Here's what went down when we went to the ARIAs
Last week Social Pages VIP took our media crew and headed up to the ARIAs for the second time.
With promise of better weather and a night booked at the Star rather than a red eye flight home, it was looking to be the best year yet.
After several hours at the red carpet interviewing the stars as they entered the awards, including a flash from Kirin J Calinan, we headed to the press room where around 100 of Australia's best media sat and watched the awards unfold live.
The first artist to be welcomed by the press was Amy Shark, who on attending her first ARIAs last year, won two awards for best pop release and breakthrough artist.
"I’m over the moon," Amy Shark says of winning best pop release. "[My career] wasn’t a walk in the park and there were many people who wouldn’t respond or reply back. It was a few years back and I just had enough. I just loved writing songs."
Daryl Braithwaite, best known for his song 'The Horses', was inducted into the hall of fame through his solo career and work with
"Some of those things you don’t really set out to achieve, so they come out of the blue I suppose. It’s good because it makes you look back over your career and you realise a lot of things. It’s had its ups and downs. If you can find that kind of support [like my band] you can go on for a long time," Daryl Braithwaite says.
ARIA winners Peking Duk were lucky to make it, snagging the last four seats back from Bali, in which a fellow line-waiter offered $10k for.
Gang of Youths proved to be the most generous and honest act entering the press room, with lead singer David Le'aupepe confessing rock 'n' roll saved his life.
"A lot of people mock it…but it actually gave me hope and life," David says. "Rock 'n' roll saved our fucking life and it saved my fucking life."
As with the wisdom expelled from David, Paul Kelly had his moment too. After winning the best male artist award and best adult contemporary album he shared his love of collaborating with others - which he did extensively on the now award-winning album.
"I collaborate with my band, everyone brings something to the arrangement and that’s the way I like to work So I guess I like the idea of two groups coming together and making something they otherwise wouldn’t have on their own, it’s a way of surprising yourself. And all writers want to surprise themselves," Paul says.
With 2017 finished, it's on to another year of celebrating some of the finest Australian musical talent. And the odd red carpet get-up.
For the full list of winners see below:
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)
