News 4 October 2017

ARIA Announces The Artisan, Fine Arts And Best Comedy Nominees For 2017

The 2017 ARIA Awards will be launched at this year’s ARIA Nominations event taking place on Tuesday, 10th October, hosted at The National Art Gallery in Sydney.

This celebration will hand out the first ARIA Awards for 2017 from our impressive 2017 ARIA Nominees for the Fine Arts, Artisan and Best Comedy categories including; Best Classical Album, Best Jazz Album, Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album, Best World Music Album, along with Producer Of The Year, Engineer Of the Year, Best Cover Art and Best Comedy.

Denis Handlin AO, ARIA Chairman and Chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment Australia and New Zealand and President, Asia, said: “Congratulations to all of this year’s nominees in the Fine Arts, Artisan and Best Comedy Awards. ARIA is delighted to present these awards and to recognise the highly talented Australian musicians and artisans across the diversity of the eight award categories.

I also would like to welcome the new partners and thank the returning sponsors for their continual support throughout the years.

We look forward to joining with the industry and guests for the October Nominations event and for the ARIA’s in November to celebrate the brilliant artists and music that has once again shaped Australian music over the past year.”

The Fine Arts, Artisan and Best Comedy Award categories herald the beginning of the 2017 ARIA Award celebrations. Leading up to ARIA Week festivities from Sunday 19th November, to the Awards on Tuesday, November 28th at The Star Event Centre, Sydney, that will be broadcast on The Nine Network.

ARIA #1 albums from Paul Kelly and Gang Of Youths are nominated across all three Artisan Award categories, closely followed by D.D Dumbo who has two nominations. James Morrison, Grigoryan Brothers and Kate Miller-Heidke & Sydney Symphony Orchestra have also been recognised across several categories.

ARIA is also thrilled to announce the partnership with Swarovski and Pepsi Max for this year’s ARIA Red Carpet. Returning for 2017 to celebrate the official ceremony are continuing sponsors, Destination NSW, The Nine Network, Telstra and PPCA.

Dan Rosen, ARIA Chief Executive, said: “ARIA is thrilled to announce that Sydney and The Star will again host the flagship event of the Australian music calendar - the 31st Annual ARIA Awards.

We would also like to welcome Swarovski, The Nine Network and returning partners Pepsi Max, Telstra, PPCA and the NSW Government, through Destination NSW, for their passionate support. We look forward to working closely with these world-class brands in 2017 as we celebrate a remarkable year in Australian music.”

Victoria Brown, Head of Marketing & Communications for Swarovski Australia, said: “Swarovski Australia is delighted to sponsor the 2017 ARIAs Red Carpet. Our Swarovski brand has such a rich and storied relationship with music, art and entertainment throughout our 122 year history. It’s our pleasure to celebrate and support the most brilliant local talent on the red carpet.”

Greg Hawkins, Managing Director for The Star, said: "The Star is delighted to continue our partnership with the ARIA Awards, one of Australia’s most profiled events. We look forward to welcoming the Australian music industry to The Star Event Centre to celebrate the achievements of our amazing home grown talent. Playing host for the fifth year running, The Star offers Sydney’s most thrilling entertainment destination featuring some of the best live performance spaces, along with a range of world-class facilities, accommodation, restaurants and after party venues for guests to enjoy.”

Joe Pollard, Chief Marketing Officer and Group Executive Media for Telstra said: “We are pleased to be joining forces with the ARIA Awards as the technology partner this year. Under our new partnership we’re helping to find the very first ARIA Music Teacher of the Year – recognising teachers from across the country who use their talents to inspire the next generation of Aussie musicians.”

Robbert Rietbroek, CEO of PepsiCo Australia and New Zealand, said: “We are thrilled for Pepsi Max to be involved with the ARIA Awards for the second year in a row, and look forward to bringing people together at the Pepsi Max Fan zone - the official pre party of the ARIAs. We’ve had an established history with the music industry and artist community globally, and Pepsi Max is proud to be celebrating the best of Australia's musical talent.”

George Ash, PPCA Board Chairman, said: “PPCA is excited to sponsor the Breakthrough Artist award at the 2017 ARIA Awards for a sixth consecutive year. It is a fantastic way for PPCA to support the career development of Australia’s emerging musicians. We would like to wish all of the nominees the best of luck and we look forward to celebrating the winner announcement on November 28.”

