Ellis is the ABC show I’ve most been looking forward to this season,  because I’ve heard such good reports,  and up to this point I’ve only experienced a couple of short live segments from her.  What struck me is how she’s able to deal with complex issues in a relaxed, engaging, and infectiously happy way. .  A reviewer said this about   “Break the Spell”  (her new CD),  and I think it applies to her performance as well: “cathartic, intimate, and ultimately transcendent ...It’s not trendy, or groundbreaking…. it is is very, very real. It gets to you the way you crave a record to get to you.”

If you have even a little interest in this style of folk music,  I think you’ll find the evening memorable.

Disclosure: I’m a board member of the Acoustic Brew concert series,  an all-volunteer, non-profit 501-C3 organization that is presenting the Ellis concert. More info atAcousticBrew.org

Yep, Ellis is very real. It seems like a strange characteristic to highlight - but not really when you consider that performers, even folk performers, are in the business of putting on a show. Though she often plays bigger venues, The Center for Wellbeing is the perfect place to witness Ellis’ presence. Go - see what I mean.

In my own disclosure, I’ve played the same circuit as Ellis for a few years and crossed paths with her at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. And, I’d be at the show this weekend if I wasn’t playing in Chicago.

In the station earlier this week I had a chance to preview a few of Ellis’ songs…. I bought two tickets to the show right away. This chick is good! Good guitar, good vocals. This, as Mel said in his post, is a most looked forward to show of the season. Thanks Acoustic Brew for bringing Ellis to Happy Valley.
The station doesn’t have any complete music CDs by her, but someone burned two songs on to an upcoming concerts disc for the folk DJs to preview. I’m hosting the Folk Show March 21, from 6-8 a.m. I’ll play one of her songs each hour at about quarter after if you want to preview her sound before the show. YOU WILL REALLY ENJOY HER MUSIC!

Paul, we should have Undefended Heart in the library… it’s actually a pretty cool disc; it’s acoustic remixes of songs from her studio CD in all their stripped-down glory. I think it’s where the two songs on the sampler came from.

I’m still smiling from the Ellis concert over the weekend,  and I’d love to hear reactions from other folks who were at the concert.  The world is full of unique people—some more unique than others, as the joke goes—but I’ve never experienced anyone quite like Ellis.  Her joyous, quirky energy left a lasting impression,  and judging from the reaction of the audience,  my reaction was not unique.  We’ve never had an evening where so many people stayed so long after the concert chatting with the performer.  The cleanup crew was just about done and the hallway was still crammed with fans!  The strongest memory I have of the evening is of her laugh and her guiless openess to life. But that voice,  wow.  I’d love to hear what other people though of the evening.  How far would you drive to hear Ellis again?

How far would I drive to hear her again? Probably Williamsport or Harrisburg.
The Ellis show is one of the reasons I support Acoustic Brew and Folk Music in State College. Ellis was a performer like none other in her way of turning on enthusiasm for life with a really beautiful voice and songs that were crafted well. I think the last show I saw that had a spontaneous standing O was the Kennedy’s Acoustic Brew show in the same venue.  Acoustic Brew has a knack for booking musicians that I’ve never even heard of that are fantastic.
I bought the Ellis acoustic remix CD for $10 and have put in my iTunes for iPod playing. What a great show! I hope she can get booked for the WPSU location so more people can see her.

And you know what? Hannah Bingham’s opening set was terrific too. A little hard to hear but very pretty.

This might be a tad long as Ellis means quite a bit to me! I am originally from NY. I went to upstate NY (Plattsburgh) for an undergraduate degree in Communication Disorders. While I was in Plattsburgh, a friend introduced me to Ellis’ music. When I heard her voice, I was hooked. When I listened to her lyrics I was moved. She is not your typical artist. She is more than you can expect and better than you could ever imagine. She truly touches audiences with her smile, her wit, her thoughtfulness, her encouraging words and her overall personality while on stage. She doesn’t speak AT the audience… she honestly communicates through words and song. When I moved to Pennsylvania to pursue a doctoral degree at Bloomsburg University, I didn’t expect to have the same opportunities to see folk music. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw Ellis was set to perform in Lemont. I was even happier to see her perform in such a personal and unique venue. She was able to interact with the audience on a much more personal level. Ellis has touched my life in so many ways. Her songs bring back memories of traveling through the mountains in Vermont, of hiking up Cascade Mountain in the Adirondacks, or just driving down the road to the grocery store. Her music is both uplifting and thought provoking! She is a raw talent that I hope to see again and again. Please bring her back!!! Ellis, Thank you!

-Erika

Ellis was my first concert at Acoustic Brew and I enjoyed every minute of her charming, quirky sense of humor and performance. The crowd was friendly, the venue beautiful and welcoming, and her music was gorgeous and her stories were moving. I am a new fan not only of Ellis, but also of the Acoustic Brew series and plan to be back for more!!!

Hey Pia, Glad you enjoyed Acoustic Brew with Ellis and Hannah Bingham opening.
You know what though? Pretty much all the shows Acoustic Brew puts on have a surrealness to them.
I remember when Lucy Kaplansky just stopped playing midway through her first song because she couldn’t believe how great the room sounded to her up on stage and she wanted to share that with us.
Ellis’ show was really good with that living room feel. But Ellis made it even more so with her music and voice. I’m sad that the event didn’t sell out. What can be done to get mroe of the college kids in to hear a college-aged audience favorite?—Paul

I saw Ellis at the recent Acoustic Brew show.  I found her very refreshing and so down to earth.  Her music is thought provoking but in the next song can be funny and light hearted.  Her personal demeanor is like her songs refreshing and down to earth.  I hope to see more of her in the area in the near future.  Her interaction with the audience makes you feel that she would be right at home playing in your living room.