BIOGRAPHY
“When the big fella opens up his chest and lets fly with that lusty,
rumbling voice, even then it's as if he's pulling back on the reins in fear
of what might happen to innocent bystanders - it's that potent.
Jeff Glorfeld The Melbourne Age
Rory has spent many years touring locally and internationally taking
inspiration from suburban street culture, some of the seedier Melbourne
pubs he has worked in, not just as a performer, regular glimpses of the
Melbourne underworld, people he’s loved, lost, and from his own
eventful life, rich in contrast. Audiences at Rory’s numerous festival
appearances and more intimate performances have been captivated by
his powerful vocal command and subtle acoustic instrumentation that
bring the vivid stories to life.
Ellis launched his debut CD “Ride” in March 2001 to a four star review in
The Age EG section by Lyall Johnson who challenged the readers "If
you’re not deeply moved by this superb debut by Melbourne singer-
songwriter Rory Ellis, it’s doubtful you’re human. Ellis, with his
wonderfully deep, resonant voice, plumbs the depths of the human
experience to come up with a sophisticated, inspiring album of
predominantly earthy ballads about life on the streets"
Jackey Coyle of Rhythms acclaimed ’Road Of The Braver Man’
(released in 2003) "that the quality of Rory Ellis’s voice alone the
richness of the timbre, the skill of his technique - that he conveys an
irresistible charisma, and that’s not even counting his song writing skills.
The first few verses I heard, I was done for - instant fan". Ellis’s particular
style, that he calls "urban folk", was melded living in a boxing gym,
honed playing in Melbourne pubs and polished gigging the festival
circuit. He recorded this, his second solo album, over three days live in
the studio with Dave Steel (guitars, accordion, percussion, mandolin and
it’s celtic cousin the cittern). Jackeys enthusiasm continues "He is a
master of light and shade, of knowing when not to sing in order to give
full effect"
Armed with two highly media acclaimed albums Rory toured the UK in
2004 for the first time. He spent 3 months there performing over 60
hugely successful shows at venues and festivals alike.
So successful his time there he decided to return in November of that
year to do another 16 shows.
On the back of those tours in 2004, 2005 saw the UK release of Rory’s
third album, “The Rushes”, followed up by 7 months of touring all over
the UK to promote it. This third tour of the UK saw Rory performing
around 120 shows in 7 months. He performed at festivals such as
Larmer Tree Festival, Fylde Folk Festival, Southsea Festival,
Middlewich Festival, Broadstairs Festival, Great British R&B Festival,
and many more as well as venues all over the UK including Londons
famous Borderline, The Spitz and The Garage.
2006 saw the Australian release of “The Rushes” album and it received
as much attention as the man who, to quote Jeff Glorfeld of The Age "is
one of those quintessential Australian singer-songwriters with buckets of
talent, heaps of stories to tell, and impossible to pigeonhole. He’s got
blues man in him, some soul belter, red-dirt country and home-grown
folkie.
Rory has been a regular at many Australian Festivals over the years
including Port Fairy Folk Festival, National Folk Festival, Apollo Bay
Music Festival, Blue Mountains Blues and Roots Festival, Maldon Folk
Festival, Cygnet Folk Festival, Tamar Valley Folk Festival, Nannup
Music Festival, Bridgetown Blues festival, Victor Harbour Festival,
Yackandandah Folk Festival, Frankston Sea Festival, Skandia Festival,
Queenscliff Music Festival, Thredbo Blues Festival, Barwon Heads
Festival Of The Sea, Guildford Blues and Roots, Torquay Blues and
Roots Explosion, St Kilda Festival, and many others.
In 2007 Rory spent a year at home to take a break from the O/S touring
of the past few years in the main writing and demoing new tracks and
touring around his home state doing shows at venues. He also
performed at Thredbo Blues Festival, Skandia Festival, Guildford Blues
and Roots Festival, Lake Bolac eel Festival, Maldon Folk Festival, High
Tide Festival and Queenscliff Music Festival.
In late 2007 and into the new year, Rory started recording Two Feathers,
his 4th studio album and it was completed it in March 2008. Another self
produced album under the guidance of Dave Steel, (ex Weddings
Parties Anything, Archie Roach) and now long time sideman and co-
producer of the last 4 albums.
