Lineup Announced For Inaugural ARIA Week, Ahead Of 2012 Awards

The full program for this year’s ARIA week (yes, week) has been announced.

A lack of interest from the Australian public has forced the ARIA crew to get creative, firstly by focusing the bulk of their efforts on reaching audiences over a digital platform, and secondly by extending the annual nightly showcase of the best Aussie talent has to offer into a week-long affair.

“Australia is now the sixth biggest music market in the world and we see ARIA Week as a reflection of that,” ARIA CEO Dan Rosen said to The Music, “a week-long celebration of the artists and broader music community who are shaping our local industry through unprecedented creativity and innovation.”

The week will focus on emerging artists, with Rosen saying the selections have been based on “up and coming artists who we believe to be fitting for ARIA nominations in the future.”

The acts are more or less grouped by genre – indie lovers can sway to their hearts content to the likes of Alpine, Oh Mercy and Oliver Tank, while fans of hip hop will be drawn to performances by Urthboy, Seth Sentry, Grey Ghost and Pez.

Electronic and pop fans have also been catered to, with nights topped by Ivan Gough and Jessica Mauboy respectively, as well as performances from Bertie Blackman, The Rubens and The Trouble With Templeton.

The events will be held at iconic Sydney venues Oxford Art Factory, Upstairs Beresford and the Ivy Pool.

Along with the artist showcases,  this years ARIA awards will also be accompanied by Australia’s first ever Electronic Music Conference on the 27th and 28th, with the list of keynote speakers recently announced for the industry event; including the world’s highest-paid DJ, Tiësto, one half of Major Lazer – Diplo, and Big Day Out boss Ken West.

The EMC closing party has also been announced as part of the ARIA week showcases, with electronic acts Ivan Gough, Feenixpawl, Walden, and more all bringing the music conference to a close at The Ivy Pool on Wednesday 28th November.

Let’s not forget the point of the ARIAs though, which is to bestow awards on the Australian music scene’s best and brightest. The 26th ARIA Awards will be held on Thursday 29th November to celebrate the rich and diverse Australian music industry  with featured performances byThe Jezabels, 360, Hilltop Hoods, Jessica Mauboy, and The Temper Trap.

Joining the list of Australian acts will be a performance from Taylor Swift, because nothing says ‘Australian music industry’ like an American country-bred pop star…

The already announced nominations have been dominated by Melbourne MC 360, and a man who needs no introduction, Gotye. The Jezebels and the Hilltop Hoods also get a decent look-in, along with the likes of Hermitude, Alpine, Oh Mercy, and DZ Deathrays among many others, all receiving nods from the industry.

While the winners of the three ARIA Artisan Award categories and four ARIA Fine Arts categories were also announced at the nomination ceremony – the first of many artists to be acknowledged by their peers for their creative contributions over the last 12 months.

You can view the full ARIA week program below.

ARIA Week Artist Showcase Program

MONDAY 26 NOVEMBER

Universal Music presents:
Bertie Blackman, Art Of Sleeping, The Preatures, Harts
Oxford Art Factory
Tickets $20, through Moshtix

FasterLouder presents:
Alpine, Oh Mercy, Oliver Tank
Upstairs Beresford

TUESDAY 27 NOVEMBER

Sony Music presents:
Jessica Mauboy, Timomatic, Justice Crew, Johnny Ruffo
Upstairs Beresford
Tickets $20, through Moshtix

Triple J Unearthed presents:
The Rubens, Yes You, Asta
Oxford Art Factory

WEDNESDAY 28 NOVEMBER

MGM and Street Press Australia present:
The Trouble With Templeton, The Falls, plus more
Upstairs Beresford
Tickets $10, through Moshtix

The In Sound From Way Out and Inertia present Girt By Emcee:
Urthboy, Seth Sentry, Grey Ghost, Pez
Oxford Art Factory
Tickets $20, through Moshtix

Neon, Ministry Of Sound, One Love present the EMC Closing Party:
Ivan Gough, Feenixpawl, Walden, Tom Piper, The Only, Kaz James
The Ivy Pool