I am really looking forward to this weekend as I hit the road to OKLAHOMA! It's like going home to see the relatives. This is an especially busy weekend, and I can't wait to see y'all. It's going to be great!
I'm passing on the pertinent information so you have no excuse to not be there.
This includes a Family Show and a Borders Books appearance. The Norman shows sold out last time so best to buy your tickets in advance...
But first I would like to say thank you to everyone who is helping out with raising money for the Gulf Coast Relief. You are truly Hurricane Angels... BUT, there needs to be a lot more money raised, I am not even close to what I want to raise to help our friends and family that have lost if not almost everything... lost everything. I know the economy has you scared to spend money, and charity starts at home...but you get a song in return, and it's only .99 cents to be able to say you helped your fellow men, women, and children.
Please head to this linkSupport The Gulf Coast Relief Efforts Pass it on and on and on! I am setting a deadline for October 15th, after that Hurricane Angel will not be available until it comes out on the new album next year.
See y'all in OK...here's the scoop... there's a lot happening in 3 days so pay close attention!
Friday, October 3, 2008 7:30PM All Soul Acoustic Coffeehouse 2952 S Peoria Ave Tulsa, OK 74114 918-743-2363 $18 www. allsoulcoffeehouse. com Tickets: $18GA/$16 Students & Seniors
Saturday, October 4th, 2008 2:00 Norman, OK Meet and Greet/CD Signing for The Dragonfly Races Borders Book Store-Norman 300 Norman Center Court Norman, OK 73072 www. borders. com/online/store/StoreDetailView_108 I will appear at the Norman Borders Books as a part of their Educators Appreciation Weekend... If you are an educator...thank you!! Please come join us!
Saturday, October 4th, 2008 7:00 PM (Show 1 in Norman) The Depot at The Performing Arts Studio 200 S Jones Ave Norman, OK 73069 $20 thepas. org/ Winter wind concert series All ages
Sunday, October 5th, 2008 2:00 PM (Show 2 in Norman) FAMILY SHOW The Depot at the Performing Arts Studio 200 S Jones Ave Norman, OK 73069 www. thepas. org $10 adults, $5 children
Sunday, October 5th, 2008 7:00 PM (Show 3 in Norman) The Depot at The Performing Arts Studio 200 S.
Jones Ave Norman, OK 73069 $20 www.thepas. org/ Winter wind concert series All ages
You buy Hurricane Angel, We all help the Gulf Coast
Hey y'all-- Thanks very much or the support at the recent shows, I have been enjoying playing the new material slated for the next album project for everyone, and slowly breaking the songs into a final form for recording. I need your ears and comments on the songs! Let me know what you think on the discussion board, as I am trying to select the songs for the new project. We plan on recording in January!
We had a great retreat at the West Mountain Inn in Arlington, VT. I managed to not repeat a song over three nights, two campfires, and one dinner party, and played nearly 100 songs in all. A beautiful spot, Arlington was Norman Rockwell's hometown at one point! The Inn was comfortable and rustic, a perfect place for concerts and relaxation. People were hiking, climbing, tubing, biking, kayaking. They seemed to have a wonderful time, though I preferred the couch potato route. .. Thanks to everyone who came, and especially Tim and Lori Blixt who arranged the event and were graceful hosts to us all.
Hurricane Angel We have decided to release a live version of my new song Hurricane Angel, recorded at Schuba's Tavern in Chicago, on my website we are selling it for .99 with a portion of proceeds going to the Red Cross and their efforts to rebuild the Gulf coast after the recent spate of hurricane's there. I can't believe the devastation that has been seen by our brothers and sisters down in Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana, Alabama and Texas, and I would really like to see the song help there as much as possible. We can't wait for it to appear on a record but in the mean time with so much of the work needed to be done now, we thought it would be great to make the song available for download. Here's the link:Download Hurricane Angel
Dragonfly Races We are happy to announce a BACK TO SCHOOL sale ..onfly Races! Since The Dragonfly Races has been released, we have been very pleased to see a number of teachers use it in their class curriculum. We have received several orders from teachers and parents who have bought a whole bunch to use in the classrooms and libraries. As a way to spur on this kind of use, we are giving a special sale price to Dragonfly through next month. The CD's will be $9.99 each when you purchase 5 CD's or more. For each 5 you buy, I'll include a limited edition CD, "Live from WERS", which has exclusive versions of unreleased new songs and some old favorites. This is not available for sale anywhere. WERS is one of the first stations in the country to play my music. Buy it for your kid's school, town's library or family reunion! Here is the link: Dragonfly Races Special Offer I was sent these pictures from a teacher in New Mexico that had a "Wabi Sabi Week"what a great idea!