2017 ARTISAN AWARDS | NOMINATED ARTISTS

Best Cover Art

Lee McConnell for Dune Rats “The Kids Will Know It's Bullshit” (Ratbag Records)
Nathan Cahyadi for Gang Of Youths ”Go Farther In Lightness” (Mosy Recordings/Sony Music)
Nick McKinlay for Julia Jacklin “Don't Let The Kids Win” (Liberation Music)
Mitchell Storck for Midnight Oil “The Overflow Tank”(Sony Music)
Peter Salmon-Lomas for Paul Kelly “Life Is Fine” (EMI)

Engineer Of The Year

Oliver Hugh Perry & Fabian Prynn for D.D Dumbo “Utopia Defeated” (Liberation Music)
John Castle for Dean Lewis “Lose My Mind” (Island Records Australia/Universal Music Australia)
Adrian Breakspear for Gang Of Youths “Go Farther In Lightness” (Mosy Recordings/Sony Music)
Bob Scott for Kate Miller-Heidke & Sydney Symphony Orchestra “Live at the Sydney Opera House” (ABC Music/Universal Music)
Steven Schram for Paul Kelly ”Life Is Fine” (EMI)

Producer Of The Year

Daniel Rankine for A.B. Original “Reclaim Australia” (Golden Era Records/ UMA)
Tom Iansek for Big Scary “Animal” (Pieater/Inertia)
Oliver Hugh Perry & Fabian Prynn for D.D Dumbo “Utopia Defeated” (Liberation Music)
Gang Of Youths and Adrian Breakspear for Gang Of Youths “Go Farther In Lightness”(Mosy Recordings/Sony Music)
Paul Kelly & Steven Schram for Paul Kelly “Life Is Fine” (EMI)

FINE ARTS AWARDS | NOMINATED ARTISTS

Best Classical Album

Grigoryan Brothers “Songs Without Words” (ABC Classics/Universal)
Jayson Gillham, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra & Benjamin Northey “Medtner: Piano Concerto No. 1 | Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2”(ABC Classics/Universal Music)
Kate Miller-Heidke & Sydney Symphony Orchestra “Live at the Sydney Opera House” (ABC Music/Universal Music)
Slava Grigoryan “Bach: Cello Suites Volume I” (ABC Classics/Universal Music)
Tamara-Anna Cislowska “Elena Kats-Chernin: Unsent Love Letters - Meditations on Erik Satie” (ABC Classics/Universal Music)

Best Jazz Album

Australian Art Orchestra “Water Pushes Sand” Jazzhead (Head Records)
James Morrison & James Morrison Academy Jazz Orchestra “James Morrison With His Academy Jazz Orchestra (ABC Jazz/Universal Music)
James Morrison, BBC Concert Orchestra, Keith Lockhart, Harry Morrison & William Morrison “The Great American Songbook” (ABC Jazz/Universal Music)
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard ”Sketches Of Brunswick East” (FLIGHTLESS/Inertia)
The Vampires “The Vampires meet Lionel Loueke”(Earshift / Planet)

Best Original Soundtrack or Musical Theatre Cast Album

Australian Cast Recording feat. David Campbell “Dream Lover” (Sony Music)
Cezary Skubiszewski “Red Dog: True Blue OST” (Decca Records/Universal Music Australia)
Jessica Mauboy “The Secret Daughter (Songs from the Original TV Series)” (Sony Music)
Nigel Westlake & Sydney Symphony Orchestra, with Joseph Tawadros, Slava Grigoryan & Lior“Ali's Wedding” (ABC Classics/Universal Music)
Richard Tognetti & Australian Chamber Orchestra “Mountain” (ABC Classics/Universal Music)

Best World Music Album

Joseph Tawadros “Live at Abbey Road” (Independent/Planet)
Katie Noonan and Karin Schaupp “Songs of the Latin Skies” (KIN Music/Universal Music)
Melbourne Ska Orchestra “Saturn Return”(ABC Music / Universal)
Slava Grigoryan & Australian String Quartet “Migration” (ABC Classics/Universal Music)
Xylouris White “Black Peak” (Caroline Australia)

BEST COMEDY RELEASE | NOMINATED ARTISTS

Arj Barker “Get In My Head” (Universal Pictures Australasia / Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)
Buddy Goode “More Rubbish” (ABC Music / Universal)
John Clarke “Clarke's Classics” (ABC Classics/Universal Music)
Kitty Flanagan ”Seriously?” (Universal Pictures Australasia / Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)
Rhys Nicholson “Rhys Nicholson Live at The Eternity Playhouse” (Century Entertainment)

Stay tuned for more exciting announcements about the 2017 ARIA Awards.