“Rory Ellis has one of those voices you just can’t buy – rugged, gravelly, it oozes been there done that credibility and the words that emerge from deep in his throat are rough enough to use as sandpaper.”
— Jeremy Searle Americana UK
NEW ALBUM TO BE RELEASED SOON
INNER OUTLAW
Press Photos
MUSIC
biography
“Rory Ellis is one of those singer/songwriters, like Leonard Cohen, who makes the hairs on your arms stand up by simply opening his mouth and uttering a few throaty words.”- Brett Callwood: Acoustic Magazine UK
AMERICANA may be the buzzword of the industry, but Rory Ellis personified this genre with pride, years before it became cool.
With his last album, One Skin, Ellis has yet again pushed the boundaries and awakened the spirits of audiences, using his genre as the conduit.
This eighth release has been celebrated as Ellis’ finest album yet. His debut album, Ride, was released in 2000 to four star reviews in national newspapers such as The Age, with all subsequent albums achieving equal acclaim here and abroad. One Skin broke further barriers offering an intricate, yet candid lyrical ride, breaking convention and the glass surface of musical simplicity.
The singer-songwriter said his style of Americana allowed him to explore folk, country and blues. Just as Tom Waits was a genre unto himself and could write anything in any genre, Ellis' music is all about being Rory Ellis, with no box broad enough to contain his musical leanings.
“It's the freedom of the genre that I love,” he said. “In that genre, it allows you to speak your mind.”
Ellis has played across the world, garnering accolades at festivals including the Worthenbury Blues Festival, Isle Of Wight Festival, Larmer Tree Festival, Maryport Blues Festival and the Shetland Folk Festival all in the UK, Castel St Pietro Festival Of Blues in Italy and, closer to home, is a regular at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, and has played the National Folk Festival, Queenscliff MusicFestival, Australian Blues Festival, Thredbo Blues Festival and the list goes on. He has performed alongside artists of the calibre of Richie Havens, Eric Bibb, Chumbawamba, Robert Cray Band, Canned Heat, Charlie Musselwhite, James Reyne, Renee Geyer, Diesel, and in Tamworth, alongside Troy Cassar Daley, Gina Jeffreys, The McClymonts and Tommy Emmanual, as part of the Fender Roadcases Show.
Stemming from Melbourne, this charismatic singer-songwriter, long heralded as an underground hero of the Americana music scene, began his musical life in 1989, performing in various acts before touring the country solo 10 years later, gathering the stories of those around him to be retold through his music and lyrics.
“Rory Ellis is one of the great storytellers on the Australian roots scene. A big man with a huge voice, with a trove of outstanding material at his disposal, he immerses us into his world... His huge, deep voice is a remarkable instrument of rich and raw emotion. It is that voice, the absolute quality of the musicianship and incomparable song writing talent that really sets him apart as an artist.”
Mick Griffin: Live Review, Bendigo Weekly
Sample Video
FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES
2018
Port Fairy Folk Festival Port Fairy, VIC, March 2018
Thredbo Blues Festival Thredbo Village, NSW, January 2018
2017
Bendigo Blues and Roots Festival Bendigo, VIC, November 2017
Celler Stadfest Celle, Germany, Sept 2017
Barham Country Music Stampede Barham, VIC, June 2017
Tamworth Country Music Festival Tamworth NSW, January 2017
