Music News: 2007 ARIA AWARDS

By Sean Lynch
Visit the Official Aria Website

UPDATE

Operator Please, Gotye and Kate Miller-Heidke are set to perform at 2007 ARIA Awards with Delta Goodrem, Darren Hayes, Ben Lee, The Chaser boys and Dave Hughes lined up as presenters.

ARIA has announced additional performers and presenters who will take part in the 2007 ARIA Awards to be held at Acer Arena, Sydney Olympic Park with a 30 minute Red Carpet special to air at 7.00pm hosted by JAMES MATHISON with HAMISH + ANDY.

With live performances already announced by POWDERFINGER, SILVERCHAIR, JOHN BUTLER TRIO, MISSY HIGGINS and SNEAKY SOUND SYSTEM, organisers can confirm that multiple ARIA nominee GOTYE (pronounced Gore-ti-yeah!) will perform live at the awards. The multi-talented musician, writer and producer GOTYE (aka Wally de Backer), has scored 4 ARIA Award nominations (Best Male Artist, Best Independent Release, Best Dance Release and Album of the Year plus 2 Artisan Award nominations) for ‘Mixed Blood’, a remix album of songs from his extraordinarily successful sophomore release ‘Like Drawing Blood’. Made on a shoestring budget and independently released without any traditional marketing, Gotye's success is proof that the cream always rises to the top.

The captivating KATE MILLER-HEIDKE whose debut album ‘Little Eve’ landed her 4 ARIA Award nominations (plus 1 Artisan Award nomination) - in the categories of Best Female Artist, Breakthrough Artist – Single, Breakthrough Artist – Album and Best Pop Release - will bring her unique style to the ARIA Awards stage. Her beautifully crafted debut album was delivered earlier this year to overwhelming critical response, with the album debuting at #11 on the National Motorola ARIA Album Chart on release.

Young upstarts OPERATOR PLEASE will ditch their school uniforms to perform live at the ARIA Awards also

Lock up your daughters! CRAIG REUCASSEL and CHRIS TAYLOR from the top rating water cooler program The Chasers War on Everything will dish it up at the 2007 ARIA Awards. Best known for pranks which include cross dressing, play acting and musical spoofs these errant sons of satire are guaranteed to set tongues wagging.

And last but certainly not least, everyone’s favourite Aussie comedian DAVE HUGHES will be back to entertain at the 2007 ARIA Awards. He might have the laconic drawl but he also has one of the fastest comic minds this country has ever seen. We love ya Hughesy!


NOMINATION NEWS

Again showcasing the depth of talent across all genres of the Australian music community, the nominees range from well known icons including Silverchair, Powderfinger, John Butler Trio, Missy Higgins, The Wiggles and Keith Urban, to emerging artists such as Sneaky Sound System, Gotye, Josh Pyke, Kate Miller-Heidke, Operator Please, Architecture in Helsinki, Airbourne and Bindi Irwin.

Dance trio Sneaky Sound System have received 6 ARIA Award nominations for their debut self-titled album (plus 2 Artisan Award nominations) to be the most nominated act for the 2007 ARIA Awards. Their nomination’s nods are in the Best Dance Release, Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Best Independent Release, Best Group and Best Breakthrough Artist – Album categories.

After a lengthy absence from the studio, Silverchair are back with 4 nominations (plus 2 Artisan Award nominations) for their fifth studio album Young Modern. They have received nominations in the categories of Best Rock Album, Best Group, Album of the Year and Single of the Year.

Musician, writer and producer, Gotye, has scored 4 nominations (plus 2 Artisan Award nominations) for his Mixed Blood album. Gotye is nominated in the categories of Best Male Artist, Best Independent Release, Best Dance Release and Album of the Year. Another newcomer is the wonderful Kate Miller-Heidke, whose debut album Little Eve has landed her 4 nominations (plus 1 Artisan Award nomination) in the categories of Best Female Artist, Breakthrough Artist – Single, Breakthrough Artist – Album and Best Pop Release.

Heres a selection of this years nominees:

ARIA favourite ROVE McMANUS makes a welcome return to the stage as host of this year’s event, while Australian Idol's JAMES MATHISON is back, this time reporting from behind the scenes, on the red carpet and more. They will be joined by a variety of guest presenters to be announced in coming weeks.

The 2007 ARIA Awards will be held on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28, at Acer Arena, Sydney Olympic Park and will be telecast by broadcast partner Network Ten from 8.30pm that night with a Red Carpet special to air at 7.00pm.