The ARIAs’ first international star pulls out to save her voice, and a Melbourne hyperpop trio gets her slot

The 40th ARIA Awards have lost their first international headliner five days out. Sienna Spiro, the British singer touring the world with her debut album Visitor, has pulled out of Wednesday night’s ceremony at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion to rest.

In a message posted to ARIA’s Instagram stories on Thursday, Spiro said her tour “has taken its toll on me and my voice” and that she had to listen to her body and give it the rest it needs. She said she was sad to let fans down and wanted to be at her best when she returns in January.

Who replaces her?

ARIA has confirmed that Blusher, a Melbourne-based hyperpop trio signed to Atlantic Records, will take her place on the bill. It is a big stage for a local act: the 40th anniversary show streams live on Paramount+ before it airs on Network 10, with performances posted to ARIA’s YouTube channel.

Who else is playing?

The confirmed performers so far include Tame Impala, Jimmy Barnes, Melanie C and DMA’S. Comedians Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald, co-hosts of Network 10’s The Cheap Seats, will host.

Tame Impala and Genesis Owusu lead the nominations with eight each, and Ecca Vandal, this year’s Australian Music Prize winner, has seven. Owusu arrives in form: he won the J Award for Album of the Year this week, five years after his first.

Is her Australian tour still on?

Yes. Spiro says she is coming back in January for an eight-date tour of Australia and New Zealand, including two nights at the Hordern Pavilion. Promoter Frontier Touring says the shows sold out within hours, and second Sydney and Melbourne shows were added to meet demand.

The ARIAs trip would have been only her second visit to Australia. Her first was a small fan event at the Pleasure Club in Newtown, Sydney, last year.

Has she cancelled before?

It is not the first time this year Spiro has pulled out of a big date. In September she withdrew from the All Things Go festival shows in New York and near Washington without giving a reason. Her current run is the North American leg of her My House world tour, which supports Visitor.

For the ARIAs, the timing stings: Spiro’s booking had been the ceremony’s international drawcard for its 40th birthday. For fans who missed out on January tickets, Wednesday had been the one chance to see her in Australia without one.