Betse Ellis

Rank #1 Kansas City, MO Americana / Folk / Old Time

About

Members: Betse Ellis - fiddles, singing, tenor guitar

Sounds Like: John Hartford, Memphis Minnie, Coon Creek Girls, Gillian Welch, The Wilders

Label: Free Dirt Records

Bio: Renowned fiddler, Betse Ellis, founding member of “hillbilly riot” band, The Wilders, strikes out on her own. Adept at the difficult technique of singing while playing the fiddle, her on-stage sparkle and enthusiasm rouses the crowd. She gathers diverse music and presents it with humor, intensi... See Full Bio

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Status

: First photo show opens June 7 at The Brick, KCMO http://t.co/l2h4dvIkuW

Press

“Let’s get one thing straight: Betse Ellis is one badass fiddle player. She has an uncanny ability to make that instrument weep and wail while making it play hot potato with the bow.”

— Ink Magazine

“As she played a rousing stomp with snarled lyrics about playing fiddle, doing a British jig and speaking the King’s English in quotations, scattered gasps spread through the audience as people realized Ellis was turning the Clash’s “Straight to Hell” into an Ozark stomp…”

— Robin Wheeler, KDHX

“In addition to playing fiddle with abandoned joy, Ellis sings like a big fat jazz powerhouse.”

— Maverick Magazine

“The night got off to a fast-paced start with a solo set from Betse Ellis, the fiercest fiddle player in Kansas City and likely beyond. With the talent, the material, and the personality to enhance it, a solo set from Ellis can be far more captivating than watching many full bands. As an original member of The Wilders, Ellis has the experience and the chutzpah to command a stage by implementing a mix of her own tunes and classics. Her set included songs from artists like The Doc Watson Family and John Hartford, along with a few originals. These songs ran the gamut of humorous ("Drunkard's Hiccups"), insightful ("It's A Hard Time in This World," a song she played on tenor guitar), yet always entertaining. Ellis closed out her set with a rendition of The Clash's "Straight To Hell" - a fine example of her rock influences tinged with a traditional flare and culminating in an amusing and accessible flavor.”

— Michelle Bacon, The Deli Magazine - Kansas City

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Recent Blogs

Songs

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Play "Another Night Gone"

Another Night Gone

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Play "Looking The World Over"

Looking The World O…

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Play "Heaven Bells Are Ringing/Gone to View That Land"

Heaven Bells Are Ri…

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Play "Run!"

Run!

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Play "John Henry"

John Henry

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Videos

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Shows

Full-Screen View »

Fri
May 24

The H2O Heater
Roanoke, VA, US | 8:00pm
The H2O Heater
Roanoke, VA, US
Fri May 24 8:00pm
- Show Details
- Tickets
Sun
May 26

The Rooster's Wife
Aberdeen, NC, US | 6:00pm
The Rooster's Wife
Aberdeen, NC, US
Sun May 26 6:00pm
- Show Details
- Tickets
Tue
May 28

Isis Restaurant and Mus…
Asheville, NC, US | 7:00pm
Isis Restaurant and Music ...
Asheville, NC, US
Tue May 28 7:00pm
- Show Details
- Tickets
Wed
May 29

Down Home
Johnson City, TN, US | 5:00pm
Down Home
Johnson City, TN, US
Wed May 29 5:00pm
- Show Details
- Tickets
Fri
May 31

Bill Monroe Memorial Mu…
Bean Blossom, IN, US | 10:00am
Bill Monroe Memorial Musi...
Bean Blossom, IN, US
Fri May 31 10:00am
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Details

John Hartford Memorial Festival set at 3pm

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Comments

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Dammit!
man she rules that kicks ass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CIRCUS LIBERTY MUSIC
nice material
Fugot
maybe one of the best blues singers on reverbnation mixed with a badass fiddle monster. wow, sister you rock.
pinksideofthemoon
a little atttitude and whoo whoo! great listen Betse! "looking the world over"
Passion-Play
It has to be said - I love your photo.. :)
LOST CITY BAND
Splendid music Betse !!!! Peace, LCB/jeffrey