Bio
Pete "Mitch" Mitchell
Pete Mitchell is Ojibwa and a member of the Kebaowek First Nation, Quebec, though he now calls Vancouver Island home, and spends his professional life working with First Nations people’s in BC.
Mitch comes from a family of nine kids where seven siblings still play and perform. This singer songwriter has worked with a number of partners over the years, but teamed up with Elissa Baron in 2008 and has been working pretty steadily with her ever since. He likes to refer to her as one of Canada’s hidden gems.
Mitch's earlier influences are Sunny Terry & Brownee McGee, Rodney Crowell, John Prine and Townes Van Zandt, and likens his own sound to "southern-fried blues".
Elissa "the Barroness" Barron
Elissa comes from musical people, though she didn't take to it as naturally as the others. She was just a shy gal with a not-so-secret desire to sing. At the rather late age of 35, determined to model for her kids the virtue of being brave, and with the support of her big sister, Elissa set out to make that dream come true.
It started out rough when she misread the calendar and crashed Blues Tuesday at the Duncan Showroom, when she had been aiming for Open-Mic Tuesday. However, Longevity John, being the supportive human he is, let it ride and has been her champion ever since. Just days later (before the fear could set in), Elissa met Peter Mitchell at another blues jam. They shared one song - John Prine's Angel from Montgomery - and the Barroness was born.
The Barroness happens to be about as far from aristocracy as a person can get, but she feels close to it when the stories and melodies flow. When she's up on stage, it's like the moon shines just for her.
Barron Mitchell Music
Barron Mitchell Music marks the creative collaboration between Vancouver Island musicians Peter Mitchell and Elissa Barron. Writing together since 2008, Pete and Elissa have amassed a significant body of work that ranges from honky- tonk to folk, blues to country, rock to pop. Living and working on southern Vancouver Island, Pete and Elissa continue to write and perform around their professional and family realities, and are in the process of releasing their first album!
Pete & Elissa met at a local Blues Jam, where he agreed to accompany her. The performance - a cover of John Prine's Angel from Montgomery - was a good indication that the two could create something beautiful together. They wrote their first song the next day.
Since that first song, Pete and Elissa have written a lot of music, and have been performing as Mitch & the Barroness. They occasionally perform with other bands, playing dinner events, parties and fundraisers. Their favourite place to perform is still the Duncan Showroom, where Longevity John Falkner continues to make time for them.
Pete and Elissa continue to write, and to perform locally - but the exciting work of releasing their first album is taking priority right now! If you happen to be one of those people who have always wanted a Mitch & the Barroness CD for your own collection, send us a message - we'll make sure you get one just as soon as those CDs are pressed and printed. If you're a new listener, have a listen to some of the tracks that will be featured on the CD. Feel free to sign up for our mailing list.