Ellis Paul is a critically-acclaimed singer,
songwriter, poet, and troubadour originally hailing from a potato farming
family in northern Maine.
His national reputation took off when he won
the Acoustic Underground Award. Soon he was opening for such notable
musicians as Bill Morrissey, Shawn Colvin, and John Gorka. He quickly
progressed to headlining concert and festivals. He is now the recipient of
thirteen Boston Music Awards, second only to multi-platinum act, Aerosmith.
Over the course of fifteen years, Ellis Paul has built a vast catalog of
music which weds striking poetic imagery and philosophical introspection
with hook-laden melodies. The Boston Globe hailed him as a "songwriter's
songwriter," saying "no emerging songwriter in recent memory has been more
highly touted and respected by songwriters." USA Today's national feature
on Ellis was titled "Best Bet For Stardom" which has come true after years
of non-stop touring.
Ellis has averaged 150 shows a year and travels across America and Europe,
playing everyplace from church basements to Carnegie Hall. The Rock 'N
Roll Hall of Fame invited Ellis to pay tribute to his hero Woody Guthrie,
who has influenced and inspired Ellis in a profound way. Woody's daughter
Nora requested that Ellis compose the music for the lyrics of Woody's song
"God's Promise," since covered by numerous artists.
Ellis' songs have appeared in the soundtracks for several
movies, including Me, Myself, & Irene with Jim Carrey, and Shallow
Hal with Jack Black. Movie director Peter Farrelly has praised Ellis'
music as "a national treasure." Ellis' songs have also appeared on numerous
television shows, including Ed and MTV's The Real World.
Says Performing Songwriter
magazine,
"Ellis Paul is a
master storyteller. He combines the sensibilities of Bob Dylan and Bill
Morrissey and delivers it with a passion that sets him apart in the company
of a new breed of songwriters."
"Paul proves that introspective need not mean indulgent," writes Scott Alarik of The Boston Globe. "His intimate ballads probe
uncompromisingly into both the bright spaces and the dark corners of his
life, but always in ways that tell us valuable things about our own.
With their alluring folk-pop melodies and provocative imagery, Paul's
songs define the Boston songwriter style at its best." Paul is a musician rooted in a
deep tradition, but gifted enough to grow beyond the constraints of any
style. A compelling singer and a gifted lyricist, he's uniquely poised to
succeed in a big way. :::
Opening for Ellis Paul is guest artist Adam Ezra
Thu Dec 3
| 8 pm CSPS | 1103 Third St SE | Cedar Rapids $15 + fee in advance | $18 at the door
