Veteran Australian rocker Russell Morris won the Best Blues & Roots Album ARIA Award last night for Red Dirt Heart, the third in a trilogy of albums that started with Sharkmouth in 2012 (that album has recently been released in America).
The 30th ARIA Awards also honoured Crowded House (recently reformed for some shows in Sydney) who were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Neil Finn dedicated the award to their late drummer Paul Hester.
The group were inducted into the ARIA Hall Of Fame by Flight Of The Conchords members (and fellow Kiwis) Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement. Bernard Fanning and Missy Higgins provided musical tributes to the group with renditions of ‘Fall At Your Feet’ and ‘Better Be Home Soon.’ Crowded House then performed ‘Distant Sun’, from the album Together Alone.
Flume was the biggest winner with five ARIAs — Album Of The Year, Best Independent Release, Best Male Artist, Best Dance Release and Best Pop Release, for ‘Never Be Like You’, ft. Kai — in addition to his three Artisan Awards, taking his total for the year to eight.
Sia took home Best Female Artist of the Year but asked marriage equality campaigner Angie Greene to accept the award on her behalf. Greene noted that the singer wanted the award to go to “every single non-hetero and gender-diverse person who can currently not marry the person that they love in this country.”
ARIA AWARD WINNERS
Album Of The Year
Flume – Skin
Best Male Artist
Flume – Skin
Best Female Artist
Sia – This Is Acting
Best Dance Release
Flume – Skin
Best Group
Violent Soho – WACO
Breakthrough Artist
Montaigne – Glorious Heights
Best Pop Release
Flume – Never Be Like You (feat. Kai)
Best Urban Album
Drapht – Seven Mirrors
Best Independent Release
Flume – Skin
Best Rock Album
Violent Soho – WACO
Best Adult Contemporary Album
Bernard Fanning – Civil Dusk
Best Adult Alternative Album
Sarah Blasko – Eternal Return
Best Country Album
Sara Storer – Silos
Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Nonagon Infinity
Best Blues & Roots Album
Russell Morris – Red Dirt Red Heart
Best Children’s Album
The Wiggles – Wiggle Town!
Best Video
Troye Sivan – YOUTH Acoustic (Sydney Session)
Best Australian Live Act
Hilltop Hoods – The Restrung Tour
Song of the Year
Troye Sivan – Youth
Best International Artist
One Direction – Made in the A.M & Four