2016
Tamworth Country Music Festival The Atrium, (8 shows) The Albert Hotel, The Tudor Hotel
2015
Pako Festa, Geelong West, VIC, February 2015
Tamworth Country Music Festival ,Tamworth, NSW, (The Atrium, Town Hall) January 2015
Thredbo Blues Festival, Thredbo Village, NSW, January 2015
2014
Kingston Harvest Festival, Mordialloc, VIC, May 2014
The Barwon Heads Festival, Barwon Heads, VIC, March 2014
Burke & Wills Festival, Mia Mia, VIC, March 2014
Pako Festa, Geelong West, VIC, February 2014
Tamworth Country Music Festival, Tamworth, NSW, (The Atrium, The Albert, The Longyard, Fender Roadcases Show) January 2014
2013
Birregurra Festival, Birregurra, VIC, October 2013
Avoca Music Festival, Avoca, VIC, March 2013
Pako Festa Geelong West, VIC, February 2013
Frankston Waterfront Festival, Frankston, VIC, January 2013
2012
Worthenbury Blues Festival, Worthenbury, UK, June 2012
Glastonwick Festival, Shoreham By Sea, West Sussex, UK, June 2012
Tuxfest, Nottingham, UK, May 2012
Shetland Folk Festival, Shetland Islands, UK, May 2012
National Folk Festival, Canberra, ACT, April 2012
Lake Bolac Eel Festival, Lake Bolac VIC, March 2012
Australian Blues Festival, Goulburn, NSW, February 2012
St Kilda Festival, StKilda, VIC, Australia, February 2012
Tamworth Country Music Festival, Tamworth, NSW, Australia (The Albert, The Longyard, Fender Roadcases Show) January 2012
Thredbo Blues Festival, Thredbo Village, Thredbo, NSW, January 2012
2011
Bridgetown Blues Festival, Bridgetown, WA, November 2011
Maldon Folk Festival, Maldon, VIC, A October 2011
Echuca Blues Festival, Echuca, VIC, July 2011
Dorchester Summer Saturday Live UK, Dorchester, UK, July 2011
Yard Dog Country BBQ, Newcastle, UK, June 2011
Castel St Pietro Festival Of Blues, Castel St Pietro, ITALY, June 2011
Ocean Grove Festival, Ocean Grove, VIC, April 2011
Kiama Festival Of Jazz And Blues, Kiama, NSW, April 2011
Barwon Heads Festival, Barwon Heads, VIC, March 2011
Pako Festa, Geelong West, VIC, February 2011
Yarraville Festival, Yarraville, VIC, February 2011
St Kilda Festival, St Kilda, VIC, February 2011
Tamworth Country Music Festival, Tamworth, NSW, (The Albert, The Longyard, Fender Roadcases Show) January 2011
2010
Bridgetown Blues Festival, Bridgetown, WA, November 2010
Ivy Live, Ivy Bridge, Devon, UK, September 2010
Farmer Phils Festival, Ratlinghope, UK, August 2010
Maryport Blues Festival ,Maryport, Cumbria, UK, July 2010
Linton Music Festival, Linton, UK June 2010
Worthenbury Blues Festival, Worthenbury, UK, June 2010
Headspace Festival, Bracknell, Surry, UK, June 2010
Isle Of Wight Festival, Isle Of Wight, UK, June 2010
Glastonwick Festival, Shoreham By Sea, West Sussex, UK, June 2010
Holmfirth Festival Of Folk, Holmfirth, UK, May 2010
Apollo Bay Music Festival, Apollo Bay, VIC, March 2010
Barwon Heads Festival, Barwon Heads, VIC, March 2010
Burke and Wills Festival, Mia Mia, VIC, March 2010
Nannup Music Festival, Nannup, WA, February 2010
Skandia Festival, Geelong, VIC, January 2010
Tamworth Country Music Festival, Tamworth, NSW, (The Albert, The Longyard, Fender Roadcases Show) January 2010
2009
Queenscliff Music Festival, Queenscliff, VIC, November 2009
Farmer Phils Festival, Ratlinghope, UK, August 2009
Nottingham Riverside Festival, Nottingham, UK, August 2009
Morwellham Quay Festival, Morwellham Quay,,Devon, UK, August 2009
Chagstock, Chagford, Devon, UK, July 2009
Americana International Festival, Newark, UK, July 2009
Blues On The Farm, Chichester, Sussex, UK, July 2009
Isle Of Wight Festival, Isle Of Wight, UK, June 2009
