BIOGRAPHY

With 24 Top 10 hit singles (including 13 #1 hits) on the Australian Country Songs Top 40 Chart and numerous live performances at many Australian country music festivals, husband and wife duo, the Shelly Jones Band have certainly made a big impact on the Australian independent country music scene to date.

The two award winning singer-songwriters (Shelly and Lester) are well known for delivering catchy melodies, heartfelt lyrics, beautiful harmonies, great musicianship and a hint of cheeky humour in their live shows. Based on the Mid North Coast of NSW AUSTRALIA, these polished all round entertainers have been performing professionally together for over 15 years in their current format. With a reputation as one of the hardest working duo’s, their immense live performance listing includes everything from countless registered club venues to featured artist appearances at many well known Australian Country Music Festivals throughout NSW, VIC, SA and QLD.

To date the Shelly Jones Band have officially released 4 studio albums. Their melodic, down to earth songwriting has certainly packed a big punch in country music and delivered them many accolades and achievements over the years. A special highlight was in 2022 when they won the Independent International Band of the Year at the International Singer Songwriters Awards (ISSA) in USA.

Also at the 2023 Tamworth Country Music Festival they won Best Female Vocalist of the Year at the Independent Australian Independent Country Music Awards (Brumby Awards) and were recognized for their songwriting at the Tamworth Songwriting Association Awards by winning 2 awards for TSA Country Blues Song Award and the TSA Radio Presenters Award

Their achievements also include numerous nominations for Australian Independent Group/Duo of the Year including for the SOUTHERN STARS Australian Independent Country Music Awards, Independent Country Music Association Awards and the Tasmanian and National Country Music Awards.

But one of their most prized accomplishments is in their radio success having set several new records for many of their singles on the Country Songs Top 40 Australian Airplay Chart. They were officially the first country artist to DEBUT at #1 with their single release ‘MERLE’ in 2019 and recently in 2022 they also set a new record for the most weeks any single has ever stayed in the Country Songs Top 40 Australian Airplay Chart (47 weeks) for their hit single release ‘COUNTRY STYLE MUSIC’.

RADIO ACHIEVEMENTS (Top 10 hits)

2024 - #1 Love Is Like a River Australian Country Songs Top 40 Chart

2024 - #1 Dance Australian Country Songs Top 40 Chart

2023 - #1 Dude or Dud Australian Country Songs Top 40 Chart

2023 - #1 One Night At a Time Australian Country Songs Top 40 Chart

2023 - #1 I Love My Life Australian Country Songs Top 40 Chart

2023 - #1 Three Grey Hairs Australian Country Songs Top 40 Chart

2022 - #1 I Wanna Write a Song Australian Country Songs Top 40 Chart

2022 - #1 Proceed With Caution Australian Country Songs Top 40 Chart

2021- #1 Country Style Music Australian Country Songs Top 40 Chart
(NEW CHART RECORD - Longest stay in the Chart, 47 weeks)

2021- #2 If You Knew What You Know (feat. Watling & Bates) Australian Country Songs Top 40 Chart

2021 - #5 Waltz Right Back Australian Country Songs Top 40 Chart

2021 - #1 Woman's Wee Wait Woe Australian Country Songs Top 40 Chart

2020 - #1 Who Was The Dancing Man Australian Country Songs Top 40 Chart

2020 - #8 Mountain of Love Australian Country Songs Top 40 Chart

2020 - #6 Googy Eggs Australian Country Songs Top 40 Chart

2019 - #3 The Outback Australian Country Songs Top 40 Chart

2019 - #1 Nice To Be With You Australian Country Songs Top 40 Chart
(Debuted at #1 in the Chart)

2019 - #1 Merle Australian Country Songs Top 40 Chart
(NEW CHART RECORD - First single to debut at #1 in the Chart)

- Merle #1 European International Country Music Charts

- Merle #1 US Music Review Chart

2018 - #4 Highways Australian Country Songs Top 40 Chart

2017 - #5 Closer You Get Australian Country Songs Top 40 Chart

2016/2017 - #10 Without You Australian Country Songs Top 40 Chart

2016 - #6 Crosses By The Roadside Australian Country Songs Top 40 Chart

2016 - # 6 Ten Guitars Australian Country Songs Top 40 Chart

2015 - # 6 Grandpa's Farm Australian Country Songs Top 40 Chart

Christmas Releases RADIO ACHIEVEMENTS (Top 10 hits)

2022 - #2 Santa's in My Family (Australian Country Songs Top 40 Christmas Chart)

2019 - #10 Silent Night (Australian Country Songs Top 40 Christmas Chart)

ACCOLADES

2023 - Won TSA Radio Presenters Award TSA National Songwriting Awards Tamworth

2023 - Won TSA Country Blues Songwritng TSA National Songwriting Awards Tamworth

2023 - Won BRUMBY AWARD Best female vocalist, Australian Independent Country Music Awards

2022 - Won INTERNATIONAL BAND OF THE YEAR - Gold Award (International Singer Songwriters Association)

2022 - Won INTERNATIONAL VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR- Bronze Award (International Singer Songwriters Association)

2020 - Finalist TSA Comedy Novelty Songwriting TSA National Songwriting Awards Tamworth

2020 - INTERNATIONAL BAND OF THE YEAR- Bronze Award (International Singer Songwriters Association)

2019 – Finalist Band of the Year - Tasmanian and National Country Music Awards 2019

2019 - Finalist TSA Comedy Novelty Songwriting TSA National Songwriting Awards Tamworth

2018 - Finalist GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR 2017 - Gold Medallion Media Awards Tamworth

2018 - Finalist TSA Bluegrass Song of the Year TSA National Songwriting Awards Tamworth

2017 - Finalist GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR 2016 - Gold Medallion Media Awards Tamworth

2016 - Finalist AUSTRALIAN INDEPENDENT GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR

The Southern Stars: Australian Independent Country Music Awards (Mildura)

2016 - Finalist GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR 2015 - Gold Medallion Media Awards Tamworth

2015 - Finalist BUSH BALLAD OF THE YEAR - TSA National Country Songwriting Awards

2008 - Finalists BEST DUO/GROUP - Victorian and National Country Music Awards

2008 - Finalists BEST NEW TALENT - Victorian and National Country Music Awards

ABOUT SHELLY
Shelly grew up in a musical family who loved all types of music, especially country music. She was given a violin at age 10 and loved it so much she began classical training. She also taught herself to play guitar, bass and piano/keyboards and anything she could lay her hands on! However, a childhood stroke at the age of 14 left Shelly disabled in her right hand and unable to play with two hands anymore. Not one to let anything hold her back, she developed a technique to play bass guitar one handed and took up singing. With this unique playing style, Shelly soon began working professionally in clubs as a bass guitarist and harmony singer at the age of 16.

ABOUT LESTER
Lester grew up in a musical family and soon gained inspiration to become a successful working musician. He taught himself to play bass and lead guitar and soon after took up singing. At a young age, he began playing in professional bands on the Sydney club circuit supporting National and International artists. He also regularly toured NSW with various other bands in variety acts. Lester has since developed a strong interest in sound engineering and established his own recording studio. He recorded and produced the Shelly Jones Band's debut album New Day Dawning and contributed to the recording and production of their 2nd and 3rd albums I’m In Trouble and Highways.