Sheppard: The Biggest Band You’ve Never Heard Of—Yet

Ten years ago, Sheppard’s breakout hit “Geronimo” launched them into international stardom, and now they’re headlining at Chop Shop in Chicago on September 11th. This sibling trio from Brisbane has taken the world by storm, recently releasing their fourth studio album, ZORA, just last month.

Since their debut, Sheppard has gone 36x Platinum across 19 countries, including 2x Platinum in the U.S. alone. Their latest album, ZORA, racked up an impressive six million streams on Spotify in its first weekend, bringing their total catalog streams to over two billion worldwide.

Last fall, Sheppard relocated to Nashville, where they plan to base themselves for the next few years. Their move was quickly followed by a performance at a Nashville Predators game in Bridgestone Arena, and in the spring, they played in front of 20,000 fans at the National Rugby League Fan Fest in Las Vegas.

But ZORA is more than just an album—it’s deeply personal. The title pays tribute to the Sheppard siblings’ Croatian grandmother, Zora, a matriarch and fan favorite who’s often spotted at their live shows. “Baba, as we call her, has always been a beacon of light in our lives,” says Amy Sheppard. “She came to Australia on a ship, escaping war in Yugoslavia, and built a life here. She raised seven children alone after losing the love of her life to cancer when he was just 50.”

That same resilience shines through Sheppard’s music. ZORA was crafted amidst personal struggles, lockdowns, and the challenges of a changing music industry. “The album is about finding light at the end of the tunnel,” Amy explains. The name ZORA, which means ‘dawn’ in Croatian, felt like a perfect fit. “We got goosebumps when we discovered it; it just felt meant to be.”

The album features singles like “Good Time,” “Daylight,” “Dance on the Sun,” and “Edge of the Earth,” showcasing the band’s ever-evolving sound while staying true to their roots.

Now, a decade after Bombs Away and their global sensation Geronimo, Sheppard continues to captivate audiences. George Sheppard reflects on the timeless joy of performing their iconic hit: “You see people’s faces light up when they hear it. It’s a song that brings instant energy, and I think it will always have that effect. We’re lucky to still be performing it 10 years later, and hopefully, we’ll still be playing it well into our sixties.”

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