Bio

Ella Korth is a bluegrass-informed instrumentalist and singer-songwriter based in Victoria, Canada. Fluid in her approach, Ella fuses folk, roots, bluegrass and old-time music together though a modern lens. Her vocals and guitar playing duets in partnership, one elevating the other to creating a third ‘moment’, harmonies that can only exist when both sides are perfectly in sync with each other. Deeply influenced by musicians Bruce Molsky, Kitty Wells, and Darrel Scott as well as her own experiences as a painter, Ella brings a poetic touch to her songwriting and arrangements. 

Ella is currently completing her debut EP, set to be released in early 2024. Joining her on this project are Trent Freeman (The Fretless) and Zoe Guigueno (Della Mae, Laura Cortese), recorded live off the floor at Afterlife Studios in Vancouver. This collection of originals showcases Ella’s poetic perspective, skillful songwriting, and passion for playing the guitar and banjo. The songs showcase Ella’s playful personality and explore her coming of age and all the joy and heartbreak that comes with it. 

In addition to her solo projects, Ella is a busy side musician, supporting other bluegrass and acoustic artists both onstage and in the studio.  She is a recording and performing artist for Juno Award winning fiddle player Trent Freeman, primarily on the acoustic guitar. In the past year and a half, Ella tour across Europe, the US and Canada with Folk singer-songwriters Leith Ross and Madeleine Roger, Grammy Award Winner John Reischman, psychedelic country band Boy Golden and supported Le Ren for the final leg opening for Willam Prince’s Fall 2022 tour. When at home in Victoria, Ella works with a variety of West-Coast based musicians, co-writing, performing in live shows, and session work.

As an emerging artist, in the last year Ella has added to a growing number of performances including the Cowichan and NimbleFingers Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Festivals, Tiny Lights Festival, Folk’n Fiddle Festival, the Victoria and Vancouver Bluegrass clubs. Ella also loves to play square dances, honky tonks, dance parties and anywhere she can support the energy in the room. 

Growing up in a musical household, Ella spent untold late summer nights out jamming at bluegrass festivals. Raised in Nelson, Ella performed with her good friend and early musical collaborator Talel McBriar in the duo Ella & Talel, winning a Kootenay Music Award for Best Roots Song in 2018. Together the duo participated in the ViaRail Artists on Board program, traveling from Halifax to Vancouver performing along the way.