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The annual ARIA awards will move to a new home at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion this year, which organisers say demonstrates their commitment to live music after holding audience-free ceremonies during pandemic restrictions.
It takes the hosting gig for the 36th Australian music industry awards night after a tumultuous two years, during which artists lost income, performances were cancelled and local venues shut down.
The ARIAs were live-streamed from Taronga Zoo last year, but had been held at The Star since 2013. In the past, hosting duties have roved between venues such as the Sydney Entertainment Centre, Qudos Bank Arena, the Capitol Theatre and the Opera House.
Genesis Owusu with his four ARIA Awards in 2021.Credit:Brendon Thorne/Getty Images
The last two years of live-streamed award shows were widely received as lacklustre without an in-person crowd. The 2021 event was also online-only – restricted to YouTube and Nine’s 9Now streaming service – which led to limited viewership and took the gleam off the event’s prestige.
Organisers promoted the new venue as a celebration of live music and a return to the vibrant energy of earlier years, as the awards revert to a live audience and large-scale broadcast format.
“In a year that has had so many challenges we want to bring the joy of music back to fans, blow up the fashion, fun, and excitement of the red carpet, and celebrate the amazing achievements of our artists in true music style,” said ARIA chief executive Annabelle Herd.
“I can’t think of a better place to do that than a venue as steeped in music DNA as the Hordern.”
In making the announcement on Sunday, the organisation said the move demonstrated its commitment to Australian music and the live stage. It pointed to the venue’s storied legacy of hosting both top Australian performers and international acts since it opened in 1924.
Luminaries who have performed at the Moore Park venue include David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac, Bob Marley, Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Silverchair, Crowded House, INXS, Midnight Oil and the Arctic Monkeys. More recent stars include Billie Eilish, The Kid Laroi, Troye Sivan, Flume, Thelma Plum and the DMA’s.