Sheppard

Sheppard is an Australian indie pop trio formed in Brisbane in 2009. The band initially started as a duo with siblings George and Amy Sheppard, with Amy on vocals and George on lead vocals and piano. In 2011, Jay Bovino joined as a songwriter and rhythm guitarist. The band’s early career received funding from their parents, who also established their own record label, Empire of Song. The group expanded to a six-member lineup by 2012, including Emma Sheppard on bass, Michael Butler on lead guitar, and Jared Tredly on drums.

The band released their self-titled five-track extended play in 2012, which peaked at No. 18 on the ARIA Singles Chart in 2013. Their single “Let Me Down Easy” was nominated for Best Independent Release at the ARIA Music Awards of 2013. In 2014, Sheppard released “Geronimo,” which spent three weeks at No. 1 on the ARIA Singles Chart and achieved 5x platinum certification. This success led to their debut studio album, “Bombs Away,” which reached No. 2 on the ARIA Albums Chart the same year. The band signed an international deal with Decca Records in March 2014, while continuing under Empire of Song/Chugg Music in Australia. Sheppard received seven ARIA nominations in 2014, winning for Best Group.

Sheppard has performed at major events globally, including the Rock in Rio festival and as halftime entertainment at the 2020 AFL Grand Final. They supported artists such as Meghan Trainor on her 2015 North American tour and Justin Bieber on his Purpose World Tour in Australia and New Zealand in 2017. Their second studio album, “Watching the Sky,” released in 2018, debuted at No. 1 on the ARIA Charts. In 2024, they were the first band to perform a concert on the Great Barrier Reef. The band moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 2023 to expand their presence in the United States and released their fourth studio album, “Zora,” in 2024.