1. Pnau started the show with a very memorable and very colourful performance of “Chameleon”. They should have won a lot of new fans who can now explore their music.
MORE: Sony Music’s Gang Of Youths dominate memorable ARIA Awards ceremony
2. Lorde had an incredible night with her performance of “Green Light” in front of an elaborate setup with her band behind venetian blinds. Shortly after coming off stage she would have learned about her Grammy nomination for Album Of The Year.
3. Truly show-stopping performance from Paul Kelly with “Dumb Things” and then Kelly stayed onstage to sing with A.B. Original and Dan Sultan.
4. Amy Shark – a wonderful success story for a deserving talent. Incredible performer who had to wait, not at all times patiently (!), for her success. She performed her hit “Adore”.
5. Jimmy Barnes crops up three times on this list. Firstly for his first ARIA since 1992 (does the board need to investigate why?) for his ABC Music kids album recorded with The Wiggles. He accepted his award onstage with his grandson as they both wore kilts.
6. Barnes again – this time for his very long and very articulate induction of Daryl Braithwaite into the ARIA Hall Of Fame.
7. Third and final, and most important, highlight from Barnesy was his show-stopper (literally) at the end of the night. It was an incredible tribute to AC/DC with Barnes sharing the stage with Diesel as they powered into “High Voltage”. The wall of Marshall amps really were cranked up to 11 and although some hopeful fans called for more, I don’t think many would have been able to hear it with some ears still ringing the morning after.
8. Daryl Braithwaite. After delivering a moving acceptance speech, the former Sherbet lead singer turned solo star shared the stage with Vera Blue and Guy Sebastian for yet another of the evening’s music highs, “The Horses”.
9. Jessica Mauboy with Peking Duk. No ARIA show, or any major music or even corporate event these days, is complete without the wonderful Jessica Mauboy sharing her talent with the audience. She also got to share it with the Duks last night on a mashup of two great tunes – Mauboy’s “Fallin” and Peking Duk’s “Stranger”. Sadly Mauboy didn’t win an award, while Peking Duk claimed Apple Music Song Of The Year.
10. The guitar fireworks during the Peking Duk performance – splendid. The onstage antics only equalled by the colour of the Pnau performance and the bright lights that lit up the stage during the AC/DC tribute.
11. Music teacher of the year. (This should really be #1!) In a pre-award ceremony, Adelaide music teacher Renee McCarthy touched the hearts of those lucky enough to hear her talk about her classes and how they nominated her for this award. It moved Sony Music’s Denis Handlin to wish he was a student again as the lucky kids in her care are getting taught by someone special.
2017 ARIA Awards winners
Apple Music Album Of The Year
Gang Of Youths for “Go Farther In Lightness” (Mosy Recordings/Sony Music Australia)
Best Male Artist
Paul Kelly for “Life Is Fine” (EMI)
Best Female Artist
Sia “The Greatest” feat. Kendrick Lamar (Inertia Music)
Best Dance Release
Pnau for “Chameleon” (etcetc Music)
Best Group
Gang Of Youths for “Go Farther In Lightness” (Mosy Records/Sony Music Australia)
Breakthrough Artist
Amy Shark for “Night Thinker” (Wonderlick Recording Company)
Best Pop Release
Amy Shark for “Night Thinker” (Wonderlick Recording Company)
Best Urban Album
A.B. Original for “Reclaim Australia” (Golden Era Records/Universal Music Australia)
Best Independent Release
A.B. Original for “Reclaim Australia” (Golden Era Records/Universal Music Australia)
Best Rock Album
Gang Of Youths for “Go Farther In Lightness” (Mosy Recordings/Sony Music Australia)
Best Adult Contemporary Album
Paul Kelly for “Life Is Fine” (EMI)
Best Country Album
Kasey Chambers for “Dragonfly” (Essence Music/Warner Music Australia)
Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album
Northlane for “Mesmer” (UNFD/Warner Music Australia)
Best Blues & Roots Album
All Our Exes Live In Texas for “When We Fall” (ABC Music/Universal Music)
Best Children’s Album
Jimmy Barnes for “Och Aye the G’Nu!” (ABC Music/Universal)
Best Video
Bliss N Eso for “Moments” (feat. Gavin James) (Illusive)
Best Australian Live Act
Illy (ONETWO/Warner Music Australia)
Apple Music Song Of The Year
Peking Duk for “Stranger” (feat. Elliphant) (Sony Music Australia)
Best International Artist
Harry Styles for self titled album “Harry Styles” (Columbia/Sony Music Australia)
Music Teacher of the Year
Renee McCarthy (Woodcroft College, Morphett Vale)
ARIA ICON Award
Roger Davies