The 2015 ARIA awards were dished out last night with independent artists taking out the lion’s share of awards, yay for independent music! Courtney Barnett walked away with Best Independent Release, Best Female Artist and Breakthrough Artist for her debut studio album Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit. Released through Milk! Records the singer/songwriter was nominated for more awards than any other artist this year, that included Album of the Year, Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Best Female Artist of the Year, Best Independent Release and Best Rock Album. The talented artist overcame other artists like Hermitude, Paul Kelly, Meg Mac and Megan Washington to take home the pointy prize.
C.W Stoneking took out the Best Blues And Roots Album for his Gon’ Boogaloo record, he pipped Marlon Williams, The Black Sorrows, The Waifs, and Tim Rogers & The Bamboos. Seth Sentry rolled away with Best Urban Album for his Strange New Past Record and.
Best Male Artist was awarded to Vance Joy for his debut album Dream Your Life Away he was up against #1 Dads, Daniel Johns, Guy Sebastian and Jarryd James. Vance was nominated for four ARIAS all together including Best Pop Release, Best Independent Release and Album of the Year.
Matt Okine took out Best Comedy Release and used his speech to call out the gender inequality of his category. No women were included in the comedy sector, which didn’t sit well with Okine and led to his impromptu speech. The ARIAS didn’t include Okine’s speech in their broadcast we’re unsure if it was an issue of time or content.
Sydney hard-core lads Northlane nabbed the Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album for their Node record; other cats in their category were Born Lion, In Hearts Wake, King Parrot, and Thy Art Is Murder.
Tame Impala took home Album of the Year, Best Group and Best Rock Album. Rufus was awarded Best Dance Release while Best Pop Release went to Jarryd James and Oh Mercy took out Best Adult Contemporary Album.
