Ellie Gowers Interview
YOU AND YOUR MUSIC
Tell us a bit about your journey into the world of Folk Music?
Warwick Folk Festival was the catalyst that drew me to the folk community. I started going to the festival occasionally as a teenager with my mum who volunteered each year. As we lived close to the town centre, we’d often go up for the Saturday morris procession and enjoyed the free events dotted around.
Slowly, I started taking part in the sessions and the ceilidhs within the festival site and that led me to meet an amazing community that was filled with so much music and joy. For me, the music was only 50% of it; the rest of the excitement came from the people, the dancing, meeting new people, and of course the beer…
At the time, I had started studying music and was discovering influences from the British folk revival scene. People like Fairport Convention, Pentangle, Anne Briggs, Nic Jones, John Martyn; musicians who were interpreters of folk songs and also songwriters. This led to me singing traditional songs learned from these names in folk clubs and music sessions.
As my confidence grew in this space, so did my writing. Whilst I don’t sing as many traditional songs now, my writing is still hugely informed by the styles, stories, and words from these songs, and I’m sure I will continue to feel inspired by these stories and the community.
What made you decide to be a Musician?
I guess the big decision I made was to study it. I never really had grand plans to do it full-time, and it was something I didn’t think was possible. I started with open-mics and they built my confidence ten-fold. These turned into feature slots, which turned into support slots, which then turned into headline shows. I think it was the support slots for bigger artists that made me hungry for it and inspired me to release albums and tour nationally. It wasn’t something that I decided overnight. It was years of experimenting, playing open mic nights, and doing naff gigs that made the good gigs feel worth it. Studying in Bristol, there were also many opportunities where I could go out and play, meet other musicians, and write. That’s what inspired me and what I got enjoyment out of. I also didn’t study anything else so I would be screwed if I decided to do something different…
What is something you wish everyone knew about Folk music?
How inclusive and welcoming it can be.
If another folkie was to cover one of your songs – which folkie musician would you most love to do it?
Another difficult one. I’m a huge fan of The Gloaming so a reimagined instrumental version would be cool. And while it’s not a cover, I would love love love to have a couple of my songs remixed so if someone like Valtos came a-knocking, I would oblige.
WARWICK
What was your reaction at being asked to be patron at Warwick and why?
I was honoured! It’s such a big part of my hometown, and I really believe that it’s such an amazing festival with a fantastic community and an incredible lineup every year. As a patron, I guess my main responsibility is sharing the love for WFF and I was doing that long before I became a patron so it’s even more exciting getting to promote it now and it’s something I’m very proud to do.
What is your favourite memory at Warwick Folk Festival?
I have hazy recollections of taking part in a chair stacking competition one year in the early hours of the morning. It was after the festival bar had closed and it got quite competitive. I don’t think I was very good at it, but there were certainly some inventive stacking methods.
What is your most memorable performance at Warwick (yours or someone elses!)
Manran played the headline slot a few years ago. I’m so obsessed with their song ‘Crow Flies’ and I’d been waiting all weekend to hear it. They finally played it and it was such a beautiful moment.
I was also lucky enough to be asked to join Breabach for a song last year. I found out the night before, so I had to scrabble to learn the words in time. It was terrifying, but it was amazing to be up on stage with them, and I was in complete awe of them.
When did you smile the biggest or laugh the loudest at Warwick Folk Festival
Hard to say – there have been so many of those moments. I really love the late-night sessions in the bar. It’s such a good place to catch up with people and get a chance to re-group after the festival’s day. It’s also a really good place to meet new people and chat the night away. I’d say most of my smiles and laughs have come from that tent.
When you are not performing on stage, where are you most likely to be found at Warwick Folk Festival?
I find I can’t stay in one place for too long. I’m such a loiterer and love to just walk around the site and the town to see what’s going on. I will always try to discover artists I’ve not seen before so I spend a lot of time at the Avon stage during the day. Whilst there is always an amazing array of artists visiting from all over, there’s also a healthy amount of local Warwickshire musicians playing both on the festival site and in the town centre venues. There’s so much going on that it’s hard to stay in one place! However, I did spend a lot of time at the toastie van last year when I found out they had cheese and marmite toasties…
What is your favourite place to eat or drink coffee in Warwick town centre?
Two Brothers and Warwick Street Kitchen. Best coffee. Best nibbles.
Where is your favourite place for people watching in Warwick town centre?
Two Brothers have a cafe in the market square with seating outside. When the sun’s out, it can be a real suntrap; making it the perfect place to sit, drink coffee, and watch people roll by.
MISC
Your favourite musician to watch live?
Last year, I had the opportunity of opening a series of concerts for Gemma Hayes; a songwriter from Ireland and one of my all time favourite musicians. Not only was she amazing, but her band were incredible. So tight and sensitive to her music. There were four shows altogether and I watched every single one. I could have happily watched 100 more!
What song do you wish you had written?
So many. If I were thinking sensibly, I’d say Superstition. That way, I wouldn’t have to worry about earning a living from my writing as the royalties would be sorted. Right now (becuase my answer to this always changes), I’d say Persuasion by Richard Thompson and Tim Finn. Any song with that kind of reflection and perspective only gained after significant life experience…that’s a song I’d love to one day write.
What drink are you most likely to have in your hand at Warwick Folk Festival?
Tea in the morning, water in the afternoon, and an espresso martini from the Moongazing cocktail bar to see me through the evening.
Aside from the clothes, toiletries and general essentials, what is one thing you never attend Warwick Folk Festival without?
My ceramic tankard that I can either put a pint of beer in OR a pint of tea
What one piece of advice would you give to someone attending the festival for the first time?
Go and listen to artists you’ve never heard of! It can be very easy to stay on the festival site but there are loads of musicians programmed to play in the town centre too so it’s worth branching out to find your new favourite artist.
THIS OR THAT
Coffee or tea?
Tea
Sweet or savoury?
Savoury
Ceilidh or concert?
Concert
Song session or music session?
Music Session
Clogs or shoes?
Shoes
Camping tent or camper van?
Tent
Ice cream or Ice lolly?
Ice Lolly