amy may ellis
“AMY REACHES HER ARMS AROUND THE WORLD WITH A GENTLE STRENGTH THAT IS SOOTHING AND INSPIRING” – WILLY MASON
Photos by Alice Farrington
Raised in a remote dale in the middle of the North York Moors, Amy May Ellis invites you on a journey through the history and mysticism of this wide-open landscape. Now based in Bristol, Amy’s warm and delicate folk-leaning songs are steeped in the culture, scenery, folklore and wildlife of the countryside that surrounded and shaped her as a child. She makes her debut for Lost Map Records with the PostMap Club postcard single ‘Rain From The East’, a song about “feeling unsteady and the weariness that comes with grief”, formed in time with the shovelling of coal under a gathering storm. Recorded live with Rob Pemberton on drums and Alex Heane on double bass, it’s the opening track and first taster of Amy’s mesmerising forthcoming debut album Over Ling and Bell, which is due for release on limited-edition eco-friendly 12” vinyl and digital platforms on May 12, 2023. Amy will play live around the UK in February, as tour support for James Yorkston and Nina Persson, as well as perform at the Lost Map 10th anniversary all-dayer at Oran Mor in Glasgow on Sunday, February 5 as part of the Celtic Connections festival.
Brought up singing around the house with her mother, Amy May Ellis was first inspired to start writing songs aged 15 on a ukulele bought for her by her grandad. She began making her mark as a musician through support slots for touring artists including Michael Chapman, Alessi’s Ark, Hiss Golden Messenger, Tiny Ruins, Ryley Walker and Willy Mason at her local music venue The Band Room in Farndale. “Having artists from all over the world come and play in the tin shed at the bottom of the hill was pretty special,” she reflects. Since 2018, with the support of a growing band of friends, collaborators and fans, Amy has released a series of four EPs, each exploring an element – Weathered by Waves, We Got Fire, Where My Garden Lies, and When In The Wind. She has received support from BBC 6 Music, BBC introducing, Uncut Magazine and Rough Trade, and has played headline tours around the UK and Ireland, as well as performed at Brighton’s Great Escape festival.
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