MCLA Blog

The last show of our sixth year is approaching relatively quickly! I’m very excited to be welcoming Ellis Paul back to the Railway Cafe once again. He’s one of my favorite performers so it’ll be great to have him perform on my birthday weekend, and close out the season on May 25th.

The reason I like him so much is because he’s such a smart writer. He writes stories rich in vivid, pictorial scenes with complex and interesting characters. He blends his influences of Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger with a more modern folk-pop sound. J. Anderman from the Boston Globe calls it “…[T]hinking-person’s poetry.” And Roberta Schwartz, who writes for the Folk and Music Exchange says, “”His finely honed songs tell stories filled with images that sparkle like jewels. His is a poet’s heart, and a romantic’s soul. He is an optimist who believes in people and possibilities.”

He began playing open mics with Martin Sexton, Vance Gilbert and Patty Griffin and almost immediately his infectious melodicism, literate lyrics, and honest performing style drew attention. He quickly became one of Boston’s most recognized resident singer-songwriters. Since then, he’s released 11 CDs, won 13 Boston Music Awards, and had songs in major
motion pictures and television shows. Who would have thought this would be the result for a kid who grew up on a potato farm in northern Maine?

Please join us on Friday, May 25th at 7:30pm to welcome Ellis Paul to the Railway Cafe at MCLA’s Gallery 51. Gallery 51 is located at 51 Main St in North Adams. Admission for the event is $15 in advance, $18 at the door, and $12 for students and seniors. Doors will open at 7pm. For more information, email [ mailto:railwaycafe@juno.com ]railwaycafe@juno.com, or call 413-664-6393. To hear
excerpts from many of Paul’s CD releases, go to [ http://www.ellispaul.com/ ] www.ellispaul.com and click on Radio Free Ellis.

Hope to see you then!
Laini

Railway Cafe
P.O. Box 225
North Adams, MA 01247
413-664-6393
[ http://www.railwaycafe.org/ ] www.railwaycafe.org