"I teach third grade so I ordered the CD for my students. They LOVED it! I ran copies of the lyrics for them and we sang and sang and sang. Their favorite song was The Dragonfly Song. The other one they really enjoyed was the Wabi Sabi song. We discussed the concept of Wabi Sabi and the kids decided they wanted to have a Wabi Sabi Day. It actually turned into an entire week! It was great, Ellis. We invited parents and the other classrooms and shared our most valued Wabi Sabi items. Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
I would love for everyone to share ways in which you have used a song(s) from The Dragonfly Races to educate kids. Post it on the discussion board, or myspace.com/ellispaul or you can send it to this email address and we'll post it for you. I am really looking forward to hearing your creative ideas!
My tour dates are updated weekly so check back at www.ellispaul.com to see when I'll be head'n your way. See y'all out there! Ellis
This an interview I did on "Here and Now". Oddly enough, the first interview that day was with Maurice Sendak, the author and illustrator of "Where the Wild Things Are" one of my inspirations. It's a really interesting interview so take a listen...then scroll down and click on my interview if you want...enjoy
Hey y'all! here's another cool interpretation of a song...enjoy!
..
cooperAV from Essex, VT: Ellis Paul performing "The Speed of Trees" from his DVD 3000 miles. I liked the song so much I decided to add the rest of the band, the video was an afterthought. Recorded and produced at cooperAV.
Occasionally people out in the ether put beautiful images to my songs and post them on youtube-- Here are three of the best!
I hope you enjoy them. In light of not being on a major label, these might be the closest thing to an actual MTV kinda thing that yours truly enjoys. It is such a pleasure to see people bringing their talents to my music...
Invest In The New CD...we’ll make sure it’s worth it...
In some palace back room in Paris, Mozart would pluck at the piano composing melodic symphonies and operas for the dukes, and the duchesses, kings, and queens. He leaned on these people just as they leaned forward to hear the songs ringing in their powdered concert hall.
Their patronage became a co-writer in a sense, they provided the support for the talented wigged-one to have the time, supplies, instruments, and room to produce some of the best music ever written. There would be no Mozart without their generosity, investment and complete belief in his craft. He would bring the songs to concert halls, and the audiences would have the magical feeling that they participated in the process of creation. Queens were transported. Princesses swooned. Kings smiled with satisfaction.
I use a guitar and travel around bars, churches, galleries and theatres. No palaces here, but Mozart and I are in the same business, nonetheless.
I have about twenty fresh song ideas and am eager to get back in the studio. I should have them all completed by August, and if you come to any show between now and then, you will hear them in concert. Some of them you may recognize already, "Hurricane Angel", "Once upon a Summertime", and "The Cotton's Burning" for example, are fully finished and waiting for a home on this album.
Ralph, my manager and I, have decided not to chase down another record label to put this project out. The music industry is so completely usable now for an artist of my scale that a label seems to be like working for the man unnecessarily. We are eager to see how successfully we can fundraise for the project and promote this batch of songs without the help of an outside label. This way, profits go back to Black Wolf, our label, to help us continue to cultivate projects and foster new and amazing talent into the world, such as we did with Antje Duvekot.
I am very excited about these songs, and I think it is among the best batch I have ever harvested before going into a studio. But I need help bringing in the crop. We need tractors, laborers, and scythes.
We are seeking community support for the project through a fundraising ladder that will help build this new recording grain by grain. You folks are even more than Mozart's dukes and the duchesses. You are the workers in the fields, helping bring the harvest of songs to market. You can still picture yourselves in the powdered wigs and satin leggings, if that works for you.
Many thanks for the support, Ellis
You can go to www.ellispaul.com to make your investment. Please read below to see what we are offering in return...
