The sold-out 2016 ARIA Awards Presented By Telstra held at The Star Event Centre, Sydney and broadcast on Ten capped off a big year for the Australian music industry at an awards show that was dominated by special performances from ARIA Hall Of Fame recipients John Farnham, Jimmy Barnes and Crowded House.
But it was Flume, the young electronic music producer hailing from Sydney’s northern beaches, who dominated the awards, winning the Telstra Album Of The Year ARIA Award for his ARIA #1 album “Skin”. He also picked up ARIAs for Best Independent Release, Best Male Artist, Best Dance Release, Best Pop Release for “Never Be Like You” featuring Kai who was on hand to accompany Flume’s mash-up of the four-times platinum hit, “Never Be Like You”, and three-times platinum single “Say It” with Tove Lo.
The wins last night add to his haul after a clean sweep of the Artisan ARIA Awards for Producer Of The Year, Engineer Of The Year and Best Cover Art taking his overall 2016 ARIA Awards tally to eight.
Jimmy Barnes and Jessica Mauboy performed a smashing rendition of the classic “Good Times”, originally a song from The Easybeats that was covered by Jimmy Barnes and INXS in 1987, and covered this year by Jessica Mauboy on her #1 album “The Secret Daughter”.
The best was perhaps saved for last with Hall Of Fame inductee and 20-time ARIA Award-winner John Farnham closing the show with an epic rendition of his worldwide hit “You’re The Voice”, which included The Veronicas helping out on backing vocals.
One of the highlights of the evening was the induction of Crowded House – Neil Finn, Nick Seymour, Paul Hester, Mark Hart and Matt Sherrod – into the ARIA Hall Of Fame by Flight of the Conchords duo Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement. Missy Higgins and Bernard Fanning then performed two of the band’s biggest hits, “Fall At Your Feet” and “Better Be Home Soon”, before Crowded House performed “Distant Sun” from the band’s 1993 album “Together Alone”.
Mediaweek ARIA moments:
Jessica Mauboy on stage with Jimmy Barnes: It was a bumpy start for the live audience with delays and then a false start. However, after Jessica Mauboy and Barnesy tried to blow the house up with their soaring vocals it all started to make sense.
Best acceptance speech: On a night where many seemed to warble for way too long, Neil Finn handled it wonderfully with a shaggy piece of paper he read from as he worked his way through his thank yous.
Best contemporary performance: On a night dominated by rock vets playing their greats, Flume showed off the most polished contemporary tunes.
Complete list of 2016 ARIA Award winners
Telstra Album Of The Year
Flume – Skin (Future Classic)
Best Male Artist
Flume – Skin (Future Classic)
Best Female Artist
Sia – This Is Acting (Monkey Puzzle/Inertia)
Best Dance Release
Flume – Skin (Future Classic)
Best Group
Violent Soho – WACO (I Oh You)
Breakthrough Artist
Montaigne – Glorious Heights (Wonderlick Recording Company)
Best Pop Release
Flume – Never Be Like You (feat. Kai) (Future Classic)
Best Urban Album
Drapht – Seven Mirrors (The Ayems/Sony Music)
Best Independent Release
Flume – Skin (Future Classic)
Best Rock Album
Violent Soho – WACO (I Oh You)
Best Adult Contemporary Album
Bernard Fanning – Civil Dusk (Dew Process/Universal Music)
Best Adult Alternative Album
Sarah Blasko – Eternal Return (EMI)
Best Country Album
Sara Storer – Silos (ABC Music/Universal Music)
Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Nonagon Infinity (Flightless Records/Remote Control Records)
Best Blues & Roots Album
Russell Morris – Red Dirt Red Heart (Chugg Music/MGM)
Best Children’s Album
The Wiggles – Wiggle Town! (ABC Music/Universal Music)
Best Video
Troye Sivan – Youth Acoustic (Sydney Session) (EMI)
Best Australian Live Act
Hilltop Hoods – The Restrung Tour (Golden Era Records/Universal Music Australia)
Apple Music Song of the Year
Troye Sivan – Youth (EMI)
Best International Artist
One Direction – Made in the A.M & Four (SYCO/Sony Music Entertainment)
2016 Outstanding National Retailer
JB Hi-Fi
2016 Outstanding Independent Retailer
Red Eye Records
2016 Outstanding Digital Service
Spotify
2016 ARIA Industry Icon Award
Sebastian Chase