The legendary Tina Arena and rising star Budjerah have been confirmed as performers for the 2023 Shure Rolling Stone Australia Awards.
This year’s awards will take place at The Argyle in Sydney on Tuesday, April 4th, and will once again be hosted by Alex Dyson, the former triple j breakfast host turned podcaster.
Arena, a true Australian music icon, will bring her 12-strong catalogue of studio albums to the ceremony, a collection that yielded seven ARIA Awards including the album of the year honor for her 1995 hit Don’t Ask, a category no other solo female artist had won at the time.
Don’t Ask was the highest-selling album of 1995 in Australia and, with more than 1 million domestic sales, it remains one of the biggest-selling albums by an Australian female singer. Arena was inducted in the ARIA Hall of Fame back in 2015.
Also confirmed for this year’s awards is multiple-award winning singer and songwriter Budjerah. The singer-songwriter and Coodjinburra man from the Bundjalung nation has been on a swift rise to the top of Australian music, having won the Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist award at the 2021 ARIA Awards, and the APRA Award in 2022 for Most Performed R&B/Soul Work (“Higher”). He also recently supported Ed Sheeran on his record-breaking Australian stadium tour.
Budjerah is also in with a chance of winning big at the awards, earning two nominations for Best Single and Best New Artist.
“It’s an absolute privilege to be able to host two Australian performers of the ilk of the emerging Budjerah and the legend that is Tina Arena,” says Poppy Reid, Editor in Chief of The Brag Media, publisher of Rolling Stone AU/NZ.
“Not only are they incredible performers, but they are a fantastic cross-section of the diverse offerings that have been born out of the Australian music scene over recent decades. I can’t wait to see them perform live next week!”
Alex Dyson is happy at returning as host after leading the 2022 party. “I couldn’t be prouder to dust off my only collared shirt and help Rolling Stone celebrate 12 months of Australian musical achievement,” he says.
“Our country continually punches above its weight when it comes to anthems, #choons and bangers, so honouring those who create them in collaboration with Australia’s finest music publication is an absolute privilege.”
In addition to the previously-announced finalists, the shortlist for the Rolling Stone Readers’ Choice Award is unveiled today.
Boy & Bear, Lime Cordiale, Teenage Dads, The Wiggles, Daniel Johns, Tones And I, The Chats, CXLOE, Ruby Fields and San Cisco will compete in the category, with the winner being chosen by Rolling Stone Australia subscribers.
As previously reported, the likes of Vance Joy, The Wiggles, Gang Of Youths, Spacey Jane and Keith Urban are multiple nominees for this year’s awards.
Across the evening, awards will be presented for best single, best new artist, best record, Rolling Stone Global Award, and the Readers’ Choice Award.
Sponsors for the third annual event include headline partner Shure, alongside Australis, Canna, Panhead, JMC Academy, Brixton, and Jim Beam.
The latest issue of Rolling Stone AU/NZ features Amy Shark on the cover and is out now.