$100 "The Antje Duvekot Level"
Receive an advance copy of Ellis' new CD personally signed and numbered; including a bonus disc of demos and outtakes of the songs
Antje Duvekot will personally sign a copy of her recent release "Big Dream Boulevard" on Black Wolf Records
You and a friend will be put on Ellis' guest list for an Ellis Paul show of your choice
$250 "The James Taylor Level" Receive an advance copy of Ellis' new CD personally signed and numbered; including a bonus disc of demos and outtakes of the songs
Antje Duvekot will personally sign a copy of her recent release "Big Dream Boulevard" on Black Wolf Records
You and a friend will be put on Ellis' guest list for an Ellis Paul show of your choice
+Limited edition signed CD of Ellis performing live in the studio at Boston's WERS
+One Year membership to Club Passim, the legendary folk room and Ellis' home venue
+Ellis will thank you by including your name in the liner notes of the CD booklet
$500 "The Neil Young Level" Receive an advance copy of Ellis' new CD personally signed and numbered; including a bonus disc of demos and outtakes of the songs
Antje Duvekot will personally sign a copy of her recent release "Big Dream Boulevard" on Black Wolf Records
You and a friend will be put on Ellis' guest list for an Ellis Paul show of your choice
Limited edition signed EP of Ellis performing live in the studio at Boston's WERS
One Year membership to Club Passim, the legendary folk room and Ellis' home venue
Ellis will thank you by including your name in the liner notes of the CD booklet
+Ellis will hand write and illustrate signed lyrics to any one Ellis Paul song of your choice, which will be suitable for framing
$1000 "The Johnny Cash Level" Receive an advance copy of Ellis' new CD personally signed and numbered; including a bonus disc of demos and outtakes of the songs
Antje Duvekot will personally sign a copy of her recent release "Big Dream Boulevard" on Black Wolf Records
You and a friend will be put on Ellis' guest list for an Ellis Paul show of your choice
Limited edition signed EP of Ellis performing live in the studio at Boston's WERS
One Year membership to Club Passim, the legendary folk room and Ellis' home venue
Ellis will thank you by including your name in the liner notes of the CD booklet
Ellis will handwrite and illustrate lyrics to any one Ellis Paul song of your choice, which will be suitable for framing
+Limited Edition 11x 17 signed and numbered cover artwork from the new album which will be suitable for framing
$2500 "The Joni Mitchell Level" Receive an advance copy of Ellis' new CD personally signed and numbered; including a bonus disc of demos and outtakes of the songs
Antje Duvekot will personally sign a copy of her recent release "Big Dream Boulevard" on Black Wolf Records
You and a friend will be put on Ellis' guest list for an Ellis Paul show of your choice
Limited edition signed EP of Ellis performing live in the studio at Boston's WERS
One Year membership to Club Passim, the legendary folk room and Ellis' home venue
Ellis will thank you by including your name in the liner notes of the CD booklet
Ellis will hand write and illustrate sign lyrics to any one Ellis Paul song of your choice, suitable for framing
Limited Edition 11X17 signed and numbered cover artwork from the new album which will be suitable for framing
+You will be designated and credited an Executive Producer in the CD booklet liner notes
+A signed acoustic guitar from Michael Kelly Guitars; the brand played by Ellis www.michaelkellyguitars.com
$5000 "The Bob Dylan Level" Receive an advance copy of Ellis' new CD personally signed and numbered; including a bonus disc of demos and outtakes of the songs
Antje Duvekot will personally sign a copy of her recent release "Big Dream Boulevard" on Black Wolf Records
You and a friend will be put on Ellis' guest list for an Ellis Paul show of your choice
Limited edition signed EP of Ellis performing live in the studio at Boston's WERS
One Year membership to Club Passim, the legendary folk room and Ellis' home venue
Ellis will thank you by including your name in the liner notes of the CD booklet
Ellis will hand write and illustrate sign lyrics to any one Ellis Paul song of your choice, suitable for framing
Limited Edition 11X17 signed and numbered cover artwork from the new album which will be suitable for framing
You will be designated and credited an Executive Producer in the CD booklet liner notes
A signed acoustic guitar from Michael Kelly Guitars; The brand played by Ellis www.michaelkellyguitars.com
+A live Ellis Paul concert in your home or designated venue for you and your friends (Date of show will be booked through Ralph Jaccodine Management agreed upon date is based on Ellis' availability and tour schedule.)
