Pop band Five Seconds of Summer (5SOS) has made a triumphant return to the home stage, kicking off this year's ARIA Awards in Sydney with a rousing performance of their worldwide hit, Youngblood.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Sydney band played to a room full of Australian music's brightest stars including nominees Amy Shark, Troye Sivan and Dean Lewis and legends Ian "Molly" Meldrum, Paul Kelly and Jimmy Barnes.
A last-minute addition to the night was Irish musical legend Sir Bob Geldof who was announced on Wednesday morning as one of the night's presenters.
Keith Urban is the host of the award and was accompanied by his Oscar-winning wife Nicole Kidman.
It's Urban's first appearance at the awards in 10 years and he will also take to the stage to perform his song The Fighter with the most-nominated artist, Amy Shark.
"Hi baby, she's right in the front row," Urban said as he took to the stage and spotted his wife in the audience.
"We are celebrating an amazing year for Australian musicians. Not only have they made their mark in the charts here but they've made their mark all over the world."
He also admitted to liking "trash polka" in a tongue-in-cheek speech about his musical inspirations, before joking that the angular ARIA gongs may not be "the biggest pricks in the room".
The first award of the night, Australian Live Act, went to 5SOS who are up for a total of four awards on the night.
Gold Coast singer, Shark, is up for nine gongs including Best Female and Album of the Year for her debut record, Love Monster.
Following close behind her is Melbourne-based indie rocker Courtney Barnett whose tally is eight nominations, going head-to-head with Shark in the Best Female and Album of the Year categories for her record Tell Me How You Really Feel.
Both women have experienced success overseas. Barnett's second album pushed her into the top 10 of the UK charts while Shark's Love Monster got to number two on the US Billboard Heatseekers charts, for new and developing artists.
British stars George Ezra and Rita Ora are also due to bring some English charm to the awards, and perform on the Sydney stage.
There will also be a tribute to the late indigenous musician Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu who has been posthumously nominated for seven awards including Best Male Artist and Album of the Year for the release, Child of the Rainbow.
Kasey Chambers will be inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, and at 42 will be the youngest ever female bestowed with the honour
Australian Associated Press
