Aria triumph - but are the Aussies trying to steal Kimbra?

Kiwi singer Kimbra has scored an Australian music award. Photo / Supplied

It's Crowded House, Shihad and pavlova all over again: Kiwi singer-songwriter Kimbra has been named Best Female Artist at the Australian Recording Industry Awards.

Kimbra, who was born and raised in Hamilton but is currently based in Melbourne, took out the prized trophy at the star-studded ceremony last night thanks to her acclaimed single Cameo Lover.

She was up against previous winners Claire Bowditch and Megan Washington.

Kimbra also helped Gotye clean up Single of the Year and Best Male Artist, thanks to her presence on the singer-songwriter's hit single Somebody That I Used to Know.

"Thank you to everybody for just listening to the song that we made. I think that's the greatest thanks I can give because I'm always excited by that," Gotye said after receiving the award.

Kimbra thanked Gotye for "making me part of this amazing trip" before the pair performed Somebody That I Used to Know live on TV for the first time.

"Wow thank you so much Aria. I really did not expect this," Kimbra said last night.

"It's only my first album and such an honour to be in the company of such amazing female artists. Thanks to all of you for supporting me."

The Aria awards were dominated by folk five-piece Boy & Bear who took out five awards, including coveted Best Group and Best Album prizes for their acclaimed debut Moonfire.

Full list of 2011 ARIA Award winners:

Album of the year: Boy & Bear, Moonfire
Single of the year: Gotye, Somebody That I Used to Know (featuring Kimbra)
Best male artist: Gotye, Somebody That I Used to Know (featuring Kimbra)
Best female artist: Kimbra, Cameo Lover
Best group: Boy & Bear, Moonfire
Breakthrough artist (album): Boy & Bear, Moonfire
Breakthrough artist (single): Boy & Bear, Feeding Line
Best independent release: Art vs Science, The Experiment
Best adult alternative album: Boy & Bear, Moonfire
Best adult contemporary album: Billy Thorpe, Billy Thorpe's Tangier
Best blues & roots album: The Audreys, Sometimes the Stars
Best children's album: The Wiggles, Ukulele Baby!
Best comedy album: Hamish & Andy, Celebrating 50 Glorious Years
Best country album: Kasey Chambers, Little Bird
Best dance release: Cut Copy, Zonoscope
Best hard rock/heavy metal album: Front End Loader, Ritardando
Best pop release: Gotye, Somebody That I Used to Know (featuring Kimbra)
Best rock album: The Living End, The Ending Is Just the Beginning Repeating
Best urban album: Drapht, The Life of Riley
Highest selling album: Altiyan Childs, Altiyan Childs
Highest selling single: Guy Sebastian, Who's that Girl (featuring Eve)

- AAP with Herald online