Ellie Gowers is a rare phenomenon in the current indie music scene. Authentic, original and talented, her music takes a personal and modern take on traditional folk music.
'Dwelling by the Weir', released in 2022, is a self-professed 'lockdown project' which delicately weaves together stories of local townspeople and forgotten historical figures, whilst also expressing Gowers' own concerns and experiences regarding her hometown. She conveys a clear admiration for the town of Warwick in this gorgeously lilting debut album (the name 'Dwelling by the Weir' being a literal translation of 'Warwick'; the suffix 'wic' translating to 'dwelling' and the prefix, which derives from 'wer', meaning 'weir').
Stand-out tracks on the album include 'Woman of the Waterways' which pays tribute to the women who worked tirelessly on the canals, and 'Ribbon Weaver' which tells the story of the generations of silk ribbon weavers in North Warickshire.
'The female experience' appears to be a common theme in her music, with her lyrical prose breathing life into extraordinary women who would otherwise be long-forgotten.
In one such song, 'A Letter to the Dead Husband of Mary Ball', Gowers sings a haunting ballad of 'Mary Ball', the last woman to be hanged in Coventry, in 1849, for poisoning her abusive husband. Gowers takes on the persona of Mary Ball, powerfully condemning her 'dead husband' of his sins, ending with the chilling lyric; "Now death will let me part from the scorn that's held my heart, I'll wear the noose and I'll see you in hell".
Gowers takes on the persona of Mary Ball, powerfully condemning her 'dead husband' of his sins
On October 19th I was lucky enough to see Ellie Gowers live at the beautiful 'Cobalt Studios' (a venue I highly recommend if you're looking to see more indie artists in Newcastle!) and it was an experience I'll never forget. Though humble and soft-spoken, Gowers' presence on the small Cobalt stage was simply mesmerising, as her incredible vocals vibrated through the walls of the studio.
If you're a fan of contemporary folk music, reminiscent of Joni Mitchell or Nick Drake, I can't recommend the Warickshire-born artist enough.