$10,000 "The Woody Guthrie Level"
Receive an advance copy of Ellis' new CD personally signed and numbered; including a bonus disc of demos and outtakes of the songs
Antje Duvekot will personally sign a copy of her recent release "Big Dream Boulevard" on Black Wolf Records
You and a friend will be put on Ellis' guest list for an Ellis Paul show of your choice
Limited edition signed EP of Ellis performing live in the studio at Boston's WERS
One Year membership to Club Passim, the legendary folk room and Ellis' home venue
Ellis will thank you by including your name in the liner notes of the CD booklet
Ellis will hand write and illustrate sign lyrics to any one Ellis Paul song of your choice, suitable for framing
Limited Edition 11X17 signed and numbered cover artwork from the new album which will be suitable for framing
You will be designated and credited an Executive Producer in the CD booklet liner notes
A signed acoustic guitar from Michael Kelly Guitars; The brand played by Ellis www.michaelkellyguitars.com
A live Ellis Paul concert in your home or designated venue for you and your friends (Date of show will be booked through Ralph Jaccodine Management agreed upon date is based on Ellis' availability and tour schedule.)
+You can collaborate with Ellis and he will compose a personal song for you. Ellis will record it on a CD and will hand draw the cover art.
+Spend a day in the studio while Ellis records songs for his upcoming CD
+A lifetime of guest list spots for you and a friend to Ellis Paul shows. For Ellis Paul head lining shows not including private shows, house concerts and festivals.
If you prefer to make your investment by check, please make payable to Ellis Paul Productions and mail to the following address: Ellis Paul Productions C/O Ralph Jaccodine Management PO Box 381982 Cambridge, MA 02238
Writing, recording, on the road, Back to New England
Hi All, I'm excited to have a little time off the next couple of weeks to get some quality time in with my girls at home. It won't be all play though. I have songs to finish up, a producer to pick, studio time to book, and some recording to do for the new album. I'll be spending some time with my good friend Kristian Bush to do some writing, always inspiring to spend time with Kristian to get some lyrics and melodies down on paper.
Then off to Woody fest...look forward to seeing everyone who make the annual pilgrimage as well as some new faces I hope! There's also a Blue Door show in OKC in the mix.
Then, yet again, back up to Boston for an in store appearance at 2 different Borders, this will be short performance and CD signing of The Dragonfly Races. Also on this trip is The Bullrun in Shirley, MA, Jonathan's in Ogunquit, ME and WERU Festival in Blue Hill, ME. Check out my tour schedule at www.ellispaul.com there are some great shows coming up including a Harbor Cruise in Boston www.rockandbluescruise.com where I'll be playing with a band...members to be announced soon. The end of August includes a benefit in Great Barrington, MA for an orginization helping to rebuild New Orleans. Please check out this website for more info on how they are helping www.hopeforstanley.org
As always, thanks for listening to my songs, coming out to shows and supporting my music. I couldn't do it wihout you! See y'all out there... Best, Ellis
Hey all, found this interview on the internet, it's from 2002 for the release of Speed of Trees. This was the first anniversary of 9/11. Tom Ashbrook is such a great interviewer and does an amazing job of keeping art and music relevant in a world of disarray. I know it's old, but thought you might enjoy it. There are several songs performed live such as, Angel in Manhattan and Speed of Trees.
It has been 3 months since the official release of my first family CD The Dragonfly Races. I am really happy with the response and the support of the album. Thank you all very much. Keep spreading the word and send your friends to the myspace page made especially for the album, www.myspace.com/thedragonflyraces
My last two family shows in Chicago and NYC were so great, I am excited to see the kids (and parents) singing along to all the songs. When I look out in the audience and see everyone singing, I know they actually do listen to the CD...this is so gratifying! And, it makes the shows really fun with all the participation of the tiny and new audience members. I am really enjoying this part of my touring; it's nice to be around the families and to meet the children of fans that have been coming to shows for years. Especially those I have had the privilege to watch their lives grow from a first date, to the engagement, the wedding and now taking their wee ones to my shows. Then they get the babysitter and come back at night for another round...thanks to you all!
I will be adding more family shows to the tour schedule in the Fall, keep a look out on my website it's the most up to date source, all the shows get updated several times a week. www.ellispaul.com
This is a link to the all the reviews of The Dragonfly Races for all you not quite convinced… Read the Reviews
I am working on new songs, as some of you have heard out at the (adult) shows lately; I hope to start recording in June for a release in the fall. I'll keep you posted. In the mean time, thanks for all your listening and encouragement while the songs get developed from city to city.
There is a duet of "Let it Be" towards the end...those of you that have never been to a show with both Flynn and I performing have never had a chance to hear it. Enjoy!
