Ellen Mitchell was born in Glasgow, but left as a very small baby, to live in Kirn, Dunoon and Innellan, along the Clyde Coast.
As a teenager she went Youth Hostelling and camping which broadened her repertoire as she took part in sing-songs in common rooms and round camp fires. Then there was the Jack Elliot, Derrol Adams, Leadbelly, Woody Guthrie phase. The discovery of folk clubs and festivals took Ellen further into the music, and heard more traditional song.
Ellen has learned songs by instinct as they appealed and is aware that a large part of her repertoire is love songs – but is also attracted to ballads and a wee bit of comedy.