Biography:

Daughter to a 3rd generation grape growing father and cabaret singing mother, Kelly Menhennett's upbringing in South Australia'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, blues, country, folk 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 soulful, gritty voice that has since been compared to a mix of Erma Franklin and Etta James, as soon as she unleashed it to the unassuming patrons there was no turning back.

Since then the Americana inspired singer songwriter has gone on to 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 2015 ARBA Best Roots album with her latest release, Small Dreams. In late 2016 Kelly was invited to travel to the USA where she helped complete some unfinished works by the legendary gospel songwriter, Albert E. Brumley, famous for his classic, “I’ll Fly Away”.

In late 2010, Kelly released her debut album “World Of Mine”, receiving great response by fans and media and named one of the top 10 albums for 2011 by Rhythms magazine’s Sue Barrett.
Kelly’s 2nd and most recent album, "Small Dreams", was recorded live over 3 days at Mr Lemons Studio in Nashville with producer Neilson Hubbard and an all-star band including the likes of Carl Broemel (My Morning Jacket) and Kim Richey. In contrast to her first album, Small Dreams is a little darker, a little dirtier and focuses more on her love of Americana music, which has inspired her for a lifetime. Also well received by fans and media, Small Dreams was named a top 3 release by Rhythms Magazine.  

Touring both solo and with her band has seen her developing a reputation around the country as a unique and charismatic performer. She has been invited to support some great Austrialian and International musical acts (Archie Roach, Steve Poltz, Anne McCue and Busby Marou to name a few), shared the stage with her idol, Paul Kelly, in Nashville and graced the stages of some of Australia's best venues and most iconic festivals such as WOMADelaide, Woodford Folk Festival, Queenscliff Music Festival and Tamworth Country Music Festival, as well as the Americana Festival in Nashville.