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LIVE @ THE HENLEY THEATRE - THE NATIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL

If ‘Bloke Folk’ were a genre – The Ellis Collective would be it.  Traditional acoustic folk sensibilities with contemporary stylings - simple and unpretentious tales of an ordinary Aussie male, masking a broken heart with big talk, a cold tinnie and a smoke.  If you follow the trail of breakfast beers, black coffee, cigarettes, broken teeth, busted dreams, confessionals, apologies, simple tunes and soft harmonies, it will take you to the place where they make music. 

“heartbreaking intensity... a melancholy that offered glimpse of beautiful despair”
Adam Galan (Fasterlouder)

Six months after their first gig, The Ellis Collective found their way into festival programming.  A stand-out crowd favourite whenever they perform - evident than at the National Folk Festival ‘Infinite Song Competition’ where they were the punters pick over and above a raft of highly regarded veteran performers.  

“The pick of the festival...Canberra’s own The Ellis Collective. These bloke-folkies take the crown for local talent and top-shelf festival performances... I was blown away”
BMA Magazine (Review of The National Folk Festival)

2008 promises even bigger things from The Ellis Collective.  Outside of major festival appearances and constant  touring that has seen them take their captivating show to thousands throughout the eastern states of Australia, The Ellis Collective will release their much anticipated debut album 'Swallowing Spiders' – following up to their debut ‘Orange’ EP

"The Orange EP is a prime example of the ability to blend sincere folk of with a myriad of styles and musical virtuosity"
Riot Records (The Riot Act)

The Ellis Collective's pedigree speaks for itself.  Rallying around the unique and heart-wrenching song-writing of  Matty Ellis is an incredible depth of talented troubadours including Sam King, Emma Kelly, Grahame Thompson, Alison Procter and Dan Kempers. 

Their other musical involvements have included The Spooky Men’s Chorale, The Fred Smith Band, The Cashews, One Night Jam, Dahahoo, Dubba Rukki, The Von Trolley Quartet, Mr Fibby, The Whiff Of Doom, The Andi & George Band and Fire On The Hill.

Together The Ellis Collective's performance experience spans the nation’s most respected festivals from Woodford to The Blue Mountains and The National.

“The Ellis Collective is probably one of the finest groups to ever come out of Canberra - the cream of Canberra’s acoustic musicians, this is an act that you need to hear to believe.”