For the past decade Chad Elliott has performed for folk music audiences in the U.S. and Canada; recording his original songs both as a soloist and member of the folk duo, One Man's Junk.

Elliott has shared the stage with a variety of talented musicians. Among them being R.L. Burnside, Storyhill, Brenda Weiler, The Nadas, Fade2Shade, and others.

He is currently finishing his fifth CD of original music. Working with producer/songwriter Chris Cunningham of Storyhill and Sun Dog Recording, Elliott feels his newest project Bowl of Stars will bring all of his influences into an original sounding CD. Bowl of Stars incorporates music from a deep pool of influential artists — Greg Brown to James Taylor, Lyle Lovett to Tom Waits, Townes VanZandt to Hank Williams. What comes out is a strong mix of finger picked folk-Americana.

And because Elliott has a variety of song styles from which to choose, he is able to play a variety of venues. He can rip out a country-blues song in a bar just as easy as he can fingerpick an introspective ballad in a concert hall.

All of his song styles, however, come from a common thread. Elliott once wrote, "the music that I write is directly related to the people and places I have grown up with. I am proud of my rural heritage."

He has captivated many audiences with his stories and songs about living the suitcase life, broken hearted romance, and growing up in the farms of the Midwest. "I try to gather images, feelings and landscapes all of the time. Images I see every day become symbols of my current state of mind and hopefully it translates into a decent song. A field of fireflies might churn around in my head until it comes out as 'the diamond rug lightning bugs', or a big thunderhead transforms into 'Greek-columned clouds'. I use whatever chooses me in the moment. The important thing for me is to be an unbiased observer."

Besides being a songwriter, Elliott is an accomplished sculptor, painter and actor. If he isn't scribbling poems and lyrics in his leather bound journal, he's sketching in it.

If you are interested in booking Chad for a venue, or interested in learning more about his art, email him at chadaelliott@hotmail.com.