Ellie

MyGen Profile Generator I am a second-generation, professional folk musician. . . the second baby girl born in an old farmhouse on my grandfather's farm to a couple of back-to-the-earth hippies. We had no TV and very little money (please refer to the professional folk musician comment above), but my sister and I grew up very happily surrounded by music, friends, the great outdoors, a whole lot of love, and hand me down clothes. My mom was learning to play the accordion (old-time music and rock and roll!) when she was pregnant with me, which could quite possibly explain a few things about my quirky personality and musical sense. When I was five, I officially began my great love affair with dancing, taking my first clogging class. Fast forward to my teenage years and I had everything going for me, everything that makes you super cool in the eyes of your peers (little joke here, people): the home-schooled, vegetarian, painfully unstylish, hippie girl who toured all over North America performing folk and old-time music and percussive dance with her family band. Now here I am years later, having recently moved to Asheville, NC, and suddenly experiencing the strange realization that my dorky ways somehow became cool. In spite of that, I still claim a high dork factor and carry on as before. I was brought to the mountains of North Carolina by my great love of the outdoors--I spent an amazing fall interning as a ranger in Great Smokey Mountains National Park. Ah, but for today, I continue making my living as a musician and dancer. As my dad always told the kids at our school programs, "Boys and girls, you can make tens of dollars as a folk musician." The family band passed into infamy when I headed to college, but my amazing sister and I having been touring together for years now as a duo (Leela and Ellie Grace). I have also played mandolin with the outrageously rockin’ Dirk Powell Band and Southern Routes (combo of the aforementioned band and cajun greats Balfa Toujours). And I am happy to report that my love affair with dance continues unabated. Officially, I perform and teach various forms of percussive dance, but I also am loving learning other non-noisy ways to move to music! My secret dream (oops, not so secret anymore) is to become a hip-hop dancer. Just wait until I bust out my moves. . . I will take the old-time music scene by storm.