A year in the life of Ellis Murphy - Warehouse with Webster, playing with 600 & Sean Martin tribute
- southlivsurveyor
- Nov 26, 2023
- 6 min read
Ellis Murphy, a talented folk singer-songwriter, reflected on a year of ups, downs and remarkable growth.
He has played to sold-out crowds and captivated audiences with his intimate performances. And, as the year draws to a close, he looks forward to even more opportunities to share his music with the world.
Here is how Ellis Murphy's 2023 unfolded...
District Headliner - December 8, 2022
In May 2022, Ellis held his first headline show at the Kazimier Stockroom. A few months later, he found himself preparing for the biggest gig of his career (so far) - headlining at District Liverpool. According to Murphy, his performance at District was a significant advancement from his previous shows.
He said: "The District went surprisingly well however, it was a realisation that the music had to be better, in my opinion. It felt like a jump from the lower cap venues, not that the District is like the Royal Albert Hall. It was certainly a step towards what I wanted to do with the music at that time."
The set began with a solo performance by Ellis, who was soon accompanied by triple-threat performer, Beth Danher, for a selection of duets. After that, Ellis and his band, consisting of David Keane on lead guitar, Naithan Coughlan on bass, Tom Abraham on guitar and Cameron Jones on drums, appeared on stage.
Ellis and the band sold out District on the 8th of December with 250 faces in the crowd.
The Solo Scene
Over the year, Ellis has performed solo gigs at various popular venues like Ten Street Social, Cafe Tabac and the Jacaranda.
"My favourite solo performance I've done would have to be the La Violetta Societa in Leaf, which was hosted by local legend and poet Roy,” said Ellis.
The 19-year-old uses his solo shows to build ideas of the direction he wants to take and the elements of himself he wants to build upon.
He said: "I find that a good solo performance sometimes feels better than a great show with a full band. There's an element of vulnerability in a solo show that you don't get with a band."
Ellis performs frequently in the city. For more information, check out his Instagram.
A Night in Church - April 22, 2023
The Scandinavian Church on Park Lane is where Ellis and his band held their first headline of 2023.
Their style drastically changed from what they had done a few months earlier in the District. For Ellis, it was a new experience as he played the keys for the entire section of the show, accompanied by the band.
He said: "I have mixed feelings about this one. It was sort of the breaking point for me to want to play with different musicians - especially live."
"The gig didn't mean much to me. The best thing I took away from that show was some of the people who attended it. I ended up with some close friends off the back of that performance," added Murphy.
After this performance, Ellis began collaborating with various musicians in the city to find a meaningful musical connection and explore new sounds.
RATS at the O2 - April 29, 2023
Liverpool indie band, RATS, announced on X (formerly known as Twitter) that they were 'buzzing' to announce the support of Ellis Murphy at their gig at the O2 Academy Liverpool.
This performance was the polar opposite of Ellis' headliner at the Scandinavian Church. They had a challenge to prepare for a completely different audience type, so they returned to a heavier sound similar to how they played at District Liverpool.
After the event, Ellis made a clear distinction between the two shows.
He said: "The church show was a performance and this was a gig and that's what I noticed from this night. I got closer to a more refined idea of how I wanted to put my shows to run."
The Band's Last Hurrah - July 15, 2023
A Liverpool-based promoter known as Heavy Live scheduled an event in the Summer called the 'All Dayer'. It took place in District, Liverpool and was a festival-like day of different local artists performing. The show began at 2.30 pm and finished during the early hours of the following day. Local artists such as East Exchange, The Lags and The Reserves each performed a slot.
Ellis describes the All Dayer to be 'certainly something'.
"The day went surprisingly well and was almost like a last hurrah for myself and the old band who accompanied me. We played pretty well that night," he added.
The All Dayer marked the end of Ellis and his band's journey. The group consisted of five distinct individuals who were brought together by their passion for music and ability to captivate audiences. It's a classic rock tale, where these young boys, wearing their school uniforms, first met in a music room and eventually transformed into skilled and talented musicians, culminating in an exceptional final performance.
