’s ARIA Awards have been a great success and once again demonstrate the profound impact and diversity of Australian music through the performances of our incredibly talented artists. I would like to thank all those that were involved in staging the Awards, particularly our valued broadcast, media and sponsorship partners for their outstanding support.”
Kicking off the fanfare for the night with a high energy performance on the suitably rock, ‘black’ David Jones Red Carpet, were ARIA Song Of The Year Nominees, Timomatic and Justice Crew who performed together in an exclusive mash up of two of their biggest hits; ‘Set It Off’ & ‘Boom Boom’.
The stunning Jessica Mauboy followed with a mesmerizing medley of songs off her #1 ARIA charting Sapphires Soundtrack.
The Hilltop Hoods took to the stage with a jumping performance of ‘I Love It’ followed by Guy Sebastian who was joined on stage with surprise special guest Lupe Fiasco with a performance of his record breaking Australian and International smash hit ‘Battle Scars’.
International singer / songwriter and multiple Grammy Award winner, Taylor Swift was a special guest on the night, performing her smash hit ‘Trouble’ from her multiplatinum #1 ARIA charting album Red.
Missy Higgins took to the stage for a stunning performance of ‘Everyone’s Waiting’ while THE JEZABELS performed their hit ‘Endless Summer’. 360 was joined on stage by Gossling to perform the multiplatinum hit ‘Boys Like You’.
Kimbra took to the stage to perform a breathtaking rendition of ‘Settle Down’ with the THE TEMPER TRAP closing the night with an incredible performance of ‘Trembling Hands’.
To hear the performances from the 2012 ARIA Awards you can stream them exclusively at JB HI FI NOW from Friday 30th November.
ARIA Awards 2012 Winners
Best Independent Release
The Jezabels, Prisoner
Best Rock Album
The Temper Trap, Self-Titled
Best Children’s Album
The Wiggles, Surfer Jeff
Best Comedy Release
Buddy Goode, Unappropriate
Breakthrough Artist Award
360
Best Dance Release
Ivan Gough & Feenixpawl Feat Georgia Kay, ‘In My Mind’
Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album
DZ Deathrays, Bloodstreams
Best Australian Live Act
Gotye
Best Country Album
The McClymonts, Two Worlds Collide
Best Blues & Roots Album
Jeff Lang, Carried In Mind
Best Pop Release
Gotye, Making Mirrors
Best International Release
One Direction, Up All Night
Best Urban Album
Hilltop Hoods, Drinking From the Sun
Best Group
The Temper Trap
Song Of The Year
Matt Corby, ‘Brother’
Best Adult Contemporary Album
Missy Higgins, The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle
Best Female Artist
Kimbra
Best Male Artist
Gotye
Album Of The Year
Gotye, Making Mirrors
