With eight nominations, Gang of Youths is ahead of the pack leading into the 2017 ARIA Awards, to be held Nov. 28 at The Star Event Centre. Close behind is veteran singer-songwriter Paul Kelly, with seven nominations, while Australian Music Prize winning hip-hop duo A.B. Original, emerging singer-songwriter Amy Shark, rapper Illy and indigenous pop star Jessica Mauboy are trailing with six nods. Pop singers Sia and Dean Lewis have five chances each.
Gang Of Youths, the Sydney alternative rock outfit, has been flexing its muscles in recent weeks. Their second album, Go Farther In Lightness (Mosy Recordings/Verge via Sony Music) opened at No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart in August, eclipsing the No. 5 peak for their 2015 debut The Positions and going one better than their 2016 EP Let Me Be Clear, which reached No. 2. As a reward for their great efforts, the five-piece score nominations for album of the year, best group, best rock album, best video, best Australian live act, engineer of the year, best cover art and producer of the year (taking out the last category, which was presented ahead of the flagship ceremony).
ARIA will invite the public to vote in the categories of best international act, best Australian live act and best video and fans can help determine the winner of the coveted song of the year award through an arrangement with Apple Music. Visit visit ariaawards.com.au/public-voting for more information.
Nominations for the 31st annual industry awards gala were announced Tuesday (Oct. 10) at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, where ARIA handed out trophies for fine arts, artisan and best comedy.
Gang Of Youths got off to the best possible start winning for producer of the year with Adrian Breakspear, while Paul Kelly, who recently landed his first No. 1 with Life Is Fine after releasing 23 studio albums over a 40-year career, continues his hot streak by taking out two Artisan ARIA Awards, for engineer of the year and best cover art.
Trophies were also handed out for best classical album, best jazz album, best original soundtrack/cast/show album, best world music album and best comedy release, won posthumously by New Zealand-born comic John Clarke.
The 31st annual event will be beamed around Australia on the free-to-air Nine Network.
See the full list of nominations and ARIA’s fine arts, artisan and best comedy winners here.
