Ellie Skinner profile picture

Ellie Skinner

About Me

'Ellie Skinner is pure mint.' Ruth Galley'An outstanding solo singer, Ellie is a dynamic and engaging performer, completely at home with her audience. Bringing a profound understanding of thoroughly researched material, Ellie's interpretations never fail to engage, whilst still maintaining a refreshing contemporary appeal' Stewart Hardy 'Fabulous - I look forward to hearing more' John KirkpatrickI was born in Bucks, raised in Northants. At the age of three I was subjected to a wild bunch of Morris dancers, who quickly became somewhat of a second family.I started singing mainly to annoy my younger brothers, but realised I quite liked it especially experimenting with different genres - I've tackled all sorts from musicals (I LOVE Sondheim) to sacred, jazz to opera, but folk is my passion.I perform a cappella material mainly from Britain, but have been known to throw in a little Eastern European or Tori Amos here and there!I've been performing out for nearly 10 years in various ensembles, currently: Skynte - all singing, all dancing with voices, banjos, fiddles, guitars, mandolins, clogs and Northumbrian pipes.I've performed twice at the Nemzetkzi Folklornapok (International Folk Dance Festival) in Sarvar, Hungary as a guest of Owlswick Morris. In 2003 I went on a week long tour of Holland as part of a jazz ensemble. I've performed numerous times as part of the Brackley Music Festival in South Northants, and at the Sage Gateshead - Sound 05 and Folk Stars of the Future with Desi Wilkinson (both BMUSED).I moved to the North East in 2003 to study folk music at Newcastle University, where I have come under the tuition of, amongst others, Sandra Kerr, Chris Coe, Nancy Kerr, Paul Sartin, Louis Killen, Tim van Eyken and James Fagan.In January 2006, I received a grant of £500 from the Friends of Towersey Festival to buy resources to help further my studies. Thank you very much to them for that.I am a St Albans New Roots Finalist 2006 and was awarded, amongst other things, a performance slot at the Oxford Folk Festival. Many thanks go to Alison McMorland for organising and to all the judges.No main site yet, but if you would like to be added to my mailing list please email me [email protected] and let me know if you would like to be contacted by email or by post.'Ellie's a singer with a voice full of character. Shes gathered together a bag of songs that she loves and performs well with wit, humour and a great deal of storytelling skill. Be prepared to enjoy yourselves.' Chris Coe 'Ellie Skinner is a young woman of many parts a good workshop leader, a director of choirs and last of all, but by no means least, a fine singer. Her performances of traditional songs from England and Eastern Europe combine sweetness and sauce: an engaging and charming mix which demonstrates both her quirky character and commitment to the tradition.' Sandra Kerrmyspace
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My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 19/02/2006
Band Members: Skynte: Ellie Skinner - vocals Cathy Geldard - fiddle, piano, voice Paul Knox - Northumbrian pipes, fiddle, feet, voice Jo Lindsay-Dunn - fiddle, feet, piano, piano accordion, voice Matt Price - guitar, mandolin, other things with strings, voice Dan Walsh - Banjo, guitar, voice, bodhran
Influences: In no particular order: The Voice of the People collection, Nancy Kerr, Dr Faustus, Sarcastic's Corner (John Bone and Lawrence Wright), Eliza Carthy, Fairport, Waterson:Carthy, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Chris Coe, Sandra Kerr, James Fagan, Marta Sebestyen, Paul Sartin Varttina, Regos, All About Eve, Julie Murphy, bellowhead, Moira Craig, Emma Christian, Chris Leslie, Maria Friedman, Barbra Streisand, Tori Amos, Jewel, Karine Polwart, Malinky, Silly Sisters, Witches of Elswick, Silly Wizard...
Sounds Like: 'Sounds Voluptuous. I want to say Raunchy but thats not quite right' (Delphine 2006) 'Hasn't got the range' (Said in a Shirley Bassey style by Paul Knox 2006)I don't know but apparently my laugh sounds like it belongs in a 'Dickensian Ginhouse' (Craig Walton, 2005)Shiny Recordings by Anis FinnSwishy Photo by Piers Cawley
Type of Label: Major

My Blog

Ch ch ch Changes...

Hello, To steal from the David Bowie song there have been some changes going on.  Unfortuantely a job that I was hoping to get didn't materialize and since I am now properly skint (every pun inte...
Posted by on Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:05:00 GMT

Folkworks Workout Weekend, dissertations and conferences

Well the Folkworks Workout Weekend is under way - 60 people making music and having fun in the lower levels of the Sage Gateshead. I've been ill for the last week and a bit and so the preparation for ...
Posted by on Fri, 26 Oct 2007 11:40:00 GMT

The joys of further education

When you have no money and decide to do a post graduate degree it may at first seem like a good idea - putting off going into the real world for a while, student discount at the cinema, hmv, that sort...
Posted by on Tue, 09 Oct 2007 13:20:00 GMT

Hair again. a cautionary tale...

Hello,   So last time I cut my hair myself it was a great success.  however this time I was perhaps a bit blaze about my previous talent and late one night started cutting away with  a ...
Posted by on Thu, 27 Sep 2007 02:03:00 GMT

Working....

Hello everyone!   Well I have now been appointed temporary coordinator for folk projects within the learning and participation department of The Sage Gateshead.  I'm still in my CST job and ...
Posted by on Thu, 20 Sep 2007 06:55:00 GMT

Chloe the golden retriever

I rang home today to check when I should send Mum's birthday card and present (I do know when her birthday is but she's going away) and Pete told me they had to have Chloe put down yesterday. She was ...
Posted by on Sat, 08 Sep 2007 11:13:00 GMT

Back in the North

So August has been a month of music, swanning around, drinking, dancing, laughing, being cold, getting sunburnt, walking through cloud, swimming in the sea, making friends, possible job offers and neg...
Posted by on Tue, 28 Aug 2007 09:42:00 GMT

sleepy now

Well Sidmouth was amazing, possibly one of the best weeks I've had.  Made some new friends, got pissed off with old ones for being tfools but all is good now.  Nearly (actually probably did)...
Posted by on Tue, 14 Aug 2007 06:35:00 GMT

Sidmouth

Hello everyone,   Having a lovely time at Sidmouth, not too sunburnt, hair is fading and I nearly have hayfever I think but not sure. Sorry anyone who has been trying to talk to me - have been w...
Posted by on Wed, 08 Aug 2007 08:01:00 GMT

the joys of august are nothing like the ides of march....

...and so are nothing to worry about.   Well the eighth month is nearly upon us (another whole 28 mins) and my busiest time is on its way. Tomorrow I leave for my first ever Sidmouth festival whe...
Posted by on Tue, 31 Jul 2007 15:28:00 GMT