Ellis Paul, Radoslav Lorković

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Jack Looney

Ellis Paul and guitar.

Ellis Paul

$30 ($25 adv.).

media release: Award-winning folk artist Ellis Paul celebrates 30th anniversary as a touring musician, where else, but… on tour ahead of the new album 55 (out 6/9/23). It’s moment he didn’t think would come after his 2020 diagnosis with Dupuytren’s contracture, a disease that tightly closes the fingers into a fist, had settled into both of his hands.

It inspired Ellis to write the title track and first single “55” (LISTEN) released last month. “Ellis Paul has a vocal tone on the soft side but embed with the richness of Burl Ives. With that as the backdrop, [“55”] takes you through a very real reflection on being of a certain age, and the memories of items and practices that have been retired to the annals of history. Nimble and provocative.” - Americana Highways

A disease that tightly closes the fingers into a fist, Dupuytren’s contracture had settled into both of Ellis’ hands in 2020. In December 2022, when he could play guitar and piano no longer, Ellis underwent successful surgery to free the fingers of his left hand. He could form chords again. His right hand remains affected, but less so. He’s soldiering on, performing shows with the newfound thrill of being able to play again. He plans on surgery for the right hand in 2024.