About Dan Kelly

Daniel 'Dan' Kelly is the second oldest of six children, the nephew of Paul Kelly. He grew up in Queensland and learnt the guitar at thirteen, studying Environmental Science at University, in Brisbane, in 1990. He formed his first band, Nord, in Brisbane before moving to Melbourne in 1996, where in 2000 he started playing solo shows, under the name Dank Alley, not wanting to trade on his famous uncle's name. In May, 2003 he released his first solo EP, Man O Mercy, which spawned the radio hit "Countermeal Kim". The next year he formed a new band, Dan Kelly and the Alpha Males, comprising Kelly, with Gareth Liddiard (The Drones), Christian Strybosch (The Drones) and Tom Carlyon (The Devestations). They were best known for the falsetto vocal stylings of Kelly, touring alongside Dallas Crane, Dan Brodie and The Broken Arrows, Even, as well as at The Falls Festival in Melbourne and Tasmania and selected Big Day Outs. In March 2004 they released their debut album, Sing the Tabloid Blues, on In-Fidelity Recordings. Kelly was nominated for 'Best Male Artist', with the band receiving two nominations, 'Best Independent Release' and 'Breakthrough Artist' for the album at the 2004 ARIA Awards. At the same time Kelly also joined his uncle's band, Paul Kelly and the Boon Companions, performing on his 2004 album, Ways & Means. In 2005 Liddiard and Carlyon traveled to Europe with their respective other projects, with Aaron Cupples, Dan Luscombe and Lewis Boyes joining the Alpha Males. The band then released an EP, Pirate Radio in October, 2005. Kelly receiving his second 'Best Male Artist' ARIA Award nomination for the release. The band gained significant press coverage in mid-2006 when their single "Drunk on Election Night" - a reflection on the disillusionment many experienced during the evening of the Australian federal election, 2004 - was hand picked by Neil Young to be included in his "Living With War Songs of The Times". Their second album, Drowning in the Fountain of Youth, released in August, 2006, was awarded Album of the 2006 by the Melbourne-based Inpress magazine. Kelly received his third nomination for 'Best Male Artist' at the 2007 ARIA Awards. The album was also short-listed for the 2006 J Award. In early 2007, Dan Kelly announced his backing band, the Alpha Males, were to disband for an undecided amount of time to allow the individual members to focus on other projects, a pertinent example being the addition of Dan Luscombe to the line up of fellow Melbourne outfit, The Drones. Kelly again joined his uncle, performing on his 2007 album, Stolen Apples and subsequent national tour. In 2008 he teamed up with a Melbourne faux Hawaiian duo, The Ukeladies, to release "The S.U.V Song", undertaking a number of headline shows and support shows with Augie March, through October and November, 2008. In late 2009 Kelly commenced work on a new album, Dan Kelly's Dream (formerly The Decommisioner). The first single, "Bindi Irwin Apocalypse Jam", was released in April, 2010. Kelly will be undertaking a national tour with a new band comprising Dave Williams and Kiernan Box (from Augie March) and Indra Adams and Dallas Packard (from The Ground Components).