About the Band

Audawind is a three-piece coastal country rock band made up of identical twin brothers, Ben and Sam Dufton and sister, Shelby. They are from the North Fork of Long Island, an agro-tourism summer community across from the Hamptons. The North Fork is incredibly unique and special, and it completely shaped who they are—it’s a vacation town that’s bustling in the summer with tourists and summer home owners, but small town USA during the winter when it’s just locals. Living in a town that contrasts the glitz of the summer and the ultra rural winters, gave Audawind a unique perspective of the world. If you’re trying to picture who they are, think of the local kids in Jaws…that’s kind of their vibe.


The Dufton siblings grew up hanging out on the beach listening to everything from Johnny Cash and Jimmy Buffett to John Cougar Mellencamp and Sheryl Crow to AC/DC—they’re from a big family and their loud, boisterous house always has a soundtrack.

Family is incredibly important to the siblings, so it only made sense that when they all picked up music around the fifth grade or so, that they would form a band. In addition to being a special bond, being in a band with your family is also super convenient—growing up, band practice often took place in a room right off the kitchen as the trio’s mom cooked to the music of a teenage garage band figuring out their sound—most parents would have gone crazy but Audawind says they’re lucky that their musical ventures have always been fully supported. They’ve been playing together for ten years and have traveled all across the country—and played at some pretty cool places like Stephen Talkhouse in the Hamptons, the Analog in Nashville, the Desert 5 Spot in LA, and even the Indiana State Fair. Ben and Sam just turned 21 but they’ve been playing in bars and wineries for years.


Audawind has twelve songs out on streaming platforms right now, with more on the way! Sam is the producer, Ben is the songwriter, and Shelby and their mother, Deborah often have a hand in the lyrics. Audawind is totally independent and they’re having fun living out their dreams. Music is super powerful and they take their responsibility as musicians seriously.


Blending Country Rock with Hip Hop, this trio has been putting a fresh twist on Traditional Country for the last 10 years. This country rock band has sand in their boots but has called Nashville home for the last three years. As the songwriters and producers, Audawind weaves Skynyrd-esc guitar solos and rolling banjo through diva vocals and infectious drumbeats into a sound crowds can’t help but dance to. The sound of music, that’s what Audawind means and what this band is all about.

Soundtrack for the Bitter End

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