Kelly Menhennett

Daughter to a 3rd generation grape growing father and cabaret singing mother, Kelly Menhennett's upbringing in SA's Riverland region consisted of much song, wine and wide open space.

After years working in the wine industry as a red winemaker, the healthy dose of soul, country and rock and roll music that infused her blood as a child eventually led her to the stage. Her first performance was humble, in the dining room of a local country pub, calling out meal orders in between songs. But with a voice once compared to a cross between Erma Franklin and Etta James, as soon as she unleashed her gritty voice to the unassuming patrons there was no turning back.

Since then the alt-country/soul singer-songwriter has gone on the win the national Telstra Road To Discovery award for her songwriting, independently released 2 full length albums and performed at iconic national and international festivals both solo and with her band. Most recently Kelly was the recipient of the inaugural “Ryan Freeman Live Music Award” at the 2015 SA Music awards and won the ARBA best roots album with her latest release, Small Dreams.

Whether performing solo or with her band (Richard Coates on keys/accordion, Shireen Khemlani on bass, Tim Irrgang on drums and Steve Pederson on pedal steel/electric guitar/lap-slide), Kelly has developed a reputation around the country as a unique and charismatic performer and graced the stages of some of Australia's great venues and festivals such as the Woodford Folk Festival, Queenscliff Music Festival and Tamworth Country Music Festival, as well as the Americana Festival in Nashville.