Jim Ellis & Doug McFarland

Based in coastal North Carolina, Jim Ellis’ music blends folk, rock, pop, and country with a laid-back vibe that feels like a perfect day by the water. Inspired by songwriting greats like Jackson Browne and James Taylor, his tunes pair warm, conversational lyrics with melodies that linger. On piano, Jim is often described as a “New Orleans Bruce Hornsby” with a touch of blues, giving his live shows a joyful lift.

 

Jim has been writing, performing, and recording for over four decades. His band Waterline earned acclaim with their second album Long Goners, featuring a standout rhythm section led by Sonny Landreth and The Goners, the band known for backing John Hiatt. Landreth’s iconic slide work, heard with artists like Jimmy Buffett and Dolly Parton, helped shape the album’s rootsy, open-road sound.

 

As a solo artist, Jim continues to lean into the kind of storytelling that feels personal but universal. His 4-song EP Lucky Enough is a breezy, gratitude-soaked collection about love, simple pleasures, and finding peace in the life right in front of you. More recently, he followed it with Can’t Keep Quiet Today, a piano-driven EP steeped in second line rhythm and New Orleans color. 

 

Arguably one of the three most influential kazoo players in the history of Western music, Doug McFarland inarguably is a singer and guitarist as well. He is known far and wide for acoustic awesomeness, sincere (occasionally clever) songwriting and funny Photoshop skills. Book him at your local establishment, you’ll enjoy his prompt, courteous service and entertaining live shows that feature a nice variety of music and just the right amount of witty banter.