October 2009 and, by any measure, a remarkable year in Australian music is perfectly reflected in the nominations for this year’s ARIA Awards.
Dominating nominations for the 23rd annual ARIA Awards are a collective of young local acts who in this past year have made their mark on both the local and international music scenes.
20-year-old local chart-topper Jessica Mauboy tops off an incredible 12 months by leading the field with a total of seven nominations, including two offerings in the category of highest-selling single for her massive hits “Running Back” and “Burn”. [This October, Mauboy also takes out three of the major categories in the 15th annual indigenous Deadly Awards, presented at Sydney Opera House.]
Drawing six nominations for this year’s ARIAs are Empire Of The Sun, the electro duo which has won immediate international acclaim. New Zealand-born songstress Ladyhawke takes five nominations into this year’s ARIA Awards ceremony, which will be presented at Sydney’s Acer Arena on November 26.
Yet another new local act currently causing big waves overseas is Melbourne alt-rockers The Temper Trap. Following on from a month-long sold-out headlining tour around the UK, the group saw its single “Sweet Disposition”, originally released a year ago, climb to number six on the British singles chart. The Temper Trap have received four nominations for this ARIAs, and will perform live at the ceremony alongside Empire of the Sun, Keith Urban, Hilltop Hoods, Jessica Mauboy, Empire Of The Sun, Ladyhawke, Sarah Blasko, Lisa Mitchell, Kate Miller-Heidke and international guest, Robbie Williams.
In other music news this October: Despite a decade-long career that has seen a number one album and four top ten hit singles, Vanessa Amorosi this month finally scores her first ever ARIA #1 single with her monster hit, “This Is Who I Am” debuting on top of the charts. Meanwhile, the biggest local album of the month belongs to the reconstituted Wolfmother, whose Cosmic Egg debuts at #3 on the ARIA album chart and #16 on the US Billboard charts.
This October also sees Kylie Minogue perform her first ever American tour, while locally, Powderfinger create some sort of record by performing in three cities – Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne – all in the same day. The mini-busking tour is to promote the imminent release of the band’s seventh album, Golden Rule.
Also making music-related headlines this month: Mandawuy Yunupingu, the legendary lead of Yothu Yindi, reveals he is chronically ill from kidney disease; Crowded House announce they will headline next year’s Blues Festival in Byron Bay; and tickets to all of next year’s Big Day Out events around Australia sell-out in an instant.
It’s been a positively massive year in Australian music so far and there’s still two whole months to go! See you at the ARIAs on November 26! |