It was in April of 2008 Rory signed “Two Feathers” to UK label Villainous
Records, taking Rory on his 5th UK tour to support its release. He again
performed at festivals and venues all over the UK, some include:
Shetlands Folk Festival, City Blues Weekend, Off the tracks festival,
Middlewich Folk Festival, Glastonwick Festival, North Devon Festival,
Larmer Tree Festival, Two Rivers Festival, Southsea Festival,
Morwellum Quay Festival and Stokes Bay Festival. In late 2008 also
performed in Australia at the Tarerer Festival as well as many other
venue dates around Victoria.
In the early part of 2009 Rory performed at festivals in Australia including
Thredbo Blues Festival, Skandia Festival, St Kilda Festival, Yarraville
Arts Festival, Pako Festa, Moonee Valley Festival, Burke and Wills Folk
Festival, Mossvale Festival, Festival of the sea, and the Williamstown
Festival.
He then set off on tour number six to the UK which again took in loads of
venue dates some 80 plus ,as well as performing at Blues On The Farm
Festival, Worthenbury Blues Festival, Americana International,
Chagstock, Farmer Phils Festival as well as Arts centres including, The
Ropetackle in Shoreham, The Barbican Theatre in Plymouth, Phoenix
Arts Centre in Exeter and the Wave Centre in Maryport.
On his return in October of 2009 Two Feathers was signed to Australian
label Reign Records and he was taken on by the Big Apachee agency
there. Rory also performed at Tarerer Festival, Queenscliff Music
Festival in this year.
In 2010 Rory made his first appearance at one of the worlds largest
Country Music Festival Tamworth to rave reviews from audiences and
venues alike. He also performed at Skandia Festival, Nannup Festival,
Apollo Bay Music Festival, Burke and Wills Folk Festival and Festival
By The Sea in Barwon Heads, as well as toured NSW and WA
performing in venues there.
In April of 2010 Rory completed his 5th studio album titled “Perfectly
Damaged” which he is currently on tour in the UK promoting. So far Rory
has performed again at many venues all over the UK Ashcroft Arts
Centre in Fareham, as well as Linton Blues Festival, Maryport Blues
Festival, Holmfirth Folk Festival, Glastonwick Festival, Bronte Blues
Club, Worthenbury Blues Club, The Half Moon in Putney, London .
This year also sees Rory heading to Germany for a series of dates
there. In November of 2010 Rory will be making his first appearance at
the Bridgetown Blues Festival.
Whilst on tour in the UK over the years he has performed alongside,
amongst others, Richie Havens, Eric Bibb, Chumbawamba, Robert Cray
Band, Canned Heat and has performed live to air on BBC Jersey,
Cornwall, Devon, Cumbria, Leicester and Blackburn and received good
airplay as well.
.SOME RECENT QUOTES ABOUT THE RECORDS
“A beguiling voice of an entirely different stripe. Rory sings with such
basso profound resonance that in the old days some record buyers
would have been jumping up to switch the turntable speed to 45rpm,
only to discover that they had also voided their bowels in the process.
Rorys new album Two Feathers is, not surprisingly, supurb so
thoroughly suffused with rootsy character, down home integrity, and
proper old-school humanity that its like listening in sepia to an altogether
better and more dignified world. From the sawing country blues of
Bringin Daddy Home, to the brooding, ruminative acoustica of the title
track, its a piece of work alright, setting the film reels in your mind
flickering into life and unrolling an endless highway vista before your
subconsciousness”.
Dorset Echo UK June 2008 by Marco Rossi
“Ellis’s marvellously rich and warm voice would be enough on its own to
whisk you away into a reverie, but when this is allied to his exceptionally
well crafted songs it makes a potent combination”. ….
Country Music People UK July 2008 by Michael Hingston
“Ellis is one of that group of musicians that just are. He is neither
blues/folk nor country, instead he is an amalgam of the best of all three,
fused together by one special ingredient, Rory Ellis.
Although every note and line of Two Feathers comes from the heart, this
is music that refuses to be hurried. Like a mighty river Two Feathers
gets to the end in its own good time and carries all before it..The
essence of Two Feathers is that of a powerhouse performer, a keen-
eyed observer and a conscience seeking a voice. In the face of such
odds what chance does mere genre have? This is a Rory Ellis album
anything else is window dressing of his choosing.”
Berwick and Borders Gazette Review July 2008
A voice so deep and gravelly, if this had been released on vinyl you’d
swear your turntable wasplaying slow. But there’s something wonderfully
enticing about it, from the Hammond organ to the clever guitar work.
