'The Clickettes' (Ross Ryan, Amelia Bannerman, Helen Stephenson & Neil Howel): BVs & finger clicks
Influences
Neil Young, Neil Young, Neil Young........Gillian Welch, Wendy Waldman, Tony Joe White, Rickie Lee Jones, Bob Dylan, Amazing Rhythm Aces, Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Buddy & Julie Miller, a bit of Leonard and Joni.....in fact a lot of Joni when growing up.
Winner & finalist in international and Australian song contests including:
- Independent Music Awards (US)
- Billboard Song Contest (US)
- Pacific Songwriting Competition (NZ)
- ASA Australian Songwriting Competition (AUS)
- Musicoz Song Contest (AUS)
- PBS Festival of Song (AUS)
- World Battle of the Bands (International)
Performances at Australian music festivals & venues including:
- Woodford
- St Kilda Festival
- Australian Music Week
- Melbourne Fringe Festival
- High Vibes
- The Palais Theatre (Melbourne)
- The Metro (Sydney)
- ABC Studios
- The Corner Hotel
- The Esplanade Hotel
Recent radio airplay on:
- Triple J
- Mix FM
- ABC
- Triple R
- PBS
- Radio NY
- More than 35 community stations Australia wide
Reviews:
"Her brand of bluesy country deserves comparisons to Shawn Colvin. The songs are strong and her voice sounds wonderfully fresh". - Jeff Jenkins CD review for JB Hi Fi 'Music Australia Guide'.
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“I’m in the outback, I’m driving a four wheel drive…I’ve got dust in the ears…and that’s for sure”. Salty Dog on ‘Deep End’ from ‘I See Flowers, You See Cars’ (Salty Dog Blues and Roots Show, Port Douglas FM 107.1)
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“She is some talent!” - 2 Triple B FM
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“A brilliant album” - 8CCC FM 102.1
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“Received well by our listeners, it continues to reside in the rack in the studio for "recent releases worth playing twice” - Bob Tissott (Pres) 2NIM FM 102.3
Jo Kelly Stephenson has joined forces with Australian blues legends, Spectrum, to turn the countryside into a concoction of roots and wild flowers with a down home collection of groove based songs.
After spending most of her early years wedged between a Simpson washing machine and a Fender Rhodes riding around in a red and white Kombi van, some of Jo Kelly’s fondest memories were dancing at her father’s late night gigs. It was these moments that paved the way for the musical journey that was to follow.
As Jo Kelly developed her abilities on the guitar and keyboard, she also began to craft and sing her own songs, some of which gained national recognition. Jo Kelly achieved 1st, 2nd & 3rd places in the ASA Australian National Songwriting Contest. She then went on to win the PPCA Performer of the Night at the ASA Awards. Rob Hirst (Midnight Oil) presented her with the awards. Several of her recent songs were awarded prizes in the 2007 ASA contest, where she was also a nominee for the one of the Major Prizes. Jo Kelly recently won the people's choice award for 'Alt. Country Album of the Year' in the US 7th ANNUAL INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS after being selected as a nominee by a panel of internationally acclaimed songwriters. Judges in the contest included Suzanne Vega, Wynonna Judd, Ray Davis from The Kinks and many more.
An accomplished performer, Jo Kelly has appeared at top music venues and festivals throughout Australia, including the popular Woodford Folk Festival. She was awarded a Segovia acoustic bass guitar in the PBS Festival of Song Competition and showcased at Michael Chugg's Australian Music Week.
Jo has completed a BA Music (With Distinction). Her earlier EP, 'Maybe Then', received exposure on prime time television, channels 9 and 10 as part of an independent music giveaway.
Jo Kelly has just completed her full length album ’I See Flowers, You See Cars, featuring Mike Rudd, Bill Putt and Peter 'Robbo' Robertson from Spectrum (Ill Be Gone), and co-produced with her father Ken Stephenson. She currently works with a similar line up performing a combination of roots music with hints of blues, jazz, R&B and pop / rock.
oh wow thats awesome go u im really happy 4 ya chessy country songs- HAHA thats cool well what sells sells.. its great how far you've come in your career and as a person since ive known you, you have acomplished many things.. so make sure u treat yourself every now and then, you deserve it :)
hey! thanks for your birthday wishes ive finally finished exams, so it couldnt come at a more perfect time.. hows things with you? released any new singles/ albums lately?
Im well thanks. Ive just moved to another place in same area... perfect for songwriting. So hope to be creating some good songs soon...its been a while! Been workin on getting my ep finished..design work etc. So hopefully will be done soon!Have you been out this way much? Cathy x
Hi Jo, Congratulations on winning the music award! I look forward to seeing you perform somewhere, or might even see you around st andrews. Cheers Cathy x
HI!!!! JUST FOUND OUT!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! WHEN YOU GOIN' TO AMERICA? REMEMBER IM COMING!!!!!!! TO SING!!!!!!! HI JAMES!!!!!!!!! LOTS OF LOVEXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Get those little firey chilli's into you! YEAH! Where was your gig? I have been singing praises about your music over here. There is an Americana scene over here. I am going to one night where Fran is playing. Are you teaching? xxxxxxxxxx
hey! I have a house and a job for the term! all is sweet. Just went to see a guy called Andrew Byrd. Singer, violin, guitar, loop pedals. One man band- very ausome! How is recording? xxx
hey! wow.. that is so amazing.. first of all congratualtions on marriage.. secondly.. wow.. radio! teaching... albums.. thats the great life.. hope you enjoy every bit of it.. midori and myself went to the same uni.. but now shes in a band.. so shes doiing uni by online courses, so i guess shes doing really well.. as for myself.. uni is getting boring.. always the same things, homework and assignments.. but i still need to know what i want out of my course.. hopefully ill figure it out sometime soon.. msj; the principal is leaving.. but the school seems to have changed- in a good way, not like it could have gotten worse :P well nice hearing from you again..
hey miss jo how u going? i havnt spoken to you in so long.. i guess things have changed since the last time we spoke.. you getting married? hope your songs will release soon.. let me know how things are going for you.. hope to hear from you soon good luck Rosetta
heyya Jo ! so hope you're well n great! do you know about the Easter long weekend friends' gethering we're organising, back on the Goulburn River?
If you havent made strict plans for this time please join us! there be a pa system and an outdoor cinema - some other musicians to jam with - much love n respect - Janusz matisse
Hey Jo! firstly..i hate dial up net! i have to go library usually to do anything worthwhile using their broadband..gay i know! so thats a big reason why i havent started a music page yet. How did u go at st.kilda fest? was hanging to come..but couldnt..did u kick ass? was it packed? and u saw russel peters!? was he good? only reason i didnt go was i thought it wasnt just him and he had other guests. was it funny? have u seen his dvdz? thy r hilarious! Now..i havent been layzie..we just finished one beat (all set to record-meet need ur smooth voice on a hook!thats right..u will be a rap star haha) we got another beat ready (but may need james' expertise and advice to add something more to it). So ill be ringing james hopefully soon to book a day. Hope all else is well! Vin aka En.V aka The Man haha
