2006 ARIA HIGHLIGHTS - Australian Music Awards

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ARIAS - AUSTRALIAN MUSIC AWARDS, 2006 HIGHLIGHTS This year has been a flourishing year for the Australian Music Industry. There were 440 Australian singles and 1145 Australian albums sold, and 50 million Australian albums and 21 Australian artists went to number one this year. On October 29, 2006 one Awards event brought over 10,000 people to celebrate these Australian music achievements. (click here for more details) Welcome into the 2006 ARIA Awards! Eskimo Joe opened the ARIAS with an amazing performance. Radio B105’s Hamish and Andy presented the first award for Breakthrough Artist - Album to Wolfmother, whose self titled album is fast approaching one million sales globally. In their speech the band thanked their family and friends, and drummer Miles Heskett especially thanked his mother Sandy “who is always there in the moss pit at every Wolfmother concert she can get to!” Heskett also dedicated the Award to his dad, Phil, who passed away before Wolfmother made it big. Next, Youth Group won Breakthrough Artist - Single, for their single ‘Forever Young’, which went to number one in the ARIAS single chart. The single was also adopted by producers for the hit TV show OC. Brisbane twins The Veronicas, who have been performing since the age of five, were the next performers of the night. The awards for Best Urban Music Release followed, and the hardworking, deserving group Hilltop Hoods received the award. The Adelaide trio received platinum sales for their 2006 album “The Hard Road”, a first for any Australian hip hop group, and perform at sold out shows around Australia. The Veronicas were back on stage when comedian Dave Hughes and America’s Jesse McCartney presented them with Best Pop Release. Animated interviewer David Tench (David Tech Tonight) announced Best Country Album to Troy Cassar-Daley, who held up his special ‘lucky stone’ that his son, Clay, painted to give him good luck at the Awards.
Bernard Fanning gave viewers a special version of his single ‘Watch Over Me,’ which gives all proceeds to the charity ‘Young Care www.youngcare.com.au He was accompanied by Best Female Artists nominees Kasey Chambers, and Clare Bodwitch, who later won the award. Hilltop Hoods won the award for Best Independent Release, and accepted their second award on behalf of all the struggling independent and up-and-coming musicians, especially the independent hip hop performers. Wolfmother rocked out for the crowd next, and immediately after their performance were back on stage to accept the award for Best Rock Album, presented by Rove and Johnny Knoxville (Jackass).
			Kasey Chambers, Clare Bodwitch and Bernard Fanning, what a great combination!
			Shortly after Wolfmother’s win, Bob Evans (aka Kevin Mitchell of Jebediah) won his first award as a solo artist for Best Adult Contemporary Artist, making it a great start to the week as he announced he was getting married at the end of the week. Evans was also a Best Male Artist nominee. Best Music DVD Release went to Eskimo Joe, and TV Rock (featuring Seany B) won the ‘Best Dance Release’. Youth Group performed next. Australian Idols Kate DeAraugo, Lee Harding, and Shannon Noll dominated the next award as nominees for Highest Selling Single, but TV Rock (featuring Seany B) overpowered to win for their single ‘Flaunt It’. The Highest Selling Album award winners Human Nature performed next, followed by another win for Wolfmother, this time for Best Group.
Very deserving award winner, Bob Evans
Minutes later Pete Murray stepped on stage and performed alongside America’s John Mayer. After the performance, Mayer later joined Rove on stage and recited his admiration for Pete Murray as a performer, and called Australia “an incredibly soulful country”. Lano and Woodley, who are on their last tour as a comedy duo, won Best Comedy Release, and The Wiggles won Best Children’s Album. The Audreys were presented with Best Blues and Roots Album. The Hilltop Hoods followed with an outstanding performance before Ivy Davies (Icehouse) graced the stage next and announced all the winners of the Fine Arts Awards categories.
			Pete Murray and John Mayer, hot performers
When it came to presenting the award for Best Female Artist, there were four twins on stage as The Veronicas presented to Clare Bowditch, who is expecting twins herself. Bodwitch commended the support from Community Radio and the ABC. She also explained how Arts Victoria funded her two albums, and rallied for State funding to return so the ‘Music of the Future programme’ of Arts Victoria could continue to support Victorian artists. Bernard Fanning received formal recognition as a solo artist by winning Best Male Artist. Yet, the highlight of the highlights was the ARIA Hall of Fame, where Australia saw the induction of Midnight Oil.
Denis Handlin, ARIA Chairman and Chairman and CEO of Sony BMG Australia & New Zealand, inducted Midnight Oil into the Hall of Fame, and commended Midnight Oil for being “true leaders” who “always lead from the front”, who put the Australian people first. In his speech, Handlin said: “There can only ever be, one Midnight Oil. They spoke to us through all their fantastic albums as many millions of sales here and around the world. They spoke and acted with incredible integrity, they passed up an opportunity to perform at the Grammy Awards before billions of viewers to keep their promise to perform at Bondi Beach for an important Indigenous cause. Their music speaks first - it’s powerful, it’s uncompromising, it’s unique rock music that inspires, entertains, and it will last forever. I believe they are one of the greatest bands of our generation.”
			Midnight Oil - "have not only become true legends, they are part of the true Australian fabric"
			Then, Handlin introduced U2’s Bono on the big screen, who praised Midnight Oil for using their music to “bring people’s differences together”. Bono ended his message with: “You can break up a band, but you can’t break up an idea. If Midnight Oil could mean any one idea, it would have to be Australia could be more for more people, and the only obstacle too that, is indifference.” Silverchair ended the induction with an energetic performance tribute to Midnight Oil.
Silverchair - Perfect band to do a performance tribute to the legendary Midnight Oil.
The ARIAS waned as the humble Eskimo Joe won Single of the Year for the single “Black Fingernails, Red Wine”. Finally, the anticipated Album of the Year was won by Bernard Fanning. In accepting this award, Fanning said: “I want to make an appeal to all the Australian musicians, the ones around now and the ones around in the future, to use Midnight Oil as an example. They are such a great example to people like us.” ARIAS 2006 was a magnificent night of pure Australian music, and reminded the nation of the marvellous talent we have produced in Australia, and that our music is growing in worldwide recognition. Article written by Chrissy Layton, AusNotebook Music & Creative Photos provided by David Anderson Photography (special thanks to Rachael) Click here for ARIAS 2006 Red Carpet Photos Click here for 2006 ARIAS Event - Summary Click here for complete list of ARIAS WINNERS Associated article:- 2005 ARIAS Highlights Click TOP to get to top of page