Elliott Morris

Elliott Morris is a UK singer-songwriter and guitarist from Lincolnshire. Born in 1989, he is half English and half Scottish, and he is raised in Wales and Lincolnshire. His music sits across folk, pop and rock, and he is also associated with acoustic guitar-led performance.

Career

Morris builds songs around tapping, body percussion and intricate guitar work, creating a style that combines finger technique with rhythm and melody. He gains notice on the acoustic scene as a hard-working live performer, with hundreds of gigs behind him and an extensive touring schedule across the British Isles, from Orkney to Brighton and Clonakilty in Ireland.

He wins the Danny Kyle Award at Celtic Connections in 2013. He also appears as a featured artist in Acoustic magazine, which describes him as a next major act on the scene.

Live work and collaborations

Morris supports a wide range of artists, including Erik Mongrain, Andy McKee, Frank Turner, Seth Lakeman, Lau, Big Country, Get Cape Wear Cape Fly, The Joy Formidable, Jim Bob of Carter USM, Jimmy Wahlsteen, Jon Gomm, Roddy Woomble of Idlewild, Mark Morriss of The Bluetones, Lucy Rose, Brian Kennedy, The Stylistics, The Three Degrees, Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick. He also performs on stage with Ed Sheeran, Alan Thomson of The John Martyn Band, Boothby Graffoe, Mike Vass, Innes Watson and Chris “Bing” Bingham, also known as Slomozovo.

He supports Paul Carrack on several UK tour dates between 2013 and 2014, including shows at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall, Sage Gateshead, The Lowry in Salford, Cambridge Corn Exchange and the London Palladium.

Festivals, radio and recordings

Morris plays multiple sets at Celtic Connections 2014 and appears at Hop Farm Festival, Towersey Folk Festival, Warwick Folk Festival, Beverley Folk Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival, The London Acoustic Guitar Show and Ullapool Guitar Festival. He also gives headline shows in Germany and the Netherlands and tours the UK with Will McNicol and Chris Woods.

He receives regular play and support from BBC output, including BBC Introducing, The Beat and Tom Robinson’s 6music show Fresh on the Net. He is interviewed at Broadcasting House, appears on a Best of Mixtape podcast, and takes part in a songwriting immersion weekend. A track by Morris and Dancing Lotus reaches number one on the iTunes singer/songwriter charts. He also performs as electric guitarist on an album by Dancing Lotus, including festival appearances such as Summer Sundae and Gignics London, the latter covered by Channel 4.

Instruments and endorsements

Morris plays solo EPs as well as tenors and harp guitars. Martin Harrison of Hania Guitars makes a custom model for him, and Roger Bucknall of Fylde Guitars builds him a custom Alexander. He is also endorsed by Mimesis Pickups, Elixir Strings, AER amplification, Logarhythm stompboxes and G7th capos.