This Is What Really Goes On Off-Screen At The ARIA Awards

24 November 2016 | 2:45 pm | Mick Radojkovic

News of a Powderfinger reunion - maybe?! A new Hilltops album? GOSSIP!

The Australian music industry’s night of nights, or as some people like to call it, a Wednesday in November where there’s still nothing good on TV. Whether you love it or you hate it, the ARIAs are the biggest night of the year for anyone involved in the music scene because it pulls everyone together. Record company execs, radio personalities, tour bookers and promoters, A&R people… oh yeah, and musicians.

My white wristband is supposed to allow me into the ‘media suite’ at the rear of The Star’s huge Event Centre. I casually just walk in the front door and mingle with the beautiful people whilst grabbing a free Coopers and a canapé. Nice work, security. Pretty quickly I realise that possibly I shouldn’t be here so I give the Best Urban Award nominee L-FRESH a quick high five for luck and head out to the media hub.

The room is not huge, but there’s already 40 or more photographers, journalists, social media types securing their seats and a spare power point (unless you’re Angela Bishop who has craftily had someone reserve her seat). At the front of the room is a long red couch, a media wall adorned with sponsors and ‘the door’. Yes, this is where the famed musicians will appear from throughout the night and it feels like a portal to heaven.

I settle in to a front row seat (is this a bad idea?) and make chit-chat with a photographer next to me. It’s both of our first ARIAs so we eagerly discuss what might or might not happen. Will there be controversy? Are we going to see Robbie Williams? Where is the food?

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The interviews are to be hosted by ABC radio jock and old hand, Robbie Buck, who asks the room who’s there for the first time. Surprisingly almost half of the seated journalists are newbies. This relaxes me.

Out in the auditorium, The Veronicas are performing the opening live act, which is not actually the opening act as we will discover through the smoke and mirrors of TV. When a technical glitch causes them to redo the entire song it all of a sudden becomes evident that this could be a long night.

The warm-up guy is doing his best to wrangle the crowd into cheering a bit more and not waving their beers around, but it’s like teaching a classroom full of 13-year-olds how to do algebra. Impossible. Finally, Richard Wilkins expertly introduces the evening (although the warm-up guy refers to him as ‘Wilkinson’ which is met with a death stare).

The first award is given and The Wiggles receive their 14th ARIA. It’s a nice easy way to warm into the night as they calmly took on the throng with poise and humour. Also, Anthony Wiggle is 53. What a legend.


Photo by Simone Fisher

Russell Morris picks up best Blues & Roots album and is joined on the couch by the inimitable Michael Chugg who ends up talking more than his artist. Morris declares that “I should have died young…”, instead of becoming an ageing rocker, but is proud to complete his trilogy of albums based on Australia’s history and will keep going “as long as Chuggy gives me performance enhancing drugs”.

Drapht takes out the Urban category for the second time despite a five-year sabbatical in which he opened an organic restaurant. The break has done him no harm though and he looks fitter than ever declaring that “writing music relieved the stress of hospitality”.


Photo by Simone Fisher

Buck’s old mate, Sarah Blasko, joins him on the couch and he proceeds to completely cock up the name of her Adult Alternative Award-winning album. She elaborates on her last busy year of performing and shares the fact she’s been writing a new album and attending an artist residency in Campbelltown.


Photo by Simone Fisher

On the (decidedly small) TV screen, which also flicks on and off constantly all night, Flume has just picked up his first award. Keep Sydney Open is a recurring theme of the night. The irony of the night being hosted at the casino is not lost on anyone [The Star casino has been controversially exempted from Sydney's harsh lockout laws despite figures showing the high amount of violent incidents in its vicinity].

Bernard Fanning chills out on the couch for a long chat and seems surprised at his Adult Contemporary Award for an album that “no-one listened to”. A question comes from the throng — “Was there any chance of a Powderfinger reunion for the ARIAs?” “No!” declares Fanning, but when Buck pushes him on the future possibility, Fanning is coy. “Oh fuck Robbie, who knows!” That’s progress.

For some reason a couple of reporters dressed as gnomes have infiltrated the room and their curious questions about composting and gardening are answered kindly. Also, forget any Fanning and Ben Lee beef. They’re all cool now.


Photo by Simone Fisher

Reports filter through from the auditorium that some people have left early due to the ‘dry’ rule. Drinks are not provided during the ceremony differing from most other years. It seems that people are concerned they’re not receiving their $550 worth.

Suffa from Hilltop Hoods declares his Delta Goodrem fandom as he recalls a story from a previous ARIA night where her kindness improved the night for his wife. The trio also announce they’ve just decided to start work on a new album. They exit quickly though — “We’re going to find the booze!”


Photo by Simone Fisher

Without a doubt, the most respectful, well-spoken and engaging guest of the evening was Troye Sivan — “I have learnt more in a year than in my whole life.” Whilst his 21-year life is relatively short, that’s a fair assessment of the man that has moved from being a YouTube star to an ARIA winner through an album that is as impressive as any in the last year.




Photos by Simone Fisher

Montaigne’s speech had been a talking point, not to mention the “People Over Profit” writing emblazoned on her chest. Her couch chat saw her a little more relaxed, but it seems that the Breakthrough Artist winner was still clearly nervous. She attempted to clarify some of the things she said in her speech, but alas, no talk of poo before she left with her pointy spear of recognition.


Photo by Angela Padovan

If there was a best and worst dressed discussion, surely the Violent Soho boys would fall into the latter category. The newly crowd Best Rock group hammed it up in front of the media wall and declared to Buck that they wanted to stay backstage because that’s where the beers were. They end up chatting for a good ten minutes about their writing process: “It’s Brisbane through and through.” Their advice to new bands wanting to crack the scene? “Just don’t.” And their beauty tips: “I haven’t washed my hair in a year", declares drummer Mike Richards.


Photo by Angela Padovan

Following a decent-sized break in which some dodgy food was finally shared, the whole room goes silent for the induction of Crowded House into the ARIA Hall Of Fame. The fantastic presentation from Flight Of The Conchords led to a humble speech and then a riveting performance from Missy Higgins, Bernard Fanning and the band themselves. The media room then frothed at the entrance of the quartet through the door. Neil Finn admitted, “when I feel the hairs on the back of my neck go up when I’m writing, I realise there’s something there.” Oh, there have been many tingles, Neil. Their advice to up and coming artists? “Play house gigs!”


Photo by Simone Fisher

Finally, we are treated to the big winner of the night and his five pointy recognitions to add to the collection. Flume, as cool as ever, takes it all in his stride. Not much time to talk, as he again looks to exceed all expectations and win Best Male Artist despite not singing a word on his second album. How does it do it? “It’s very hard. I spend a lot of time working on crafting the tones and textures.”


Photo by Simone Fisher

Before the night is out, we are blessed with a short and sharp appearance from the one and only Kylie Minogue and hosts, The Veronicas, still buzzing after fulfilling their “lifelong dream” of performing with John Farnham in the finale.


Photos by Simone Fisher

We are declared as the “best ARIA media room ever” as we pack up and look for an after-party to sneak into, unless you’re a photographer and have a long night of uploading, editing and posting ahead of you.