Kylie Minogue to give ARIA Awards a miss but secret superstars set to open the show

The ARIA Awards is set to celebrate Australia’s finest artists on Wednesday but several will be overseas playing sold-out shows to their American and European fans.

Pop queen Kylie Minogue is a no-show at the 2024 ARIA Awards but a major international act will now be opening the big gig in Sydney on Wednesday.

The Padam Padam pop survivor bagged five nominations for this year’s awards in the wake of her global renaissance spearheaded by the inescapable banger from her chart-topping record Tension.

Since the nominations were announced two months ago, award organisers have been desperate to secure her presence at the ARIAs.

Minogue was spotted in Melbourne last week but managed to dodge any further attention, as she tends to do when back home, unless she’s got a new music or wine to promote.

She last graced the stage with former fiance Joshua Sasse in 2016 to advocate for marriage equality, and the previous year inducted Tina Arena to the Hall of Fame.

Kylie Minogue brought her star shine to the ARIAs to induct Tina Arena to the Hall of Fame in 2015. Picture: Getty Images.

The pop queen, who has never performed at the ARIAs in its 37-year history, is up for Album of the Year for Tension, Best Solo Artist, Best Independent Release, Best Pop Release and Song of the Year. She has won 18 ARIAs from 54 nominations since 1988.

“ARIAs!!! FIVE NOMS!!!! Thank you so so much,” she posted when the nominations were announced last month.

Host Tim Blackwell let the cat out of the bag last week during a chat on Nova 96.9’s Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie show that “there’s a huge opening act I can’t tell you about yet”.

“I know Missy Higgins has got something massive planned for the end of the show. There is a huge one, I think Fitzy you in-particular will be pumped,” he said.

“There is a big, big international one that I can’t talk about that will be performing on Wednesday night.”

If it’s an act Fitzy is into, it’s likely a rock act. Industry insiders have speculated wildly it could be Pearl Jam but they almost never do awards shows.

But it just might their opening act Pixies, who just happen to have a gig booked at Liberty Hall on Wednesday which is next to the Hordern Pavilion where the ARIAs is being held.

The seminal indie rockers could easily open the show at 5pm and then pop across the road to play their sold-out gig.

Are US indie rock heroes Pixies the secret ARIA Awards opening act? Picture: Supplied.

This year’s leading nominees, Sydney guitar pop duo Royel Otis, topped the 2024 leaderboard with eight nominations and are tipped by most pundits to win at least a couple.

But Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic are in the middle of a sold-out tour of Europe – after conquering the US – and will be on stage in Belgium when the ARIAs are live from Sydney. So pre-recorded video acceptance speeches will be their only “appearance”.

Another artist popular with ARIA voters is the mega-successful DJ and producer Dom Dolla, who will also be delivering his thanks for any wins from his six nominations via video from the US before returning home later this month for sold-out shows.

The Kid Laroi will “perform” live in a pre-recorded video. Picture: Nina Franova/Getty Images.

The Kid Laroi has pre-recorded his “live performance”, as he is due on stage in Perth on The First Time tour. But several of the big nominees will be in the room, including pop prince Troye Sivan. Rock star Angie McMahon, who is up for five awards, will also be in action.

Jess Mauboy, who is expecting her first child, will perform with First Nations hip-hop collective 3%, who have four nominations.

Perennial ARIA favourites back this year are Hall of Fame inductee Missy Higgins and Amy Shark.

But Tones and I, who is up for four awards, is a no-show after getting a call from Cyndi Lauper to perform at her Los Angeles show next weekend.

HOW TO WATCH

Live from 1.30pm AEDT: Red Carpet on ARIA official YouTube channel.

Live from 5pm AEDT: The 2024 ARIA Awards in full on Stan. The full show will also be available on demand on Stan after the official live stream.

A 2024 ARIA Awards special presentation on Nine at 8.30pm and streamed outside Australia on YouTube

Originally published as Kylie Minogue to give ARIA Awards a miss but secret superstars set to open the show