Glastonwick Festival, Shoreham By Sea, West Sussex, UK, June 2009
Williamstown Festival, Williamstown, VIC, March 2009
Barwon Heads Festival, Barwon Heads. VIC, March 2009
Mossvale Festival, Mossvale VIC March 2009
Moonee Valley Festival, Moonee Valley, VIC, March 2009
Pako Festa, Geelong West, VIC, February 2009
Yarraville Festival, Yarraville, VIC, February 2009
St Kilda Festival, StKilda, VIC, January 2009
Skandia Festival, Geelong, VIC, January 2009
Thredbo Blues Festival, Thredbo Village, NSW, January 2009
2008
Geelong Night Concerts, Geelong, VIC, December 2008
Tarerer Festival, Killarney, VIC, November 2008
Poole Park Festival, Poole, Dorset, UK, August 2008
Southsea Festival, Southsea, Hampshire, UK, August 2008
Morwellham Quay Festival, Morwellham Quay, Devon, UK, August 2008
Stokes Bay Festival, Stokes Bay, Hampshire, UK, July 2008
Larmer Tree Festival, Larmer Tree Gardens, Wiltshire, UK, July 2008
Glastonwick Festival, Shoreham By Sea, West Sussex, UK, July 2008
Two Rivers Festival, Chepstow, Wales, UK, July 2008
North Devon Festival , Barnstaple, Devon, UK, June 2008
Middlewich Folk Festival, Middlewich, Cheshire, UK, June 2008
Shetland Folk Festival, Shetland Islands, UK, May 2008
Lake Bolac eel Festival, Lake Bolac, VIC, May 2008
Barwon Heads Festival, Barwon Heads, VIC, March 2008
Whittlesea Country Music Festival, Whittlesea, VIC, February 2008
Yarraville Festival, Yarraville, VIC, February 2008
StKilda Festival, StKilda, VIC, January 2008
Newstead Live Festival, Newstead, VIC, January 2008
Frankston Sea Festival, Frankston, VIC, January 2008
Arts In The Park, Ballarat, VIC, January 2008
2007
Queenscliff Music Festival, Queenscliff, VIC, November 2007
Maldon Folk Festival, Maldon, VIC, November 2007
Lake Bolac Eel Festival, Lake Bolac, VIC, March 2007
Guilford Roots Music Festival, Guilford, VIC, March 2007
Skandia Festival, Geelong, VIC, January 2007
Thredbo Blues Festival, Thredbo Village, NSW, January 2007
2006
Queenscliff Music Festival, Queenscliff, VIC, November 2006
North Devon Festival, Barnstaple, Devon, UK, June 2006
Glastonwick Festival, Shoreham By Sea, West Sussex, UK, June 2006
Folk On The Pier, Norfolk, UK, May 2006
2005
Fylde Folk Festival, Fleetwood, UK, September 2005
Great British R&B Festival, Colne, Lancashire, UK, August 2005
Southsea Festival, Southsea, Hampshire, UK, August 2005
Broadstairs Festival, Broadstairs, Kent, UK, August 2005
Larmer Tree Festival, Larmer Tree Gardens, Wiltshire, UK, July 2005
Christchurch Festival, Christchurch, Dorset, UK, July 2005
North Devon Festival, Barnstaple, Devon, UK, June 2005
Middlewich Festival, Middlewich, Cheshire, UK, June 2005
Glastonwick Festival, Shoreham By Sea, West Sussex, UK, June 2005
Salisbury Festival, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK, May 2005
Burke & Wills Festival, Mia Mia, VIC, March 2005
Skandia Festival, Geelong, VIC, January 2005
2004
Glastonwick Festival, Shoreham By Sea, West Sussex, UK, May 2004
Newcastle Festival, Newcastle, UK, May 2004
Rhythms in The Outback, Kalgoorlie, WA, April 2004
Mossvale Festival, Mossvale, VIC, March 2004
Yarra Community Day, Northcote, VIC, February 2004
Cygnet Folk Festival, Cygnet, TAS, January 2004
Chewton Festival, Chewton, VIC, January 2004
Latrobe R and B Festival, Gippsland, VIC, January 2004
Festivals Before 2004
Prior to 2004 some others performed at include
Whare Flat Folk Festival NZ
Maldon Folk Festival, VIC,
Port Fairy Folk Festival, VIC
National Folk Festival, ACT
Cygnet Folk Festival, TAS