Rory Ellis

“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 Ellis 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, and some “soul-belter, red-dirt country, and home-grown folkie”, to quote Jeff Glorfeld of The Age. With three albums and hundreds of gigs and festivals played across Australia and the UK, he’s accomplished a great deal with little outside help.

Rory has spent many years touring locally and internationally, taking inspiration from suburban street culture, including some of the seedier Melbourne pubs he has worked in, and not just as a performer! His music offers regular glimpses of the Melbourne underworld, people he’s loved, lost, and from his own eventful life. 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 these 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, while “Road Of The Braver Man” (released in 2003) also received much acclaim.

Armed with two media acclaimed albums Rory toured the UK in 2004 for the first time. He spent 3 months here performing over 60 hugely successful shows at venues and festivals alike, returning again in 2005 and performing around 120 shows including festivals such as Larmer Tree Festival, Fylde Folk Festival, Southsea Festival, Middlewich Festival, Broadstairs Festival, and the Great British R&B Festival

In 2006 he released “The Rushes” album and in February 2008 Rory signed “Two Feathers” to UK label Villainous Records, taking Rory on his 5th UK tour to support its release. “Two Feathers” is a masterpiece of Alternative Country and Blues music fusing acoustic and electric instruments into a rich sounding album, true in tone, and with a warmth that only embellishes the mood of this stunning piece of work. It’s like a trip back to the old vinyl’s we knew and loved.

“A voice so deep and gravelly, if this had been released on vinyl you’d swear your turntable was playing 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.”
(The Guide, Lancashire Telegraph)

website: roryellis.villainousrecords.com