"Shelley Miller binds her ragged tales of urban life in lines of unflinching truth. She's one of those rare songwriters you might rightfully call a poet."
--Andrew Calhoun, Waterbug Records
"Listening to her is like pulling up a pair of very,
very soft faded jeans over bare skin."
--Les Reynolds, indie-music.com
We spread our coats like blankets over the fire of maple leaves,
I curl into the smoke of your voice
- Shelley Miller, Nadine
With a poet's eye for detail and a heart as warm as it is worn, Shelley Miller writes songs that stick with you
long after a show is done.
A versatile guitarist and intensely emotional performer, Shelley has performed at venues and festivals across the country, including: The Old Town School of Folk Music,
The National Women's Music Festival, Estrojam, Millennium Park, The Chicago Folk and Roots Festival, Ladyfest Lansing, the Queer is Folk Festival and Taste of Champaign. Her blend of soulful folk, rock and Americana
is at home in rock clubs and acoustic cafes alike.
"I love when Shelley plays at The Store.
With just an acoustic guitar and her voice, she has
the ability to take her audience on the emotional
roller-coaster that most full bands wish they had."
-- Rick LaCour, Booking Manager, The Store, Chicago, IL
Shelley's third studio CD, When It's All Gone, You Come Back, is slated for release in 2010. Co-produced by Miller and John Abbey (who also engineered the album), When It's All Gone... features guest appearances by Micah Walk (Micah Walk Band), Steve Dawson (Dolly Varden) and Joe Darnaby (Brighton, MA), among others.
Her songs have won awards in the Mid-Atlantic Songwriting Contest, VH1's 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.
In addition to her solo work, Shelley fronts the roots-rock band The Bitter Optimists. She has leant her harmony skills to with numerous singer/songwriters and bands, 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 careening her bicycle through the streets of Chicago...singing.
