Elias Alexander is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and songwriter whose work swells from the intersection of traditional music, electronic production, and songwriting. Using electronics, he alchemizes tradition into something healing, deeply personal, and of this moment.
Wielding bagpipes, fiddle, guitar, whistles, and keyboards on stage while deftly looping and sampling to build energy, Elias weaves together melodies from the Scottish and American traditions, with catchy beats, and original songs that discuss themes of alienation, belonging, and queerness.
Elias is one of those rare performers who achieves full flight using the power of electronics with live instruments, drawing comparisons to FKJ, Fred again., and Dirtwire, and taking audiences on a mind-blowing journey that elicits everything from wild dancing to tears. The show highlights Elias's skill as a consummate performer with a unique ability to connect with and move a crowd.
Elias Alexander grew up in Ashland, Oregon, where he studied pipes and fiddle from a young age. Moving to the east coast in 2009, he made a name for himself as one of the foremost exponents of traditional Scottish music in America, touring with numerous groups and playing many of the top Celtic festivals including Celtic Connections (2017 with Gillebride MacMillan) and Celtic Colours (2019 with Farsan). He currently tours as the pipes and whistle player with Scottish legends Old Blind Dogs in North America.
Elias’s latest project, Ramblxr, arose out of the early lockdowns of 2020, when he found himself blending the traditional acoustic music of his youth with house, disco, hip-hop, and lo-fi sounds. Emerging with his new solo electronic show in hand in 2021, he has taken festival stages by storm, with standout performances at Oregon Country Fair, BlissFest, Sisters Folk Fest, Portland Pride, Bellingham Folk Festival, and many others.
Elias achieved international attention in Feb. 2024 when his song FIDDLE DISCO! went viral on Instagram, leading to articles in The National Newspaper Scotland and BNN News, and radio play on BBC Scotland.
An album is planned for the spring.