A Night on the Tiles - August 5, 2023
In August, Ellis performed in St Georges Hall alongside 600 guitars for A Night On The Tiles, an event by St Georges Hall
Ellis said: "The Night On The Tiles was really cool. It was something I'd never done before and I didn't see myself doing anything like this before it."
"It really did feel special to me."
The Florrie asked Ellis to do a charity performance a few months before this event along and he described the event to be a magical thing to be involved in.
Manchester Warehouse with Webster - November 28, 2023
On Saturday evening, all of Ellis' hard work and dedication paid off when he was given the chance to showcase his talent at his biggest gig yet.
He opened for the popular singer-songwriter Jamie Webster at the Victoria Warehouse in Manchester, a significant milestone in his career. The opportunity was a moment when Ellis' could show his devotion and passion for music, and he felt honoured to be part of such a prestigious event.
Webster was on a tour across the United Kingdom, starting from Liverpool and heading up to Glasgow, before making his way down to London and concluding in Manchester. Over the years, his music has attracted a massive fanbase, who adore him and support him unconditionally throughout his journey.
Ellis performed alongside his new band consisting of Harry Jones on lead guitar, Naithan Coughlan on bass, and Ben Wall on drums, who all played with confidence and strength.
Ellis said: “This is my first gig out of Liverpool and it's in a great venue. I’ve looked forward to begin playing some new songs in a new format with fresh players to a fresh crowd.”
As Murphy and the band took the stage, a palpable energy filled the room. The musician's tight-knit connection was immediately apparent as they moved seamlessly through each song.
Every member brought their unique musical prowess to the table from the drummer's intricate fills to the guitarist's impressive licks, the bassist's thumping rhythms and story-telling lyrics.
But it wasn't just the technical proficiency that made the performance stand out, the band's stage presence and charisma kept the audience engaged throughout the entire set. Whether they were grooving to a funky bassline or headbanging to a heavy riff, the crowd couldn't help but be drawn in by the musicians' infectious energy.
Ellis's music is a fusion of classic rock n roll and contemporary sound, which he delivers with a captivating stage presence. His voice is a perfect blend of raw energy and soulful depth, drawing the audience into his world of music.
Murphy's talent as a musician is evident in his ability to play multiple instruments, from the guitar to the piano. He has a natural flair for songwriting, crafting lyrics that resonate with listeners who love a golden-aged story.
Whether he's performing or recording in the studio, it is clear that Ellis and the band are dedicated to their craft, delivering a performance that was both musically impressive and incredibly entertaining.
Ellis has had a productive year; consistently improving and reflecting on his journey.
He said: "I'm certainly closer to finding what I'm looking for with music and probably wouldn't change my journey for that reason."
Over the past couple of months, Ellis has experimented with different genres of music, which he believes to be a real eye-opener. As well as playing with a whole new band.
"Playing with a new band has let me take the songs somewhere else, it's definitely a different feeling in the rehearsal room. It's more professional and certainly different to what it was," Ellis added.
A couple of weeks ago, the world lost a true treasure, Sean Martin, who was the frontman for the popular Liverpool indie band - The Night Cafe.
Sean and Ellis shared a close brotherly bond.
"I'd like to pay tribute to a very close friend of mine Sean Martin, who recently passed away. He was like a brother to me at the time that I knew him. He and a few others muso's in Liverpool are to thank for a lot that I've done this past year."
"I hope someday I can be half the man Sean Martin was."
Ellis Murphy.
Ellis is an exceptionally talented musician, whose music is reminiscent of a secret lovechild of Dylan and Lennon. I firmly believe that he has a bright future ahead of him, especially given all that he has accomplished this year.
By closing certain doors, he has opened up new opportunities for himself and successfully brought together a community of individuals who share his passion for pure musical artistry. Let's wait and see what 2024 has in store for Ellis Murphy.
You can follow Ellis Murphy here.
Written by Kayleigh Cantrell
