Gotye, Kimbra and The Temper Trap took the glory Thursday night at the ARIA Awards, between them collecting most of the big honors.
The Australian record industry's flagship awards ceremony is a showcase of the Australian success stories over the previous year. Though on this occasion, the most deafening screams were reserved for the "internationals" on the show, who included Taylor Swift (performing her electro-pop hit "I Knew You Were Trouble"), English comedian and presenter Russell Brand and U.K. boyband One Direction, who weren't even in the house.
In a year that saw Gotye's career erupt internationally, the singer predictably cleaned-up with four awards. Gotye, whose real name is Wally De Backer, won for best male act and best pop release for the second successive year. And on the eve of his homecoming tour of Australia, Gotye walked away with best Australian live act. Gotye's triple-platinum set Making Mirrors (Samples 'n' Seconds Records/Eleven: A Music Company) also won for album of the year. Gotye's huge hit "Somebody That I Used To Know" has now sold more than 13 million units worldwide and notched up more than 350 million hits on YouTube.
Melbourne alternative rock outfit The Temper Trap grabbed a brace of ARIA awards, their self-titled sophomore set winning best rock album and the five-piece winning for best group, a category they won in 2010.
New Zealand-born Kimbra took out best female artist for Vows, a top-20 hit on the Billboard 200. The award was presented by Russell Brand, who brought his mother up on stage to assist.
Other winners on the night included the Jezabels (best independent release), the Wiggles (best children's), DZ Deathrays (best hard rock/heavy metal album), the McClymonts (best country album), One Direction (best international release) and Matt Corby (ARIA song of the year).
Among the performers were 360, Hilltop Hoods, Jessica Mauboy, The Jezabels, The Temper Trap, Missy Higgins, Kimbra and Guy Sebastian with Lupe Fiasco.