ARIAs 2016: Flume cleans up

The artist known as Flume doesn't sing, doesn't dance and he wasn't even born when the first ARIA Awards were held. But Flume, or Harley Edward Streten as it says on his well thumbed passport, dominated the ARIA Awards on its 30th anniversary just as Farnham did on that first (non-televised, pre-social media, drinks flowing) night in 1987.

Streten/Flume, a 25-year-old electronic producer and songwriter from Sydney's northern beaches whose first remixes and recordings were released a decade ago, won his second best male artist prize.

While this still is astonishing enough for old-school music types, given the only voices on his records are not his, it has been overshadowed by Flume's second album, Skin, being named album of the year, best independent and best dance release, and his single with vocalist Kai, Never Be Like You, winning best pop release.

Added to the already announced awards for producer and engineer of the year and best cover art (not done by him, but artist Jonathan Zawada) that doubled his tally from 2013 and gave him eight shiny, pointy new trophies to take home.

The artist known as Farnsy had to settle for a mere six that first year, including being the first best male artist. But the standard he set for Flume and others was made obvious by the fact it was Farnham, and only Farnham, who could have been asked to close the 30th anniversary night with …. no surprises here, You're The Voice.

That song – single and song of the year, highest selling single of the year, karaoke favourite of all time – competed in 1987 with Don't Dream It's Over by Crowded House. Don't Dream It's Over won the songwriter version of song of the year (a distinction no longer made at the ARIAs) along with the band being named best new artist, the equivalent award to Flume's 2013 prize for breakthrough artist.

In keeping with the historic nature of the awards this year, Crowded House (the star performers on the night) were inducted into the Hall of Fame.

If this makes it look as if the 30th ARIAs were, Flume apart, a night for the (relatively) aged that would not be too far wrong. Experienced campaigners such as Sia (best female, and possibly best disguise), Bernard Fanning and Sarah Blasko (best adult contemporary and adult alternative respectively – and no, there isn't anyone who can explain the difference), Sara Storer (best country), the genuinely veteran Russell Morris (best blues and roots), Drapht (his second best urban album) and the Wiggles (their umpteenth best children's album prize, albeit with mostly different faces to when they won the bulk of their ARIAs) ruled the night.

However, there was hope for the future too in a popular win for Sydney singer/songwriter Montaigne as breakthrough artist, a double hit for hard rock band Violent Soho, as best group and best rock album, and the weirdly inappropriate but still deserved score for King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard as best hard rock/heavy metal album.

On a night ruled by Farnham and Flume, it did show there are still some categories even The Voice and The Man Who Hasn't A Voice Or A Mullet can't win.