"Singer-songwriter and veteran Old Town School teacher Shelley Miller.could teach a lot of folkies a thing or two about sophisticated imagery and hooks. And 2006's excellent, self-released Morning Somewhere should earn her fans from the Lucinda Williams camp."
--Time Out Chicago
"Incognito Seething Rocker"
--Expository Magazine
Equal parts abandoned building, strawberry shortcake and high lonesome cowgirl, Shelley Miller aims to save the world one listener at a time.if not through her music, then through the homemade cookies she often bakes for her shows. From the back-porch lilt of of "I Don't Mind" to the soulful ache of "Buckle to Burn", Shelley writes songs that grab listeners by the heart.and stick to their bones.
A versatile guitarist and intensely emotional performer, Shelley has performed at venues and festivals throughout the country, including: The National Women's Music Festival, The Old Town School of Folk Music, Millennium Park(Chicago), The Chicago Folk and Roots Festival, Schuba's, the Rockrgrl Music Conference (Seattle) and Taste of Champaign. Her blend of soulful folk, rock and Americana is at home in rock bars and acoustic cafes alike.
"Listening to her is like pulling up a pair of very, very soft faded jeans over bare skin."
--Les Reynolds, indie-music.com
On her latest CD, When It's All Gone, You Come Back (Release date: March 9, 2010), Miller lets her voice and words take center stage.and close listeners are rewarded. Recorded by engineer John Abbey (who also co-produced the album with Miller) and featuring a who's who of musicians from several acclaimed Chicago bands--Micah Walk (The Micah Walk Band), Steve Dawson (Dolly Varden), Joe Darnaby (Brighton, MA), Ari Levi and Tabitha Lydon (Moxie Motive) and Maria McCullough--When It's All Gone. is at once sparse and lush, timeless and new. With the raw
honesty of Patty Griffin and the catchy grit of Heartbreaker-era Ryan
Adams, Miller proves that she is a voice to be reckoned with in the
world of folk and Americana.
Miller's two earlier releases, 2006's Morning Somewhere and 2002's Tear Me Down both received airplay on folk and acoustic music stations around the country. In addition, her songs have won awards in the Mid-Atlantic Songwriting Contest, VH1-sponsored Song of the Year Contest, A Call to Arts Song and Music Contest and the Just Plain Folks Songwriting Contest. In addition to her two CDs, she has appeared on the acclaimed Bloodshot Records 2007 release 'Songbook: Volumes 2 and 3', and on compilations released by Waterbug Records and SBS Records.
".Miller at her best hauntingly channels Tracy Chapman."
--David C. Eldridge, Illinois Entertainer
In addition to her solo work, Shelley has lent her harmony singing skills to numerous other artists, both live and in the studio. She teaches guitar and songwriting at the Old Town School of Folk Music. When not playing music, Shelley can often be found taking pictures at her friends shows.or careening her bicycle through the streets of Chicago.singing.