Imagine Kris Kristofferson with a sore throat and you’re getting close.
Old fashioned bar music from the Wild West.
John Anson “The Guide” Lancashire Telegraph UK Friday, July 18, 2008
SOME RECENT QUOTES ABOUT THE LIVE SHOW
This year’s event was no exception to that rule, as Australian
singer/guitarist Rory Ellis proved with his two warmly-received
appearances on the acoustic stage. Supplemented by the superb
playing of Alex Roberts on lap slide guitar, the man from Geelong
produced a stunning mix of powerful vocals, brilliant guitar and banjo
playing and hilarious chat. His two sets featured many of the tracks from
his most recent album, including the title song, “Two Feathers”, a
compilation of high quality original songs, which draw heavily on his
eventful life. A particular highlight was “No Love In This war”, while
“Home Tonight” was inspired by his spending an eternity trying to find an
appropriate exit from the Leicester ring road – an ordeal that has been
universally endured. Lost in Leicester, perhaps, but found by a host of
admiring fans at Worthenbury.
Ashamedly I must admit to not having heard of Rory Ellis before the
festival . . . . wow, he was without doubt most people's star of the day!
Coming across as a Melbourne hybrid of Johnny Cash, Steve Earle and
Tom Russell, his rootsy tales of childhood, politics and more were just
superb, with his strumming guitar and banjo work beautifully fleshed out
by Alex Roberts more intricate guitar and lap slide - this guy having
driven six hours from Poole to play the set! A reprise of "Work" saw
some audience participation, with another treat being the lovely "Railway
Parade", his deep, rich voice and story telling winning over the crowd.
Jun 30 2009 Chester Chronicle
WORTHENBURY BLUES AND ROOTS FESTIVAL/Worthenbury Village
REVIEWS/by Lionel Ross & Grahame Rhodes
Ellis accompanied by Tim Hackett on slide guitar, was superb.
As MC Mhari Pottinger told us, "What a voice". And he was also
funny."How many of you have ever been in love?" he asked the
audience. Not surprisingly very few hands went up. "well I was in love
once, and thought i'd write a song about it.all fairly predictable you think,
but what followed was one of the most commanding vocal performances
of the festival.deep rich and passionate.
Jim Tait Shetland Times Shetland Folk Festival May 2008
Next up was Australian Rory Ellis. He produced a spellbinding
performance, playing guitar and singing his own songs, some inspired
by his life in Melbourne, in a deep gruff, gravelly voice, expertly
accompanied on slide guitar by Tim "The Professor" Hackett.In the
darkened hall with colored lights illuminating the stage, Ellis sang of
dives frequented at 3.00am, of doomed relationships of poverty and
grinding hard work.
A powerful brooding presence, the bald headed Ellis belted out his
throaty messages about Railway Parade, where as you remove your
body, your shoes stick to the carpet, and a strident Dylanesque
composition about a couple being taken "from heaven to hell" and
another about finding no common ground.
The outstanding "Old Man Butterfly", a song about a war veteran
begging on the bus, a man glimpsed and forgotten about, was
particularly passionate.
The soulful desperate rendition seemed to echo from the wood
panelled stage and around the hall as the audience listened intently. His
influences, he said later, ranged from Johnny Cash to Elvis, to opera
and all were apparent, as well as blues and rock, in a performance that
was all too short and could easily have headlined the show.
Rosalind Griffiths The Shetland Times Shetland Folk Festival May 2008
Rory Ellis is a big bear of man from Australia. Accompanied by a
marvellous slide-guitarist, he gave us some of his own songs. He has a
deep growl of a voice that seems to come out of the very ground itself.
Think of Chris Rea, but a lot deeper voiced. He played two of my
favourite songs of his most recent album – “The Rushes” and “Road of
No Return.” The latter closed his set – a slow song ending in a blinding
steel guitar solo and a gentle hum of feedback from Rory’s guitar,
reminiscent of the whirr of tyres on tarmac
http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/islandblogging/blogs/005281/ BBC
Scotland 7/5/08
"What a bloody festival, ladies and gentlemen," was Aussie singer-
songwriter Rory Ellis's gobsmacked verdict. "Do you guys do this every
year?" Ellis was another standout of 2008's line-up, wrapping shades of
Satchmo, Springsteen, Tom Waits and Chris Smither in his epically
rugged voice.
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/features/Fishers-of-folk.4055291.jp
The Scotsman 7/5/08