Bonnie Kellett is a passionate performer known for her exceptional talents as a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and fiddle player! Born and raised in Willunga, a charming country town just an hour south of Adelaide, Bonnie’s musical journey began within her musically inclined family, immersed in the rich atmosphere of Folk Festivals and jam nights.
A bit of a wanderer, Bonnie has lived in various Australian locales, including Byron Bay and Sydney, before ultimately settling in the Central Coast, which she now calls home.
Collaborating with the renowned Aria award-winning producer, Govinda Doyle (famed for “Big Jet Plane” by Angus & Julia Stone), Bonnie released her debut album, ‘Hidden Spirit,’ which soared to #2 on the ARIA Australian Country Music Charts, #16 on the ARIA Country Charts, and an impressive #21 on the Australian All Genres Chart!
Particularly inspired by singer/songwriters Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift, Shania Twain and Amy Shark, Bonnie’s lyrics are raw and authentic with a pinch of attitude and wit. With skills in live looping, Bonnie also draws creativity from musicians such as Ed Sheeran to incorporate her violin into her live solo performances.
Australian Country Music Icon and mentor, Gina Jeffreys, said – “I was lucky enough to see Bonnie Kellett perform live and I was absolutely blown away! Bonnie is a brilliant guitarist, fiddle player and looper! She is a master entertainer with a powerhouse vocal and entertains in a way like nobody else we’ve seen here in Australia. I think Bonnie Kellett is destined for a big future in Country Music Australia.”
Her impressive academic credentials include a Bachelor of Music from the Australian Institute of Music and an Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts Acting from Actors Centre Australia, where she studied under industry greats such as Hugh Jackman and Ian McKellen. She’s been honored with a ‘Mo Award’ and earned a Top 10 Finalist spot in the 2021 ‘Kix Start’ Competition.
Bonnie’s performance journey has taken her to renowned stages across Australia and overseas, from Groundwater CMF, Charters Towers CMF, Tamworth CMF, the Sydney Opera House (alongside Jon English), The Sydney Entertainment Centre, Daydream Island to Nashville’s Douglas Corner Café. She has teamed up with Courtney Keil to create ‘The Fierce & Fearless Tour’. They’ve performed at The Beer Shed, The Sunken Monkey, with ‘Moonshiners’ at Tamworth CMF and the Laycock Theatre locked in for 2024. With endorsements from QSC and Boss/Roland Australia, she’s graced platforms like QSC Touchmix sessions and even performed her original song ‘Bare Feet’ live on Channel 7’s ‘Sunrise.’
More recently, Bonnie has hit the road with Amber Lawrence on her ‘Living For The Highlights’ tour as both an opener and a band member. Her contributions include BV’s for Amber’s performance of ‘I’m Coming Home’ at The 2023 Golden Guitar Awards, Sale CMF, her 20th Tammiversary Concert at Tamworth CMF, The Deni Ute Muster, Meatstock (Melbourne, Sydney and Toowoomba) and her ‘Living For The Highlights’ album launch.
She has also opened for country music greats such as Travis Collins, Kirsty Lee Akers and as part of one of the opening acts for Lee Kernaghan at the Regional Entertainment Centre Tamworth in 2020. She was handpicked by Kasey Chambers to perform with her at ‘The Dart & Feather’ and this was closely followed up by a guest performance spot with Bill Chambers at ‘The Pub’ in Tamworth.
Bonnie’s journey continues to evolve, and her future shines even brighter with her inclusion in the impressive lineup of talent on ‘Cruisin Country,’ her continuation of her work with both Amber Lawrence and on ‘The Fierce & Fearless’ Tour. With her remarkable talent, diverse skill set, and a track record of accomplishments, Bonnie Kellett is undoubtedly a rising star in the world of music.