*2009 ARTIST BIOGRAPHY*

Armed with her acoustic guitar, powerful voice, and a passionate flair for a life less ordinary... Elke Robitaille is an enthusiastic and self-managed folk songstress. 

Hailing from British Columbia, Elke is very nomadic and never stays in one place for very long. For this reason, the place that she feels most at home is on stage. No matter what town or city she’s in, whether it be at a club, cafe, or festival... the familiar and thrillful experience of performing is what Elke finds to be the most comforting and rewarding. 

Being no stranger to life on the road, Elke now has two national tours of the United States and Canada under her belt, having performed in 6 Provinces, as well as 25 States. Elke also completed a 4 month contract with Princess Cruises, where she performed daily onboard the Diamond Princess.

Los Angeles is where Elke called 'home' for the past few years, and she involved herself in as many aspects of the music industry as possible: from attending Musicians Institute, to working as SYNC Manager at Nettwerk Music Group, and performing constantly in the LA Music Scene. She took home the Rock City News Award for "Outstanding Folk Band" in 2005, with nominations in 2006 as well.

Currently, Portland Oregon is the northwest native’s home base. After completing an 18 week Tour of the US and Canada, Elke decided to take a break from touring, and settle down in one place again. With a plethora of inspiration from life on the road, Elke compiled a new work of songs and began recording her third album - “Flowers in the City” at Toadhouse in Portland. 

Elke’s discography spans from 2002 to 2009 with 3 full length studio albums, released through her own independent label: Rag Veda Records. Her albums, as well as live shows, have gained national press and radio attention.

“Doors” was her debut release in 2002 and is a fully produced, 11 track album. It contains a range of songs from haunting contemporary folk-ballads, to high energy, hard driven folk-rock.  

“Naïve” is Elke’s 2004 sophomore release, with a more acoustic and organic sound. Her lyrics are honest and uncensored. The music perfectly blends true acoustic elements of raw emotion and softness. 

“Flowers in the City” is the brand new 2009 release. The 10 song album features a mix of folk, pop, rock, and even bluegrass. This album showcases some of Elke’s best songwriting to date and is sure to be a favorite for folk fans everywhere.

 *2008 SUMMER TOUR PRESS RELEASE*

Canadian born Singer-Songwriter Elke Robitaille is hitting the road again this summer. Along with husband; bass player JP Downer, the acoustic-duo will travel from coast to coast across the United States and Canada throughout May to early September 2008.

The Elke Robitaille Duo recently completed a 4 month entertainment contract at sea with Princess Cruises on the Diamond Princess, Hawaiian Island Cruise. The Duo gave over 100 performances in the Diamonds' Wheelhouse Bar. After well earning their 'sea-legs', the musicians are ready to get their show back on the 'road'.

The Summer Tour will start in Elke's home town of Powell River, BC at Local Loco's. A tour kick-off show is scheduled for April 25th. From there, Elke and JP will travel East across the United States and then make their way back West across Canada. Shows will be scheduled to take place in approximately 45 States and 9 Provinces. The duo will be taking to the stage at a variety of venues from cafes, pubs, lounges, farmers markets, and street festivals. The duo are no strangers to life on the road. They have already completed one tour of Canada where they played in 5 Provinces and 25 cities. They have also performed extensively on the West Coast from British Columbia down to California, and Elke has brought her solo-acoustic act to Nashville and New York.

The Elke Robitaille Duo look forward to being on the road again, and they hope this 4 month tour will help them gain exposure to a broader audience from coast to coast. They will be promoting Elke's sophomore acoustic album: Naive, as well as her debut album: Doors, and an array of brand new merchandise including t-shirts, tanks and stickers.
For more information about the tour including regularly added show dates, venue information, and travel blogs, please visit: elkemusic.com