Australian singer songwriter Missy Higgins has dominated at her home country's flagship music awards - the ARIAs. She took five of the awards at Sunday night's event in Sydney. She was named Best Artist, Best Pop Artist and Best Breakthrough Artist, while her debut album, 'The Sound Of White', took the gongs for Highest Selling Album and Album of The Year.
The other winner of note was Ben Lee, the 27 year old with over ten years in the business, having fronted his band Noise Addict at the age of 16. Lee has not previously won any ARIAs but this year took three - Best Male Performer, Best Independent Album for 'Awake Is The New Sleep' and Single Of The Year for 'Catch My Disease'.
Other winners included Keith Urban who won the Country Award for 'Be Here' and the Go Betweens' who took the Adult Contemporary Award for 'Oceans Apart'. Jimmy Barnes, who has had six consecutive chart topping solo albums in Australia, was also inducted into the ARIA Hall Of Fame.
For those that collect lists of award winners, here's the full list of ARIA 2005 winners:
Album of the Year: Missy Higgins - The Sound Of White (EMI/Eleven)
Single of the year: Ben Lee - Catch My Disease (Inertia)
Breakthrough Artist, Album: Missy Higgins - The Sound Of White (EMI/Eleven)
Breakthrough Artist, Single: End Of Fashion - O Yeah! (EMI)
Best Group: Eskimo Joe (FMR)
Best Male Artist: Ben Lee (Inertia)
Best Female Artist: Missy Higgins (EMI/Eleven)
Best Rock Album: Grinspoon - Thrills Kills And Sunday Pills (UMA)
Best Country Album: Keith Urban - Be Here (EMI/Capitol)
Best Blues and Roots Album: Mia Dyson - Parking Lots (MGM/Black Door Records)
Best Children's Album: The Wiggles - Live Hot Potatoes (ABC Kids)
Best Dance Release: Infusion - Six Feet Above Yesterday (SonyBMG)
Best Urban Release: Daniel Merriweather - She's Got Me (FMR)
Best Adult Contemporary Album: The Go-Betweens - Oceans Apart (EMI/Capitol)
Best Pop Release: Missy Higgins - The Sound Of White (EMI/Eleven)
Best Independent Release: Ben Lee - Awake Is The New Sleep (Inertia)
Best Comedy Release: Tripod - Middleborough Road (Liberation)
Best Music DVD: Jet - Right Right Right (EMI/Capitol)
Highest Selling Album: Missy Higgins - The Sound of White (EMI/Eleven)
Highest Selling Single: Anthony Callea - The Prayer (SonyBMG)
ARIA Awards Hall of Fame Inductee: Jimmy Barnes.
Among the live performances at the awards event was a performance by Neil Finn of Crowded House hit 'Better Be Home Soon', part of a tribute segment to former Crowded House drummer Paul Hester, who committed suicide back in March.