From AC/DC to Renee Geyer to INXS to Missy Higgins, there’s no doubt about it, Australia boasts some of the finest acts to ever grace the surface of our planet.

So what really defines Aussie music? Is it the bogan-ish accent a la Missy Higgins? Maybe it’s the pub-rock sound of Cold Chisel, or dance moves only Peter Garrett can pull off. However you define Australian music, be young or old, there is always a common factor. Enormity. Us Aussies don’t do things half way. We never have and never will. Look at acts like AC/DC, who almost literally conquered the world, or Silverchair, who have toured the world too many times to count.

Australian music originates from a mixture of British and American popular music. In the 50’s rock n roll artist Johnny O’Keefe became the first Australian rock star, imitating Americans such as Elvis Presley and Little Richard. But in the late 60’s Aussie music seemed to develop a mind of its own, veering away from other country’s beats and forming a whole new league of popular music. Here, we saw acts such as The Easy Beats and Bee Gees.

Then came the 70’s. Oh, the 70’s. After previous bands fizzled away, what replaced them was truly something special. Legends such as AC/DC, Midnight Oil, and Skyhooks emerged from this era. Live music was essential. Clubs and bars welcomed local talent with outstretched arms and outdoor festivals were born, the first being Woodstock in 1970. The 70’s were definitely the foot in the door Australian music needed.

After the explosion of Aussie music in the 70’s came the explosion of mullet rock in the 80’s. Bands like Hunters & Collectors, Men At Work, and Hoodoo Gurus emerged on the scene, as did culturally diverse music, with Yothu Yindi being the major contender in that field. The very first ARIA awards were held in 1987, making it a very special year for Australian music.

The 90’s were the years of grunge, and flannelette shirts and ripped jeans were all the rage for the youth of the early 90’s. There is a small group of artists we still hear on the radio today which were formed in the 90’s, including Something For Kate, Regurgitator, and more familiar Silverchair and Powderfinger. The 90’s was, in a way, a dead decade for Australian music with the exception of said bands. If only they knew what was to come…

This now leaves us in the 00’s. After finally ridding the nation of horrific American boy bands, some paramount acts have come out of the 00’s so far. We saw the emergence of solo artists such as Missy Higgins and Josh Pyke, and bands including Parkway Drive and Operator Please, making it very difficult for future artists to top what the 00’s have brought us to this day.

Technology has advanced a significant amount since the 60’s, which means higher expectations for local acts, but with the talent we have in this country, there is no doubt our music will just keep getting stronger, better, and more importantly, louder.